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4X4
The Discovery is a real do-it-all-in-style vehicle. It devours miles in easy-going, refined comfort and gobbles mountains like they were molehills.
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Most models have air springs and independent suspension, which keep them smooth and forgiving over bumps, but sharp and controlled around corners. Permanent four-wheel drive gives good traction in all conditions and clever electronic off-road aids take the sweat out of negotiating the rough stuff. Both engines - the 4.4 V8 petrol and the 2.7 V6 turbodiesel - need to be worked to get this heavy car moving at first, but they’re quiet and refined once you're up to speed. The cabin is simply brilliant: classy design, roomy for seven (although cheaper versions have only five seats), versatile, great all-round visibility and decent kit. Boot space is limited with seven on board, but the third (and second) rows fold to create a huge load-carrying potential.
Running Costs
Don’t expect the Discovery to be cheap to keep or run. Prices are a bit steep, and they’re expected to stay that way for the foreseeable future. That’s good news, however, because once you’ve taken the financial plunge to buy one, the Discovery will hang on to its value, so when you do sell it on, you’ll recoup a fair chunk of your original outlay. The bad news is that running costs are hefty. The diesel will only nudge just over 30mpg with gentle driving, and the V8 will struggle to better 20mpg. That’s the price you pay for its 2.5-tonne weight and four-wheel drive. Servicing, too, will be steep if you’re trading from a BMW X5, but it’s about the same as the current-shape Mercedes M-Class. Insurance is easier to swallow, though - groups 13 to 16 - and cheaper than on the X5 or M-Class.