All-new Land Rover Discovery HSE Road Test Review

Exterior Design and Features of the all-new Discovery

From the looks of it, the all-new Discovery does not have the conventional silhouette of a macho Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV), rather it looks like a very sophisticated vehicle with an extended body. The front is a lot more charming than the rear with its wrap-around headlights, LED lights, a slim, yet elegant grille and not to miss the “DISCOVERY” word sprawled over the tip of the bonnet and the tail gate. The front end is very clean and sculpted. The side profile is what makes you wonder whether it is an estate in disguise or a blue-blooded SUV. Beyond the B pillar the bulge on the roof is evident, a design made necessary to ensure more head room in the third passenger row and the stadium seating within. As you move on to the rear, the wrap-around tail lights and the prominent skid plate gives the vehicle a very purposeful look. It’s a lot more rounded at the rear. The vehicle sits on 20 inches 5 split-spoke wheels. Thankfully, even the spare wheel is of this size. The integrated spoiler at the rear with a shark fin antenna makes the vehicle look very chic.

Interior Design and Features of the all-new Discovery

It’s the inside of the all-new Discovery that really turns you on. Even before you step behind the wheels of a Land Rover vehicle, you can bet your last buck that it’s as capable as you can imagine. But what is it from the inside? It’s an SUV with space like crazy. Yes, this is what makes the all-new Discovery so awesome, because it is not just good on and off the road but it can seat seven adults in full comfort. I hopped on from the driver’s seat to the second row and then to the third row, and I almost could not believe the comfort the seats offered. No other passenger vehicle in my memory offers so much comfort for so many people and yet drives like an SUV and is an SUV and offers the most unimaginable levels of driveability.  In fact, I would say the USP of this all-new Discovery is the seating space that has been created within the cabin with its umpteen permutations and combinations. It’s truly amazing.

I shall not delve too much on the large infotainment touchscreen, the good use of materials like premium leather, wood and metal finishers. The electrically adjustable steering for rake and reach, the touch screen functions for anything from navigation to audio (controls the 380W Meridian sound system with ten speakers and a dual channel subwoofer) to seat adjustments, USB ports and charging points, etc all of this makes the vehicle a lot upmarket. As for its practical side, it’s the seats that evoke a sense of accomplishment.

Apart from the fact that all the seven plush seats can seat fully grown tall adults, it’s the several ways that you can adjust these seats with the touch of a button in the luggage load area or with the touch of your finger on the touchscreen that makes the vehicle unique. It’s like a magic act in progress. You can fold the second row and third row seats or you can fold them separately or you can unfold them, it’s the best electronics can offer. I was truly impressed by these several seat combinations. The best part is that the system understands when the seats are occupied or have heavy items on them and when folding automatically adjusts their positions to prevent any kind of conflict.

If seating is a great plus point in this car, so is the storage spaces built into this vehicle. For a modern family with its obvious demand for electronic items like tablets and mobile phones, there is plenty of storage for these items.  There is space in the upper and lower glove box, central armrest stowage with an optional chiller compartment and space for multiple tablets, space in the door bins to accommodate 1 litre bottles in front and 0.5 litre bottles in the second row, etc.

Engine and Performance of the all-new Discovery

Like a Discovery has always been, this one too comes with a lot of magic to its performance. The 3 litre petrol engine is more than capable to carry the load of seven adults and their luggage through some of the toughest terrains on the global map. While at its launch in Mumbai I experienced the capabilities of the vehicle on some very exciting man made hurdles, I got an opportunity to rough it out on a terrible, uneven track in New Delhi. There is no denying the fact that the Discovery Terrain Response System optimises the vehicle performance on different terrains. With the twist of a rotary knob you can select General Driving, Sand, Rock Crawl, Mud & Ruts and Grass, Gravel, Snow---That kind of sorts out everything for you in some tough drive situations. Other standard features include Hill Descent Control, Coupled with a permanent four-wheel drive system and an electronic air suspension, driving is a lot more comfortable in the all-new Discovery. The electronic air suspension comes every handy when you come across some very tough terrains. With buttons on the console you can automatically lower the ride height by 40mm when the vehicle is parked. Also by using switches in the load space or on the key fob one can lower the rear ride height and this comes handy when loading or unloading luggage.

While wading through some tough city traffic, I obviously felt that the vehicle was a bit too bulky, but I was not complaining because with a stop/start feature I knew I was saving on fuel and the electronic power assisted steering surely made the vehicle easier to handle. When the roads opened up to some long and winding jungle tracks, the vehicle simply adjusted itself to soak in the undulations.

Another very interesting feature of the all-new Discovery is its cameras that are used to view every angle around the car, bet it surround, rear, front or side. The touch screen doubles up as a screen to show you the different angles and in fact one can see two different angles using these cameras. The screen simply splits into two parts showing these two different angles you have chosen.

Verdict

The all-new Discovery is not just about brilliant performance and fun to drive, it’s a vehicle that offers dollops of comfort to each of the seven passengers seated in those seven different seats within it. It’s a brilliant all-rounder, to say the least!