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Thirteen different systems and 23,000 lines of code. That's how much computing power is needed in the 2017 Land Rover Discovery. No, not for the entire vehicle. Just the power folding seats, which can be raised and lowered using an app on your phone.
You've come a long way, Landie.
Historically, there's been a tendency to view truly capable off-road vehicles as the big, dumb knuckle-draggers of the automotive kingdom. Pig-iron frames, gargantuan knobbly tires and oversized, dirty engines pushing coffee-can sized pistons. Perhaps better than any other vehicle on the market, this new Discovery proves just how outdated that notion is -- not only is this British-built SUV a fully modern proposition, it's one of the more involved and tech-rich vehicles on the road, thanks to its deeply complex off-road systems and considerable luxuries.
Don't be alarmed, we're trained professionals.
Land Rover
It doesn't take much more than a cursory glance to realize this Discovery isn't just new, it's a step change over the LR4/Discovery range that preceded it. To this point in its evolution, the Discovery has looked like a set of those Russian Matryoshka nesting dolls, each boxy, stepped-roof generation fitting neatly inside the next. And then there's this new model, which has a vestigial roof kickup and a funky asymmetrical license plate pocket that's a nod to past Discovery designs, but other than that, it looks very, very similar to other Land Rover models.
That means it's handsomely modern, if somewhat indistinct from its stablemates. It's also decidedly less brawny looking than its forbear. It's not immediately clear if this slicker, more homogenized appearance will trouble faithful Discovery owners, but if I'm being honest, the new look doesn't sit entirely well with me.
While the 2017 model's more tailored flanks shout "urban sophisticate" more than they say "rugged outdoorsman," the opposite is actually true. This isn't just the most capable Discovery ever, it may be one of the fiercest off-roaders the Green Oval has produced.
I should know: On our lengthy two-day drive event in the wide-open spaces along the gorgeous Utah-Arizona border, my gas- and diesel-powered Discovery testers scrambled up slippery rock formations, bombed over Martian sand dunes and juked their way through muddy river beds in highly entertaining fashion. Portions of our test route were genuinely tough -- particularly the salmon-colored Coral Pink Dunes of Kanab, Utah, and on street-minded tires, the Discovery wasn't completely infallible, but it was damn near, and it was unfailingly impressive.
Like any good workout regime, when it came time to develop this new Discovery, Land Rover engineers settled on a strict diet. Using a new aluminum-intensive monocoque instead of the old model's unibody-with-frame construction has enabled weight savings of up to 1,000 pounds over its LR4 predecessor, yet the new chassis boasts superior rigidity and can tow a stout 8,200 pounds. Despite its newfound lightness, this Discovery is also substantially longer -- some 5.5 inches -- and it sits on a 1.5-inch longer wheelbase, all in a bid to maximize interior space.
The Discovery will mostly see school runs and mall parking lots, but it yearns for vistas like this.
Land RoverJaguar Land Rover's ubiquitous 3.0-liter supercharged gas-fed V6 is the new Disco's volume engine, and it offers a healthy 340 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque. That's enough oomph both for slogging up precipitous, mud-caked inclines and for pulling out to pass double-trailer semi trucks at freeway speeds without fear of additional gray hairs. It's a refined piece that's rarely caught out of step, thanks in part to the keen programming of its eight-speed ZF automatic. Fuel economy is pegged at 16 city, 21 highway and 18 mpg combined, and in standard drive mode, periodic checks of the in-cluster telltale suggest these numbers are attainable.
I also sampled Land Rover' 3.0-liter diesel, an optional powerplant with 254 hp and 442 pound-feet of torque. I've enjoyed this engine in other applications, and it's generally a very well-mannered unit, to the point that many drivers won't even notice what fuel lurks in the tank. However, the diesel's passing power is underwhelming at highway speeds, largely because peak torque is only available between 1,750 and 2,250 rpm, a very narrow band.
Given the engine's $2,000 extra cost and diesel fuel's per-gallon premium, I'm not sure it's worth it, even with its significantly better fuel economy (21 city, 26 highway, 23 mpg combined). If you routinely travel long distances, its superior range between fill ups will probably make it a worthwhile option, but if your priority is towing, the gas engine oddly enjoys a higher rating.
The supercharged 3.0-liter V6 yields 340 hp and 332 pound-feet of torque.
Chris Paukert/RoadshowBoth new powertrains are welcome improvements, but it's the all-new cabin that really pulls the new Discovery into the modern age. Materials look and feel premium, and they're notably richer than in today's Discovery Sport, this model's less expensive brother. Despite its radically different exterior, the Discovery's core virtues of good visibility with commanding upright seating are retained, including the low window for ideal off-road sightlines along with three rows of theater-style tiered seats that will keep Junior in the way back from getting nauseous. In fact, two full-size adults can sit in the way back in surprising comfort, with respectable head-, knee- and toe- room.
Just don't expect to carry any cargo when you're rolling seven up -- the rearmost seatback is all but snugged against the back window. Power fold the second- and third-row seats using the switchgear or phone app, however, and there's 82.7 cubic feet of space back there, along with a nifty available powered inner tailgate that's ideal for sitting on.
