The new Discovery 5 is a supercar. There, I said it.
Granted, it doesnât have 600bhp, weigh 1,200kg and do 200 miles per hour but, like a supercar, it is WAY more capable than most of its owners will ever know. Does anyone ever need a supercar? No. Do many people need the capability of a Discovery 5? No, but most people would take either of these in a heartbeat.
Now, diehard off-road lovers and those of a petrolhead disposition may think that the Disco 5 has gone soft and is too upmarket and too expensive, but sales figures would suggest that they are wrong. Land Rover, with their current Range Rover and new Discovery, has been pushing further into the luxury market than ever before and itâs been a successful formula.
Having never taken part in any real off-road adventures, I felt slightly more qualified to assess the Discoveryâs on-road capabilities and whether itâs really a good choice as your family car (donât let our photo location fool you).
The first impression that greets you with the Discovery is just how big it is. That might seem obvious, but when youâve just stepped out of a hatchback then itâs easy to forget just how much higher up you sit in a Discovery. At 1,888mm height, 2,220mm width (inc mirrors) and 4,970mm in length, and with an impressive 900mm wade depth (!) itâs bigger than most things on the road and is only marginally smaller than the mighty Range Rover.
This sizes give you a commanding position on the road and gives you the âlord it over the little people feelingâ that some might find appealing. Although, for the most part, this doesnât add much in terms of day to day practicality, adults and children adore the loftiness and the views.
Of course, all of this size has to equal weight, and at 2,200kg the new Discovery is no lightweight. Still, when you’re comparing the old model to this (in 2.0l form, not this 3.0l Td6) it represents a saving of 480kg and that can only help fuel economy and ride. True enough; the legendary ride quality of the Discovery is still here, making it a comfortable and relaxing place to spend your time, and unlike anything else that can perform so well off-road.
In 3.0l Td6 format, you canât even say that itâs slow. 0-60 is dispensed within 7.7 seconds due to 258hp and 600Nm of torque, and it can get up to 130mph if you really need to cross Germany in a hurry.
In our well-optioned HSE Luxury model, Â you could well travel across continents in feeling relaxed and well entertained. On top of the already healthy standard spec, we had a few nice options inc: nimbus/ espresso leather seats with massage (ÂŁ870), privacy glass (ÂŁ390), capability plus pack (active rear locking differential, terrain Response 2, all terrain progress control (ATPC)) (ÂŁ1,000), front centre console cooler (ÂŁ235), electrically deployable towbar (ÂŁ985), park assist (ÂŁ935), active key (ÂŁ315), television (ÂŁ880), HuD (ÂŁ1,035), timed climate/remote heat (ÂŁ1,035).
Of the options above, Iâd recommend some based on this being a family car / long distance cruiser, not an agricultural vehicle. The seats were great, not the best massage ever but really comfortable, park assist is a must for something so big, privacy glass is always a good idea, the towbar WILL be handy some day and the active key is also something youâd get used to having. The remote heating is a great feature thatâs good to have if you can justify the price, but I always think heads up displays are overpriced and should be standard on all new premium cars.
The Namib Orange paint was also an extra and at ÂŁ1,660, although again hard to justify, it did look fantastic and a great contrast to the usual silver/grey that you will see these in.
For me, the new Discovery is a difficult car to really get my head around. Despite not needing all of the clever off-road technology Iâd still have one in a heartbeat. Other large SUVs like the BMW X5 or Mercedes GLE are probably better on the road, but why have a car like this at all if it canât also take 7 adults, in comfort, up the side of a mountain?
At ÂŁ76,400, with options, not many people will likely take their new Discovery to an off-road course, or up the side of the aforementioned mountain, but then neither will many owners of a new McLaren 720s take them round Knockhill on a track day.
While social media and motoring forums are full of people complaining about the offset rear numberplate, I think the overall look of the new Discovery is such a big leap on from the previous model (note, it’s a Discovery 3 in some of the photos) that it can almost be forgiven. Iâd even go as far to say that the front end looks better than the current Range Rover.
The new Discovery would have got a full five teacake rating if it were not for a few glitches with the infotainment software, the rear bench seat not always folding down when the boot was opened and a few bits of trim that I thought should be better finished, given the price. Overall though, the new Discovery is almost in a league of its own when it comes to capability, luxury and price and was very much loved here.
Land Rover Discovery Td6 HSE Luxury
PRICE: ÂŁ64,195 (ÂŁ76,400 as tested)
ENGINE: 3.0L Td6 Diesel
POWER: 258 hp
TORQUE: 600 Nm
PERFORMANCE: Top speed 130 mph, 0-62mph 7.7 secs
CONSUMPTION: 43.4 mpg (combined)
CO2: 189 g/km
TT Rating: 
