The Discovery spearheaded the return of the Land Rover brand into the US, sporting surprisingly strong off-roading performance packed into a rather upscale SUV. Still, now in its fourth iteration, Land Rover Discovery took the brand´s family carrier role. It isn't all lost, as the Discovery S R-Dynamic is not your average soccer mom vehicle. Here's how it keeps itself competitive in a packed market.
As the Defender was left to wear the mud-plowing crown of the brand, Land Rover ditched the hybrid monocoque-ladder construction on the Discovery and replaced it with a more common unibody architecture. Thanks to this change, Discovery S R-Dynamic lost plenty of pounds and quite a few extra aluminum parts.
Keeping The ICE Running
There is plenty of talk about alternative power systems, with all automakers having at least one electric model in their lineup. Swimming against the current, Land Rover leads the way in further development of internal combustion engines, hoping to keep them viable for as long as possible. As such, the standard Land Rover Discovery S R-Dynamic comes available with a 2-liter 4-cylinder engine good for 296hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. The star of the show is in fact the 355hp and 369 lb-ft mill featuring 6 cylinders for a total displacement of 3 liters. The 3-liter mill is also assisted by a 48V hybrid system. Regardless of the engine choice, power is sent to the wheels via an 8-speed automatic gearbox with standard all-wheel drive.
The all-wheel drive system complimented by the hybrid assist does a lot of good. The 3-liter Discovery is good for a 14.7s quarter mile, needing just 6.3 seconds to reach 60mph. That has to fit the needs of any father rushing his kid to training or escaping for a fishing trip before the missus figures it out. To reach these numbers, the 3-liter Discovery spends just as much fuel as the average in class: 18/24 mpg city/highway.
A Tall Ride
The new Land Rover Discovery S R-Dynamic comes with a flowing silhouette, ditching the box-shaped body of the original Discovery. Even with tamed edges and curved lines, the SUV still stands tall at 74.3 inches. Because of this, some of the driving dynamics from the old model still found their way into the new iteration. Yes, family SUVs aren’t supposed to corner like an F1 car. Still, the Discovery S R-Dynamic will pull 0.79g of lateral acceleration, 0.1g below the Audi Q7 or BMW X5 competitors. Even with the above considered, the Land Rover Discovery proves itself on the road, as the air-spring suspension eats away all road imperfections and the naturally weighted steering responds better than the Defender.
Honest Off-road Ability
The modern Land Rover Discovery may have lost its strong ladder chassis, but it hasn’t entirely lost its appetite for the off-road. You might want to change the standard low-profile high-speed tires with some proper all-terrain options before you head out into the woods. That being said, the height-adjustable suspension brings plenty of ground clearance to tackle obstacles and steep ramps. Center and rear differentials automatically lock when selecting “Terrain Response” mode, getting the Discovery across regardless if there’s ice, snow or rock covering the trail.
Unless you’re directly heading for the swamp, the Land Rover Discovery should be able to take you out of most decent off-road situations. Overall, with a sleek body, an upgraded engine and powertrain, plenty of safety features complimenting the spacious interior and a knack for adventure, the Land Rover Discovery S R-Dynamic brings family trips, business and entertainment under the same cabin.
