In a few days, we will be in right in the heart of Utah’s deserts to put the all-new Land Rover Discovery to the test. The fifth-generation model carries a great deal of improvements over the last iteration and understandably, there are high expectations for the new SUV.
First up, the new Discovery uses the same aluminium architecture employed by the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport, making it 480 kg lighter and definitely more fuel efficient than the Discovery 4. That said, weighing over 2.1 tonnes, the vehicle is still carrying a lot of weight.
The Discovery should have better off-road capability thanks to the multi-mode Terrain Response 2 system that optimises a range of settings, from throttle sensitivity to gearchange characteristics. Additionally, All-Terrain Progress Control (ATPC) can be programmed to autonomously maintain a suitable crawl speed in challenging terrains.
With a ground clearance of 283 mm and a maximum wading depth 900 mm, the new Discovery wouldn’t break a sweat on waterlogged tracks and flooded roads. Combined with a class-leading towing capacity of 3,500 kg, the Discovery is more accessible than ever.
The Discovery is powered by Jaguar Land Rover’s efficient range of four and six cylinder petrol and diesel engines, all paired with an eight-speed automatic gearbox from ZF. Said range includes the 2.0-litre four-cylinder Td4 diesel engine with 180 PS, the twin-turbo Sd4 diesel packing 240 PS and 500 Nm, the 258 PS/600 Nm Td6 six-cylinder diesel as well as the 3.0-litre supercharged V6 with 340 PS and 450 Nm of torque as the only petrol version on offer.
Elsewhere, we can expect flexible interior that provides seven full-sized adult seats. One of the highlights is the new Intelligent Seat Fold technology that allows customers to reconfigure the second- and third-row seats remotely via a smartphone app, in addition to using the central touchscreen or controls at the rear of the vehicle.
The latest version of the InControl Touch Pro infotainment system features a 10-inch touchscreen positioned high on the centre console, enabling Land Rover’s designers to reduce the number of switches on the centre console by a third, delivering a clean and uncluttered appearance.
The vehicle is also more connected than before with iOS and Android connectivity and 3G WiFi. Meanwhile, a 14-speaker digital surround system with additional subwoofer by Meridian provides the ultimate listening experience.
