2021 Land Rover Discovery Review

　　

2021 Land Rover Discovery Review

byReese CountsVehicle Test Editor

　　Reese Counts has worked in the automotive industry since he started as an intern at zzdcar in 2015. He has written or edited thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Reese is a vehicle test editor at zzdcar and has also contributed to Autoblog. Reese has also been featured on Yahoo! Finance, Engadget and AOL reviewing cars and covering automotive technology, auto shows and more. Reese learned to drive in his father's C4 Chevrolet Corvette and now owns his grandfather's 1999 Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG. A love for cars runs deep in his family.

　　The 2021 Land Rover Discovery is a three-row midsize luxury SUV that distinguishes itself from the rest with its superior off-road capabilities. It represents the family-friendly choice in the Land Rover lineup, with the premium luxury Range Rover above it and the rugged Defender supporting it.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 Land Rover Discovery P300 S 4dr SUV 4WD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$232/mo  for Discovery P300 S

　　Discovery P300 S

　　P300 S 4dr SUV 4WD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $53,900 MSRPP300 R-Dynamic S 4dr SUV 4WD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $56,400 MSRPP360 R-Dynamic S 4dr SUV 4WD (3.0L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) - $61,900 MSRPP360 R-Dynamic HSE 4dr SUV 4WD (3.0L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) (Most Popular) - $68,900 MSRP

　　vs

　　$229/mo

　　Avg. Large SUV

　　This year brings a handful of small changes, adding up to the most significant update for the Discovery since it was redesigned in 2017. New LED headlights and bumpers freshen up the exterior look. Meanwhile on the inside, a new infotainment system debuts with a larger touchscreen, and redesigned second-row seats promise greater comfort. There's also a new R-Dynamic model that adds some sporty visual touches, such as gloss black exterior trim and two-tone leather in the cabin. The biggest changes occur under the hood, with a new entry-level four-cylinder and a turbocharged six-cylinder with mild hybrid technology. Unfortunately, the diesel motor has been discontinued.

　　Overall, we think the Land Rover Discovery is a smart pick for a luxury SUV. Alternatively, you might check out rivals such as the Audi A7, Genesis GV80 and Mercedes-Benz GLE.

　　

What's it like to live with?

We spent a year with a 2017 Land Rover Discovery not long after this current generation made its debut. We found the Discovery comfortable and were impressed with its off-road capabilities, but its infotainment system continually frustrated us with various issues. That system has been updated along with a number of other things for 2021, but many of our observations still hold true of the current Discovery.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Average

　　7.6

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.5/10

　　How does the Discovery drive? Expect competent but unexciting performance. The Discovery we tested had the six-cylinder engine, and at our test track it accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 6.7 seconds. That's a bit off the pace of rivals such as the Audi Q7. The Discovery doesn't leap off the line when you mash the gas, but there's plenty of smooth midrange power to make passing on the highway a breeze.

　　Numerous aspects compound to make the Discovery feel bigger than it is, starting with the ponderous handling. The center of gravity feels quite high, so the Disco leans noticeably when you drive through tight turns.

　　You do get plenty of off-road capability with the Discovery, though. It has a maximum ground clearance of 11.1 inches, which is quite high for a three-row SUV, plus multiple traction modes and an available two-speed transfer case to help you make your way over rocks and ruts.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the Discovery? The Discovery is comfortable overall. The first two rows of seats feature nicely shaped seats that hold up after hours of driving, even though they don't have much thigh support. The interior is impressively quiet, and the four-zone climate control system works well to heat or cool to your liking. One downside we noticed: The Discovery's standard air suspension can produce a mildly floaty ride at times.

　　

Interior

6.5/10

　　How’s the interior? We'll start by saying that the new infotainment system is much easier to use than the Discovery's previous interface. Also, the climate system is neat in that you can control fan temperature, fan speed and seat heating/ventilation with a single knob. Front and side visibility is also quite good.

　　But ... there are a lot of buts. Land Rover really needs to hire some people from Toyota and Honda for the next Discovery in hopes of coming up with better controls and ergonomics. Here's our list: 1) The haptic touch climate panel requires too much of your attention to use while driving; 2) The armrest snaps shut with the speed of a guillotine; 3) It's shockingly difficult to operate the upper glovebox; 4) There's also no quick release for moving the second row forward, so third-row passengers are almost entirely dependent on someone else to help them exit; 5) The driver's seat sits up way too high, giving the Discovery an almost bus-like driving position; 6) The second and third rows don't have enough legroom for a vehicle in this class; and 7) The large rear headrests are huge obstructions for looking out the back of the vehicle.

　　

Technology

8.0/10

　　How’s the tech? The Disco's revised tech offerings represent a major improvement over the 2017-2020 model. The optional Meridian sound system is worth a purchase — there's good punch and clarity, and songs that can produce unwanted vibrations or noises in less able systems are reproduced faithfully here. The navigation system is not without its quirks (the predictive text algorithm makes some particularly odd choices) but is otherwise fairly intuitive. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, and there are many USB ports sprinkled throughout the cabin. The Discovery also has an impressive array of standard advanced safety features, including a 360-degree camera and lane keeping assist.

　　

Storage

8.5/10

　　How’s the storage? The Discovery's dual load door is quite nice, with the short bottom portion ensuring your groceries won't roll out when you park on your driveway incline. Unfortunately, at 6.1 cubic feet, the amount of cargo room behind the third row is laughable. With the third-row seats lowered, you'll find that the Discovery offers, thankfully, a bit more capacity than rivals. The same goes for lowering the second row, allowing the Discovery to hold a generous 73 cubes. That's a bit more space than both the Audi Q7 and Acura MDX. Storage for small items is generous, with big door pockets and a sizable underarm bin up front. There's even a small cubby behind the climate panel.

　　If you plan on towing, know that the Discovery has a higher capacity than most other midsize three-row luxury SUVs. Properly equipped, it's rated to tow up to 8,200 pounds.

　　

Fuel Economy

7.5/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The Discovery with the turbocharged six-cylinder engine gets an EPA-estimated 21 mpg combined (18 city/24 highway). Those figures are a bit below average for a midsize luxury three-row SUV. But in our real-world testing the Discovery returned 21.7 mpg, which is comparable to the test results we got for the Audi Q7 (21 mpg) and BMW X5 (21.5 mpg).

　　

Value

7.5/10

　　Is the Discovery a good value? The Discovery is appropriately priced for a midsize luxury SUV. As-new pricing starts about $55,000, and our R-Dynamic S test vehicle with the upgraded powertrain and assorted features stickered for about $73,000. A similarly equipped Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 is a few thousand dollars more than the Discovery, while the Audi Q7 and BMW X5 are quite a bit cheaper. The Land Rover's interior materials are top-notch, and we noted no squeaks or rattles during our test.

　　Land Rover's warranty coverage is unremarkable, with bumper-to-bumper and powertrain coverage for four years/50,000 miles. The same goes for roadside assistance. Many rivals are more generous. Land Rover also does not offer complimentary maintenance.

　　

Wildcard

7.5/10

　　The ponderous handling saps some of the fun you could have in the Discovery, but if you're plowing straight ahead, this big crossover is perfectly pleasant. The six-cylinder powertrain is a gem, even if it doesn't hustle this lug to the same extent as rivals. The Discovery is a looker inside and out, and Land Rover has done a great job making this aging SUV feel fresh from behind the wheel.

　　

Which Discovery does zzdcar recommend?

The Discovery lineup has been slightly altered for 2021. As before, we think the middle tier is the sweet spot, so we suggest going with the Discovery S R-Dynamic. It comes with a good mix of standard and optional features, and it's available with either of the Discovery's two new engines.

　　

2021 Land Rover Discovery models

The three-row 2021 Land Rover Discovery is a midsize luxury SUV designed to be just as capable off-road as it is on city streets. For 2021, the Discovery is available in three trim levels: S, S R-Dynamic and HSE R-Dynamic. You also have a choice of engines.

　　The Discovery S and S R-Dynamic come standard with a new turbocharged four-cylinder engine (296 hp). A new turbocharged inline-six engine (355 hp) with a mild hybrid system is optional on the S R-Dynamic and standard on the HSE R-Dynamic. All-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic are standard across all models.

　　S

　　The base Discovery S trim comes fairly well equipped. Standard features include:

　　20-inch wheels Rain-sensing windshield wipers Panoramic glass roof LED headlights Foglights Keyless entry and ignition Power-adjustable front seats Leather upholstery Two-zone automatic climate control Five-passenger seatingStandard technology and advanced driver aids include:

　　11.4-inch touchscreen display Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Multiple USB-A and USB-C ports Surround-view camera system (gives you a top-down view of the Discovery and its surroundings for tight parking situations) Lane keeping assist (steers the Discovery back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker) Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while in reverse) Automatic emergency braking (warns if a front impact is imminent and applies the brakes if you don't respond in time) Parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible in front of or behind the vehicle when parking)Notable options on the Discovery S include:

　　Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the vehicle and the car in front) Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line onto the windshield) Meridian audio system Third-row seat for seven-passenger capacity Cold Climate package Heated steering wheel Heated windshield Heated headlight washers Hot Climate package Chilled center console Four-zone automatic climate control Cabin air purifier S R-Dynamic

　　The Discovery S R-Dynamic has a few stylistic differences compared to the base S but is otherwise similar for standard and optional features. You can also get the S R-Dynamic with the upgraded 355-hp turbocharged six-cylinder engine.

　　HSE R-Dynamic

　　The top-level Discovery HSE R-Dynamic trim comes standard with the 355-hp engine and seven-seat configuration. In addition to the S R-Dynamic features, you get:

　　22-inch wheels Hands-free tailgate Upgraded LED headlights Adaptive cruise control Upgraded power-adjustable front seats Heated and ventilated front seats Heated rear seats Power-operated third-row seats Upgraded leather upholstery Meridian sound system Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the vehicle and the car in front) Other notable options include:

　　Towing Pack (tow hitch plus other towing-related enhancements) Advanced Off-Road Capability package Ventilated second-row rear seats More powerful Meridian sound system

　　

2021 Discovery Highlights

Trim: P300 SP300 R-Dynamic SP360 R-Dynamic SP360 R-Dynamic HSEP300 S

　　

Base MSRP	$53,900
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	21 MPG
Cost to Drive	$232/month
Seating	7 seats
Drivetrain	four wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles