2023 Land Rover Discovery SUV

　　

2023 Land Rover Discovery Review

byMichael CantuCorrespondent

　　Michael Cantu has worked in the automotive industry since 2014. He has written over 800 car-related articles and tested and reviewed over 100 vehicles over the course of his career. Michael is a contributor at zzdcar and has also contributed to MotorTrend, Digital Trends and InsideEVs. Michael was featured on a few InsideEVs YouTube channel videos on the topic of electric vehicles. Michael was a MotorTrend Car of the Year judge for 2019 and was a driver in MotorTrend's World's Greatest Drag Races 7 & 8.

　　, rating written byMichael CantuManager, News

　　Cameron Rogers has worked in the automotive industry since 2013. He has tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Today, he leads the news team in developing cutting-edge news articles, opinion pieces and sneak peeks at upcoming vehicles. Favorite cars that he's driven during his tenure at zzdcar include the 991-era Porsche 911 Turbo S, Rolls-Royce Ghost and several generations of Honda Odyssey (really).

　　There aren't many SUVs on the road today like the Land Rover Discovery. It's been long known for its off-road capability, but the Discovery also offers an impressive amount of luxury and tech. The Discovery can get lost in the shuffle of Land Rover's other vehicles — the posh Range Rover, the stylish Velar and the rugged Defender — but it remains an attractive pick for a three-row family SUV.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2023 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) - $58,400 MSRPP300 R-Dynamic S 4dr SUV 4WD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) (Most Popular) - $61,600 MSRPP360 R-Dynamic S 4dr SUV 4WD (3.0L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) - $67,400 MSRPP360 R-Dynamic HSE 4dr SUV 4WD (3.0L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) - $73,700 MSRPP360 Metropolitan Edition 4dr SUV 4WD (3.0L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) - $77,800 MSRP

　　vs

　　$229/mo

　　Avg. Large SUV

　　The 2023 model year brings a number of changes to the Discovery's standard and optional features. But the most notable update is the limited-edition Metropolitan Edition trim, which is now the most expensive model in the Discovery lineup. It's based on the R-Dynamic HSE trim and adds notable features including special 22-inch wheels, bright exterior trim, a head-up display, heated and ventilated front and rear seats, and heated third-row seats. Adaptive cruise control is now standard on all models, and a standard reconfigurable digital instrument cluster will be added on models produced later in the year.

　　The Land Rover Discovery faces off against rivals such as the Acura MDX, Audi Q7, Mercedes-Benz GLE and Volvo XC90. Which one should you get? Check out our Expert Rating below to get our test team's in-depth scoring of the Discovery's performance, utility and more.

　　

What's it like to live with?

If you'd like to find out what we thought of a 2017 Land Rover Discovery (the first year of the current generation) after one year and 21,000 miles, check out our long-term road test. It includes monthly updates, routine maintenance costs, real-world fuel economy results and more. Land Rover has updated the Discovery since then but much of our reporting still applies to this 2023 model.

　　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.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below