2017 Land Rover Discovery

Pros: Off-road ability; available 3^rd-row seat; upscale interior

Cons: Fuel economy is improved, but still not great; top trim levels are pricey

CG Says: Land Rover introduces a new midsize SUV for 2017 that slots above the compact Discovery Sport in brand’s model lineup. The new Discovery replaces the outgoing LR4 in Land Rover’s product roster. While the LR4 used truck-like, body-on-frame construction, the Discovery uses aluminum-intensive unibody construction for reduced weight. The Discovery is 5.5 inches longer than the outgoing LR4, yet Land Rover claims Discovery is up 1000 pounds lighter. Styling is less boxy than before, and Land Rover’s traditional two-piece tailgate has been replaced by a conventional one-piece liftgate. For those who still want to sit on tailgate at outdoor events, an optional power inner tailgate folds down when the liftgate is open. An optional third-row seat enables the Discovery to seat up to seven passengers. A 340-hp supercharged 3.0-liter V6 is standard, and a 254-horsepower 3.0-liter V6 turbodiesel is available; both engines are paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive is standard, and a two-speed transfer case for better off-road performance is optional. As expected of a Land Rover, there is an extensive range of available off-road features: height-adjustable air suspension, All-Terrain Progress Control, automatic terrain response, and hill-descent control. Available luxury features include heated seats for all three rows, heated/cooled/massaging front seats, power-folding second- and third-row seats with smartphone remote control, and park assist. Available safety features include autonomous emergency braking, pedestrian detection, driver-condition monitor, lane-departure warning and mitigation, and blind-spot alert. Discovery has the genuine off-road ability expected of a Land Rover, and thanks to a substantial weight reduction, it has improved on-road performance and better fuel economy than the outgoing LR4. For SUV buyers who really want to venture off the beaten path without giving up modern-day comfort/technology features and on-road civility, the new Discovery is tough to beat.