2021 Land Rover Discovery

Pros: Off-road ability; available third-row seat; upscale interior

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

CG Says: The 2021 Land Rover Discovery has new engines and refreshed styling. The previous 254-horsepower diesel and 340-hp supercharged V6 have been replaced by a 296-hp turbo four and 355-hp turbo six. There is a new infotainment system with a larger 11.4-inch screen that can download over-the-air software updates. The second-row seats now have more padding for increased comfort and the front seatbacks incorporate tablet holders with USB-A charging sockets. Height-adjustable air suspension is now standard. The Land Rover Discovery is a midsize crossover SUV that replaced LR4 in Land Rover’s product roster for 2017 and slots above the compact Discovery Sport. 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 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 Styling is less boxy than before, and Land Rover’s traditional two-piece tailgate has been replaced by a conventional one-piece liftgate.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 296-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine is standard, and a 355-hp turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six paired with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system is available; both engines are mated to an 8-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, hill-descent control, and Wade Mode for fording water. 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, 4G Wi-Fi, 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 previous 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.