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Land Rover models, news & reviews
5
Handling
3
Performance
4
Usability
Feelgood factor
Readers' rating
By Ben Pulman
First Drives
18 February 2008 09:11
Enough to carry seven blokes who are each over six foot. The raised floor means there’s no transmission tunnel intrusion for the middle-row passengers, and the Discovery is wide enough for three to sit comfortably abreast. In the very back anyone under six foot will be absolutely fine. Insist on putting a 6ft 6in bloke back there and the worst he’ll suffer will be knees pressed against seats. No other car offers as much room for seven people. And the seats are such a doddle to fold that we never even looked at the instruction manual.
No. The wood and leather don’t feel as expensive. The quality doesn’t feel as good, and there were a few rattles in our test car. Our top-spec HSE model costs a steep £44,535, but you still get things like hollow plastic door handles that creak when you rest your knee against them. You do however get four heated seats, leather everywhere, audio controls for all three rows, climate control, and electric this, that and the other. And if you insist, a six-speed manual is a no-cost option. But the interior is a wonderful place to sit. High above the rest of the world, with a great view out, on wonderfully comfy seats. You feel completely invulnerable, invincible, and it’s a great feeling.
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Land Rover Discovery TDV6 HSE (2008) CAR review
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oohmeconkers says
RE: Land Rover Discovery TDV6 HSE CAR review
Over the last 9 years I have had a couple of Shoguns and 3 Freelanders, the 1st was the L series Diesel and was awful. I soon changed that for a brace of TD4's and had the final one chipped to cope with family holidays in France (try overtaking with a roof box and fully loaded). I made the decision to upgrade to a Disco 3 as the Freelander 2 seemed pricey. I have subsequently driven the new Freelander and was surprised at how good it was however it is no Discovery 3. I agree with other contributors about it being the ultimate family car. We have loaded it to excess during two family camping trips and chucked a roof box into the mix and the car performed brilliantly. I regularly tramp up and down the motorways and get around 30.5 to the gallon the best being 31.9. It does benefit from light throttles and steady driving. Servicing and tyres are pricy but try having a word with your dealer discounts are available on parts and servicing if you are nice to them and ask the question. I have had no reliability problems and will by another one with no hesitation.
06 September 2008 15:46
Britbloke says
The best car I've ever owned
Pretty much have to agree with the article. I bought one two years ago (still have it) and, even though logic tells you otherwise, it's simply the most brilliant car. Who cares that it doesn't corner like a Ferrari, modern traffic doesn't let you do that anyway. Who cares that it doesn't have a 0-60 of 5 seconds or a top speed of 140mph - modern traffic doesn't let you do that either. It goes anywhere and is totally relaxing to drive. Over the years (too many of them!) I've owned all types of car - sports cars, american cars, a Bentley, a Fiat 500 (the original!), Volvos, Fords, Mercedes -you name it. This is the best by a long way. And it has, so far, been reliable. I shall be buying a 2009, no matter how much the greenies tell me I shouldn't.
17 April 2008 15:35
Clarke says
So let's get this straight ....
... this thing is 2.7 tons of metal that doesn't accelerate, doesn't handle, has an Airfix interior, and whose sole redeeming feature is the ability to carry 7 blokes across a muddy car-park. Woo hoo. Is this CAR Magazine, or IRRELEVANT TRUCK Magazine?
29 February 2008 06:30
JohnnyBimmer says
Clear statements
This Discovery smacks of integrity like no other car on the planet. It is quite beautiful and unmatched in its crisp, modern, brick-like design and presence on the road. If only they could do this at 600kg less to up its acceleration and economy figures LR would find many customers moving with their wallets from X5's, Cayennes and Merc GL's. As it stands, all 2.7 tons of it, it remains a heavyweight achievement which I for one love to see on our roads.
25 February 2008 20:19
GDThomson says
Setting the record straight
To MAX25 Although the Range Rover was designed under BMW ownership is was designed by Land Rover's own team working in Munich. The Discovery 3 was conceived under Ford ownership and was designed totally by Land Rover designers. No one from BMW was involved. The Range Rover Sport was also an in-house design, done alongside Discovery 3 but involving a different team of people, most of whom were ex Rover Cars designers.
22 February 2008 19:34
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