THE FACTS
Price/availabilty: from £31,995. On sale September 1
Tested: Land Rover Discovery 3.0 TDV6 HSE
Power/Torque: 242bhp/442lb ft
Top speed: 112mph
Acceleration: 9sec
Fuel economy (Urban): 25mpg
CO2 emissions: 244g/km
VED band: L (£405)
Alternatives: Audi A6 Allroad, from £37,275. Volvo XC90, from £29,995. No alternatives for off-road capability
Verdict: Small changes have made this the perfect 4x4 workhorse
On the stereo: D.I.S.C.O by Ottawan
New for this model, however, is something called “sand launch control” which limits further the amount of wheel slip to prevent the car bogging down. The “rock crawl” program now applies low-level brake pressure when the vehicle is moving in first or reverse gear below 3mph to stop the wheels rolling in the wrong direction when severely articulated. The magic Hill Descent Control now maintains brake pressure briefly after the driver releases the brake pedal to stop the vehicle initially accelerating when it tips down a slope; it then continues to limit the car to 2mph on severe declines.
Impressive tinkering, but the biggest change is the addition of a new 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine, also in the Jaguar XF, which will eventually replace the current 2.7 unit, although at the moment you can choose either. It has 29 per cent more power and 36 per cent more torque than the 2.7 version and, crucially for such a big, heavy car, 83 per cent of the torque is available 500 milliseconds after you start to move off. Yet fuel economy and CO2 emissions are nine per cent better.
Mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox, the engine has two turbochargers - one kicks in at low revs followed by the other at higher engine speeds. It’s quieter than the 2.7 version and is quicker to respond to throttle input.
Changes to the Disco’s looks are minimal: it still has the boxy rear end but jazzier taillights. A redesigned bumper improves aerodynamics and new headlights add a touch of glamour to the utilitarian appearance. Inside, there’s a subtle shift upmarket with softer materials, better finishes and smatterings of leather and wood, although the overriding plastics tell you it’s not a Range Rover, which starts at £64,695.
Technology inside the car has moved on in leaps. There are minimal buttons on the console as most features are controlled via a touchscreen display. Cameras around the car transform the Disco into a CCTV operation room: the screen shows five views for you to select from, including a view of your wheels and a wide angle that assists at junctions. You can zoom in — handy for towing and parking.
Land Rover has also updated its iPod connection and shares Jaguar’s brilliant system that charges the iPod when it’s connected and allows you to skip through songs via the touchscreen or steering-wheel mounted controls. The radio has DAB, which will be handy when they switch off analogue in 2015...
And handy just about sums up the new Discovery. If you want Surrey plush, go for a Range Rover. If you want Manchester bling, it’s the Range Rover Sport. But if it’s a seven-seat, do-anything vehicle, it’s time to Disco.