2019 Land Rover Discovery Test Drive Review: Off Road Family Hauling With Style
Land Rover has a well-earned reputation for SUVs that are incredibly capable off-road. The Discovery still has excellent off-roading credibility, but it's built into a luxurious and family-oriented SUV with excellent road manners. That's an intricate blend to put together and puts the Discovery in the Land Rover lineup between the rugged new Defender model and the go-anywhere in luxury Range Rover. It's a blend Land Rover has got right, and the Discovery manages to be a smooth ride around town, a relaxing freeway cruiser, a capable off-roader, and seats up to seven people comfortably. On top of that, the Discovery also features some creative storage and utility solutions and ample cargo space when the third row isn't in use.
On the downside, the Discovery is not renowned for having a lightning-fast infotainment system, and fuel economy is not a strong point for either the supercharged V6 or the diesel-fueled turbo V6 engine. However, both options are mated to an excellent eight-speed automatic transmission, and the Discovery has a competitive towing ability, placing it in good stead against the few rivals it does have like the Toyota Land Cruiser.
What's the Price of the 2019 Land Rover Discovery?
Base-spec SE models in the range have a sticker price of $52,950 when equipped with the standard gasoline V6, with a jump to $59,700 for HSE models. Opting for the top-spec HSE Luxury will set you back $67,200. Opting for the turbocharged diesel engine on any trim adds $2,000 to your bill; all prices quoted here exclude a $1,025 delivery fee, as well as any taxes, licensing or registration.
Best Deals on 2019 Land Rover Discovery
2019 Discovery Exterior
Dimensions
Length | Wheelbase | Height | Max Width | Front Width | Rear Width |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
195.7 in | 115.0 in | 73.0 in | 78.7 in | 66.5 in | 66.4 in |
Exterior Colors
2019 Discovery Performance
Engine and Transmission
Handling and Driving Impressions
You'll never forget you're driving a large SUV, but the steering is precise around town and composed through corners on winding roads. There's little chassis lean from the suspension, but the ride is still plush across choppy pavement. Braking is smooth and linear, so it's not until the brakes are piled on in an emergency that the Discovery's weight has a negative effect. We couldn't find anywhere that the Discovery wasn't pleasant to drive, and the precision and ease of use of the steering makes it as easy to park as to guide it down the freeway.
Venturing off the tarmac, the Discovery shines in slippery conditions, and the All-Terrain Progress Control does a top-notch job of acting like a low-speed cruise control over low-traction surfaces. The Discovery also has a better approach and departure angle than its looks suggest at 34 degrees and 30 degrees, respectively.
2019 Discovery Interior
Seating and Interior Space
2019 Discovery Trunk and Cargo Space
2019 Discovery Safety and Reliability
Warranty
Basic | Drivetrain | Corrosion | Roadside Assistance |
---|---|---|---|
4 Years / 50,000 Miles | 4 Years / 50,000 Miles | 6 Years / Unlimited Miles | 4 Years / 50,000 Miles |
US NHTSA Crash Test Result
Verdict: Is the 2019 Land Rover Discovery A Good SUV?
It's hard not to be impressed by Discovery as a balanced blend of on and off-road manners. It fills the gap nicely between the Range Rover and the new Defender as a family orientated luxury hauler that can deal comfortably with going adventuring. It's also stylish and a pleasure to drive, so if all of that adds up to something you want or need, then we would recommend taking a test drive as there's not much that fills that bracket so well. What's important is to not understate how good of an off-roader the Discovery is, particularly compared with seven-seaters on the market. It's a big level up in ability compared to all-wheel-drive available crossovers like the Honda Pilot or BMW X7.
What Land Rover Discovery Model Should I Buy?
As with all luxury vehicles, the more you spend going up the trim levels, then the more you're going to enjoy the experience. We like the base SE as a value proposition and would option the Capability Package to increase the Discovery's ability off-road and comfort on-road. If there's a lot of adventuring in the SUV's future, the Capability Plus Package is a great idea. For us, the mid-level HSE trim is the sweet spot for what the Discovery aims to be, though, and comes with blind spot monitoring amongst its standard safety features as well as making the Capability Plus Package an option to give it as much of an advantage as possible on slippery terrain.
2019 Land Rover Discovery Comparisons
2019 Land Rover Discovery vs Land Rover Discovery Sport
Upping the ante on athleticism, the Discovery Sport takes the already impressive package that is the standard Discovery, and channels it away from the off-road focus for a more sassy, nimble vibe. With two engine options on the Disco Sport - a 237-hp or 286-hp turbo four-cylinder motor - it does without the benefit of the more fuel-efficient diesel engines available to the Discovery. The results are 21/25/22 mpg in its most efficient guise, literally one mpg behind its diesel-engined stablemate. And, despite making less horsepower at 286 hp to the standard Disco's 340 hp, it manages a much quicker acceleration to 60 mph - somewhere in the mid-six-second range compared to the 6.9 second time of the gas V6 Discovery. Towing capacity is a tell-tale sign of what each model is designed for, however, with the Discovery capable of pulling up to 8,201 lbs, while the Disco Sport barely manages half that. Although they share a family name, these two siblings couldn't be more different: buy the Discovery if you want space, family-oriented adventuring and hauling, and comfort; get the Discovery Sport if you want to show off, dart about the city, and look good doing so.
2019 Land Rover Discovery vs Land Rover Range Rover Evoque
Still keeping it in the family, the Range Rover Evoque is also a sporty, slick alternative to the Discovery. It is classified as a compact SUV, however, so as standard offers a lot less space overall. This sleeker look not only affects cargo space, but only allows for five passengers as opposed to the maximum seven in the Disco, but it has other benefits too. The Evoque is significantly less weighty, maxing out at 4,045 lbs curb weight in its heaviest guise - more than 1,000 lbs less than the Discovery with its diesel engine. This translates to agile, engaging driving which is the biggest drawcard for the Evoque - it doesn't have the practicality or versatility that the Discovery offers, but it looks amazing and is much more fun to drive. Take your pick.