2022 Land Rover Discovery

The price of the Land Rover Discovery begins at an MSRP of $53,900 for the base model. From there, you can move up to the R-Dynamic S at $56,400. With the larger 3.0-liter engine, the R-Dynamic S costs $61,900 and the R-Dynamic HSE goes for $68,900. The MSRP cost of the Land Rover Discovery excludes the destination charge of $1,350 in the USA.

With options, our Discovery R-Dynamic S came to a grand total of $73,255, including the $1,350 destination charge.

The base Discovery SUV price is lower than its German rivals. By comparison, the BMW X5 goes on sale for $59,400 and the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class starts at $54,750.

When you aren't navigating muddy trails, the 2022 Land Rover Discovery SUV is a pleasant vehicle to live with. The ride quality is a particular strength as the air suspension deals with bumps and surface changes beautifully, and it can put many a comfortable crossover to shame in this regard. With torque-rich engines and a smooth transmission, the SUV is extremely enjoyable to drive on highways or for extended road trips for drivers and passengers alike. But, when asked to deliver any entertainment value, things are not quite as good. The Discovery feels like the large, top-heavy SUV it is. While it won't fall over at the first sign of a twisty road, the lack of steering feel and a reluctance to make quick changes of direction mean that it's far off the pace of more road-biased vehicles like the BMW X5 and Porsche Cayenne. If you're looking for a driver's luxury SUV, the BMW and Porsche are your best bets.

But when the going gets tough, the newest Land Rover Discovery reminds you that it's still a Land Rover. The Terrain Response system works with standard gear - like gradient acceleration control and hill descent control to make this a rewarding off-roader for novices and experienced drivers alike. It'll wade through deeper water and clamber over larger obstacles than most rivals. In this area, the Discovery is a class leader.

Depending on how you look at it, the Land Rover Discovery is either a middling luxury SUV or a great one. If you never intend to head off-road, the Discovery can't match the athleticism, speed, or efficiency of other luxury SUVs like the BMW X5. The Land Rover is an accomplished cruiser and the bigger mild-hybrid-assisted powertrain is good, but it's just not as good as the best.

For the adventurous buyer, the Discovery emerges as a more impressive contender that will confidently tackle obstacles that would leave most rivals floundering, and it'll tow more than many of them, too. We also appreciate that Land Rover doesn't force you to spend extra on the majority of its driver-assist technologies. Finally, the Discovery is a handsome SUV and the interior is well-built and luxurious. Despite all this, the Disco fails to land a knockout blow in what is a highly competitive segment.

The 3.0-liter Discovery with the mild-hybrid system returns the same combined gas mileage figure as the 2.0-liter model and is more powerful, so we would choose it for the added performance. We'd be satisfied with the R-Dynamic S. It's $7,000 less expensive than the R-Dynamic HSE and comes with plenty of features like a powered tailgate, leather upholstery, the 11.4-inch touchscreen interface, a 3D surround-view camera, and traffic sign recognition. Since you're purchasing a Land Rover, we'll assume that off-roading ability is important to you. For that reason, we'd tick the box for the Advanced Off-Road Capability Pack and the Cold Climate Pack. We also think adaptive cruise control is a must in a luxury SUV.

The new Defender is an entirely different prospect from the last Defender to be sold in the United States. It's still a rugged, incredibly capable off-roader, but it's now quite luxurious if you go for a top-spec model. Starting at $47,700, the Defender is cheaper but that price only gets you a basic and much smaller Defender 90. As good as the Discovery is off-road, the Defender is better - it has much better maximum approach/departure angles and is lifted higher off the ground, giving it a more practical ride height. The Defender also comes with a more powerful six-pot engine with 395 hp, making it faster than the Discovery. On normal roads, the Discovery edges ahead with its smooth ride and more opulent cabin. The Discovery also has a lot more cargo space behind its second row of seats. Despite this, the newer and more rugged Defender is better at living up to the promise of that Land Rover badge, so it's our choice.

The smaller Range Rover Evoque is more of an outright fashion statement than the Discovery. It has flashier styling and a gorgeous cabin but it's not nearly as capable in off-road conditions. For instance, the Evoque's wading depth of just over 20 inches is around 15 inches less than what the Discovery can manage. The Evoque is more engaging to drive, although its ride can't match that of the more cushioned Discovery. There isn't a huge disparity in terms of performance, although the Discovery has a far higher towing capacity. For around the same price as a base Discovery, you can get behind the wheel of a well-equipped Evoque HST, which will turn more heads. The Discovery is ultimately the more capable, spacious SUV, though. If you want a luxury SUV with some real off-road credentials, get the Discovery. If you prefer style over practicality, get the Evoque.