The Disco has a classy and well-built cabin. All occupants will find seating to be comfortable and spacious save for those confined to the cramped third row, which is best left for small children only. For the driver, there's a large, crisp touchscreen providing access to key connectivity features, plus amenities like keyless entry, a garage door opener, and a powered tailgate that make the SUV easier to live with. Other standard features include a power-adjustable steering column, dual-zone climate control, and a 3D surround-view camera. The cabin can be jazzed up with plush leather upholstery and a variety of wood trim finishes. The Germans may have the slight edge in terms of quality but the Discovery easily lives up to its luxury SUV billing.
The Discovery seats a maximum of seven occupants in three rows. In the first two rows, adults will be comfortable thanks to ample legroom and headroom. Access is also straightforward due to the large doors. Getting into the 3rd row requires a bit more dexterity, and once seated, it's not as spacious as the second row. Shorter adults will be able to ride back there for shorter distances, but six-footers are best accommodated in one of the first two rows.
There are no serious problems with outward visibility, although the rear headrests are quite large and can hamper the driver's view out of the back window.
Land Rover Discovery Trims | P300 S | P300 R-Dynamic S | P360 R-Dynamic S | P360 R-Dynamic HSE |
---|---|---|---|---|
Seating | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
Headroom Front Seat | 39.4 in. | 39.4 in. | 39.4 in. | 39.4 in. |
Headroom Back Seat | 39 in. | 39 in. | 39 in. | 39 in. |
Legroom Front Seat | 39.1 in. | 39.1 in. | 39.1 in. | 39.1 in. |
Legroom Back Seat | 37.4 in. | 37.4 in. | 37.4 in. | 37.4 in. |
Shoulder Room Front | 60.4 in. | 60.4 in. | 60.4 in. | 60.4 in. |
Shoulder Room Rear | 59.5 in. | 59.5 in. | 59.5 in. | 59.5 in. |
The Discovery gets grained leather or Luxtec leatherette upholstery as standard in a choice of Ebony and Light Oyster color schemes. The leather adds Acorn as a third color choice. None of these cost extra although the Acorn seats require you to add 18-way power-adjustable front seats for $1,350. Light Oyster or Ebony headliners are available, while the trim options include Gloss Black, Titanium Mesh ($300), Shadow Aluminum ($300), Natural Charcoal Oak veneer ($600), and Natural Shadow Oak veneer ($600). Finally, the standard leather-wrapped steering wheel can be finished in Dinamica ($600) or an alternative type of leather ($300). However, the Dinamica steering wheel must be paired with Luxtec/suedecloth seats, and the alternative leather steering wheel requires a host of other upgrades like Windsor leather which will add a whopping $5,300 to the price of the base model.
R-Dynamic models like ours receive metal treadplates with R-Dynamic branding and standard Shadow Aluminum trim. These models also have the option of two-tone Light Oyster/Ebony seats or more opulent Windsor leather in either Ebony or Light Oyster/Ebony, an option that costs $750. The Light Oyster/Ebony Windsor leather seats will require other extras like 20-way front seats with ventilation for an added cost.
The range-topping R-Dynamic HSE (only available with the bigger engine) gets the Windsor leather seats as standard. From the base model all the way up to the HSE, the Discovery's sturdy and attractive interior makes a good impression, but the experience isn't as lavish as when you're seated behind the wheel of the Mercedes GLE-Class.
All models can be equipped with full extended leather for an additional $1,500, although this option does require first specifying the Windsor leather.
As is often the case with seven-seater SUVs, cargo capacity is poor when all the seats are upright. Behind the third row, there are just 9.1 cubic feet. With the third row folded, cargo space increases to a much more practical 45 cubes. The 60/40 split-folding rear seat has an electric fold function and by dropping these, the Discovery offers 74.3 cubes.
Interior storage space is excellent, too. The midsize SUV comes with in-facia storage above the usual glovebox, lidded storage in the center console, large door bins in the first two rows, and cupholders for front and rear occupants.
Land Rover has been generous with the Discovery's standard specification in the US market. Even the entry-level model comes with 14-way power-adjustable front seats, a power-adjustable steering column, dual-zone automatic climate control, power-folding mirrors, a sliding front sunroof, a fixed rear panoramic roof, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. The driver gets an interactive digital display, push-button start, keyless entry, and a garage door opener.
All of the expected driver-assistance features are standard such as blind-spot assist, a 3D surround-view camera system, front/rear parking sensors, and cruise control with a speed limiter.
Our R-Dynamic sampler came with a heated steering wheel, 18-way heated electric memory front seats with a very convenient captain's armrest, which adds another $1,350 to the bill. The top-spec R-Dynamic HSE boasts electric third-row seats, a powered gesture tailgate, 20-way power-adjustable front seats with heating/cooling, and adaptive cruise control.
Land Rover's options list includes both standalone upgrades and packages. Ticking a few boxes can add features like three- or four-zone climate control and a heated steering wheel.
Land Rover's latest Pivi Pro infotainment interface is a huge improvement over what was used in older models. Even people unfamiliar with Land Rover products should quickly be able to get used to the responsive touchscreen, which measures 11.4 inches. The base model comes with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, so users of each won't feel alienated when needing to connect their smartphones. Bluetooth, HD Radio, and SiriusXM satellite radio are all also standard. Navigation with real-time traffic information allows for convenient trips when heading to an unknown destination, or if you want to avoid congestion. The standard sound system includes eight speakers and dynamic volume control. On the HSE, a more powerful Meridian sound system with 15 speakers is equipped.
Lower-spec models, like our R-Dynamic, can upgrade to either a 12- or 14-speaker Meridian system (in our case another $1,250), with both including a subwoofer.