Review: Land Rover Discovery 2.0 SD4 HSE

We love the new Discovery, but how is it with a small, entry-level engine?

Drivers in the UK have certainly liked the Discovery, as the sales figures show. The Discovery 4 we’ve just waved farewell to was a solid performer. But it was too thirsty, too blunt and too heavy apart from anything else. As the 21^st Century powers along, that’s not really acceptable, so the new model looks set to address all those issues without losing any of the old skill-sets.

If we’re looking for a Discovery that can actually manage half-way decent fuel consumption, then this model should be it, fitted with the Ingenium 2.0-litre diesel engine. In theory it can manage 43.5mpg so that’s a promising starting point.

The new Discovery shares some of its DNA with the Range Rover Sport and for some that will not be a Good Thing. However, where the Sport has the image of being driven by more aggressive types, the Discovery steers clear of such macho exhibitionism. You could argue that the Range Rover Sport tends to overcompensate, but the Discovery is entirely happy in its skin. It’s a big difference.

The engine is a mild surprise. We’ve tried and given the thumbs up to the 3.0-litre V6 diesel, and losing a litre of engine when you’re pulling 2.2 tonnes sounds like a big loss. But, assuming you don’t want to drive like a Range Rover Sport driver, you’ll find the smaller Ingenium engine has more than enough to offer.

On the road it pulls steadily although of course it’s not quite as refined as the V6. We also took the Discovery off-road, because you have to don’t you? This is no crossover, this is a Land Rover. And there, amid the mud and the guts, you’ll appreciate the 369lb ft of torque even more than you’ll appreciate the 237bhp.

And it’s there, too, where you start to explore and appreciate all the on-board technology to keep you moving across the terrain, whether it’s a muddy field or a stony track high up in the Pyrenees. You still get a low-range transfer case, and a wading depth that’s nearly 1m. The electronic air suspension adapts and softens the undulations and jagged edges of the ground underneath and the centre diff keeps things moving steadily.

Of course, if you want to go the extra distance, there is the Capability Plus Pack which, for £1100, adds in a locking rear diff, Terrain Response 2 and All Terrain Progress Control. Get all that lot lined up and it’s hard to see how you could be stopped. This may look like a sophisticated transport, but underneath it’s still a Land Rover.

And above it there is a wealth of luxury and comfort to enjoy. With seven proper seats on offer, plus a capacious cargo area, you’re not short of space for you and yours and all of theirs. This HSE trim has as standard the uprated InControl Touch Pro infotainment system, which works superbly, and the Meridian sound system fills that huge space with high fidelity sound.

With the lower weight of the new Discovery platform, the 2.0-litre engine works well and of course doesn’t add as much of its own weight as the V6 diesel – there’s an argument that this version handles better than with the bigger and heavier engine over the front axle.