What many people love about Land Rover vehicles is one gets the best of both worlds.
Looking for a rugged vehicle for some off-road adventures? The Land Rover is a great choice. But how does that translate into traditional driving? The Land Rover delivers here as well, providing comfort and sophistication. Land Rovers offer pleasurable experience no matter what trail or street one chooses to travel.
The 2020 Land Rover Discovery is a luxury midsize sport utility vehicle that handles any situation with ease. We traveled into snow country and experienced no issues, The Discovery also navigated suburban streets effortlessly during our 10 days with the upscale SUV that received lots of admiring second glances from passersby and impressed people who rode in its spacious cabin.
What also may impress interested Discovery buyers is the price tag. It’s not overwhelming like the more upscale Land Rover Range Rover. The 2020 Discovery is priced roughly between $52,400 and $69,300, while the Range Rover starts at approximately $90,000.
In terms of off-road chops, the Discovery can navigate practically anything, thanks to standard features like Hill Descent Control, Gradient Release Control, and Roll Stability Control. The system provides a range of conditions so it can fine-tune itself to regular driving, gravel, snow, rock crawling, grass, mud, and ruts.
Safety is something Land Rover values as well. The Discovery comes standard with blind spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, automatic high-beam headlights, rear-cross traffic alert, rain-sensing windshield wipers, driver drowsiness monitoring, fog lights, park assist, emergency braking, and a clear exit monitor.
The 2020 Land Rover Discovery lineup has four trim levels (SE, Landmark Edition, HSE, HSE Luxury) that have numerous options available for each. It’s a well-equipped SUV, but so are competitors like the Audi Q7, Mercedes-Benz GLE and BMW X5.
There are two engines to choose from with the Discovery. The first is a supercharged 3.0-liter, gas-powered V6 that generates 340 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque. We test-drove the turbocharged 3.0-liter, diesel V6 that produces 254 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque. It was the best diesel we’ve ever driven.
Both engines deliver very good performance, but the diesel is better on gas – 21-26 mpg vs. 16-21 mpg. Both come standard with all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission. Maximum towing capacity is 8,201 pounds with the supercharged V6 and 7,716 pounds via the diesel model. Note that the diesel engine adds $2,000 to the price tag.
2020 Land Rover Discovery
- Performance: supercharged 3.0-liter, V6, 340 horsepower; turbocharged diesel 3.0-liter, V6, 254 horsepower
- Mileage estimate: 16-21 mpg; 21-26 mpg
- Price estimate: $52,400 to $69,300
- Warranty: 4 years/50,000 miles; drivetrain: 4 years/50,000 miles; roadside assistance: 4 years/50,000; corrosion: 6 years/unlimited
We found the Discovery a sizable SUV that handles well. It navigated precisely along some challenging mountainous roads, delivered potent passing power when needed in freeway situations, and we’ve been told it performs well in rough off-road terrain. The handling isn’t quite sporty, but provides a good overall feel for the road.
Befitting of a luxury vehicle, the Discovery features a comfortable, spacious interior that is equipped with an abundance of technology. It has a 10.2-inch touchscreen display and advanced features such as an onboard Wi-Fi hotspot, 4G LTE data connection, and can access weather updates and real-time traffic. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard.
Seating is generous in the front row and the second row is suitable for three adults. The cargo area measures 38.8 cubic feet and expands to 83.7 cubic feet with the second-row folded down.
Overall, the 2020 Land Rover Discovery is a good choice when looking for a luxury midsize SUV. It fares well in many categories, including performance, comfort, and off-road capability.
Weidel on Wheels is featured regularly on www.tahoeskiworld.com. Auto writer Jeffrey Weidel can be reached at skiweidel@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter at @jeffweidel.
