The biggest problem for the Land Rover Discovery is arguably another Land Rover starting with D: the Defender.
For three decades, buyers wanting a Land Rover do-it-all family SUV with versatility and comfort bought a Discovery. Defenders were for heritage-focused lunatics who didn’t mind bashing about in vintage 4x4s.
But when the all-new Defender arrived in 2020, it elbowed its way into the Discovery’s space at a cheaper price. It went from a creaky classic to a modern, classy, comfortable and very broadly talented SUV. Which was what the Discovery was supposed to be, right?
They aren’t direct rivals; Discovery is a 7-seater, for a start; the Defender 110 is not as luxurious and you have to step up the absurdly long 130 to get three rows. But still.
Now that Defender is no longer the latest shiny thing hogging all the attention, is it time for Discovery to sneak towards the front of the showroom again?
The star upgrade for 2025 is the D350 3.0-litre 6-cylinder turbo-diesel mild-hybrid engine, which adds 37kW/50Nm to the previous D300 for a total of 257kW/700Nm.
The D250 continues, but you can have the D350 in either Dynamic HSE (as featured here) or Metropolitan Edition models.
The new engine is a beauty, with a monstrous amount of torque on tap as soon as you’re rolling and quite a free-revving character (it’s still a diesel, remember) through to 4500rpm.
What can catch you out is the takeoff, with a noticeable pause as the engine and transmission start the conversation for forward motion. Typical diesel stuff, and once you’re rolling it’s hard not to be impressed by the smooth nature of the powertrain.
Ditto for the chassis. The Discovery is not a sporty SUV in any way and would never claim to be. In fact, the air suspension kind of floats from undulation to undulation, but in a very nice way: there’s a lot of body movement, but it’s beautifully controlled. Adaptive Dynamics can adjust the air suspension 100 times per second and the emphasis is definitely on ride comfort.
Traffic Sign Recognition and Adaptive Speed Limiter are two new features for 2025; together they can change the cruise control to the posted limit automatically and yes, it all works pretty well.
The Discovery is packed with surprise-and-delight packaging features. There’s “stadium” seating, with each row set slightly higher than the one in front for the best possible view. Everything in the first and second rows is powered; you can even drop the headrests with the push of a button, then raise them again.
Land Rover claims the third row is suitable for occupants up to 1.9m tall, which sounds ambitious; but it’s genuinely spacious back there, the only real downside being limited footspace.
There are 9 USB-C outlets throughout the cabin and a further 4 12-volt sockets. Charge!
In the boot, there’s the Powered Inner Tailgate – essentially a lip at the back end that keeps your cargo in place when the tailgate opens. It can be opened manually, but will still close automatically when the tailgate comes back down.
And for loading, the air suspension can be employed to lower the vehicle up to 50mm at the touch of a button (in the cargo bay).
We could go on; and on and on. But the point is, if you’re serious about carrying people and things in style in your SUV, there aren’t many (any?) better-packaged vehicles than the Discovery.
The Metropolitan Edition goes even further, with detail touches like head-up display, a fridge up front in the centre console box, 4-zone climate control for all three rows, power-operation for the 3rd-row seats and hands-free kick operation for the tailgate.
The Dynamic cabin is beautifully finished and yet all quite understated. The Discovery has Land Rover’s Pivi Pro infotainment system and it’s all very slick, apart from infuriatingly flaky wireless Android Auto connection… which we’ve already complained about at length in a recent Defender review, so we won’t repeat. Except to say our Discovery was even worse.
On the infotainment plus-side, a thunderous Meridian 14-speaker surround sound system is now standard on D350.
If we’re angsting over which is the coolest Land Rover family 4x4, it’s probably still going to be the Defender, and not just because it has its rear number plate centred. But it’s easy to forget what a brilliantly versatile and practical 7-seater the Disco is; the clever features are many and of course, it’s also a fantastic off-roader than can tow 3.5 tonnes and help you reverse with Advanced Trailer Assist. You could argue it’s the knowing choice.
Hate to disappoint you Defender fans, but the Discovery is also much nicer to drive around town. Disco is back.
How much is the Land Rover Discovery D350 Dynamic HSE?
The Dynamic HSE with the new D350 engine is $160,000. For another $10k you can have the same powertrain in the even more highly specified Metropolitan Edition.
What are the key statistics for the Land Rover Discovery D350 Dynamic HSE?
The new engine offers 37kW/50Nm more than the D300 it replaces: 257kW/700Nm. It drives through an 8-speed automatic and full AWD/4WD system with low-range.
Is the Land Rover Discovery D350 Dynamic HSE efficient?
The official figure of 9.0l/100km isn't bad for a vehicle of this size and weight, and it'll do better on the motorway or open-road.
Is the Land Rover Discovery D350 Dynamic HSE good to drive?
The emphasis is on comfort and the ride is very soft indeed, but in a nice way. The engine is strong (for off-roading and towing as well as on-road driving) and smooth.
Is the Land Rover Discovery D350 Dynamic HSE practical?
Staggeringly so. The Discovery's real forte is providing spacious and versatile 44x4 family transport and it's packed with pleasing features. Occupants in all three rows are really looked after.
What do we like about the Land Rover Discovery D350 Dynamic HSE?
The strong engine and pillowy soft-yet-controlled ride. The superb 7-seat cabin and clever seat folding/luggage solutions.
What don’t we like about the Land Rover Discovery D350 Dynamic HSE?
There's powertrain lag from a standing start, it's expensive even by Land Rover standards and the Android Auto connectivity is infuriatingly flaky.
What kind of person would the Land Rover Discovery D350 Dynamic HSE suit?
Somebody who needs a properly practical 7-seat luxury 4x4 and realises that it's as good as a Range Rover.