2009 Land Rover Discovery 4 Reviews

Life - human and automotive - is so unpredictable. When my 75-year-old father went looking for a car to retire with, he sought reliability, durability, comfort and a long warranty.  He bought a Hyundai, thinking that with a five-year warranty it should ‘see me out’.In fact, he saw it out. The Hyundai Lantra is still ultra-reliable in the hands of a mate of mine while my now 84-year-old father has moved himself and my active mother into the latest Corolla.  I would have expected my parents to drive a Mercedes-Benz in later life as a reward for their tenacity through economic depressions and wars.In fact, they chose economy in reverence to their working-class lives and have come out with only minor financial scars from their post-retirement car purchases.  You can as well. Carsguide readers with retirement looming all want new cars. Most of them want a 4WD or something powerful to tow a caravan or boat because ‘we're not dead yet’.It doesn't have to be expensive, but if you are retired or just on the point of pulling the pin on a working career, you want the least possible hassles.  We'll start this week with 4WDs and SUVs. These are some choices. They clearly aren't all that is available and personal choice will play its role. At the very least, this should get you thinking.4WD is for the adventurer who actually wants to go off the beaten track. These have excellent towing ability, diesel engine options (the better choice), a versatile cabin with seven seats that can be removed when not wanted, good safety levels and a comprehensive feature list. On the downside, they are big, less comfortable than a sedan, require more expensive servicing and repair (especially tyre replacement) and for aged limbs can be difficult to get in and out.Toyota Prado (from $55,990)Solid, high resale (and high initial purchase), great off the road and in the latest model, comfortable on the road.Engine: 127kW/410Nm 3-litre 4-cyl turbo-dieselTransmission: 6-speed manual/5-speed auto/2-speed transferEconomy: 8.3 l/100kmSafety: 7 airbags, ESC, traction controlLand Rover Discovery-4 (from $81,990)Exceptionally competent and fitted out with excellent comfort. Fourth generation aims to rid Land Rover of quality bugs.Engine: 180kW/600Nm 3-litre V6 biturbo-dieselTransmission: 6-speed auto/2-speed transferEconomy: 9.3 l/100kmSafety: 8 airbags, ESC, traction controlMitsubishi Pajero(from $49,290)Great all-rounder on and off road at an affordable price. Better cabin package than Prado.Engine: 147kW/441Nm 3.2-litre 4-cyl turbo-dieselTransmission: 5-speed auto/2-speed transferEconomy: 8.4 l/100kmSafety: 2 airbags, ESC, traction controlSUV: Don't want to go to the Outback but like the practicality of a tall wagon? The SUV usually has all-wheel drive but less rugged construction and no low-range gearbox. Some are even only front-wheel drive so save on purchase price and fuel consumption.Hyundai Santa Fe (from $37,990)Practical, versatile and reliable with a long five-year warranty. A good allrounder. Only available as a diesel and with all-wheel drive.Engine: 145kW/421Nm 2.1-litre 4-cyl turbo-dieselTransmission: 5-speed manual/5-speed auto/AWDEconomy: 6.7 l/100kmSafety: 6 airbags, ESC, traction controlPeugeot 4007 (from $45,490)Culturally diverse Peugeot made by Mitsubishi (it's basically an Outlander shell) in Japan with an aggressive grille and very desirable turbo-diesel engine and optional six-speed auto.Engine: 115kW/380Nm 2.2-litre 4-cyl turbo-dieselTransmission: 6-speed manual/6-speed auto/AWDEconomy: 7.0 l/100kmSafety: 7 airbags, ESC, traction controlSubaru Outback diesel (from $40,490)Long-awaited diesel expands Subaru's out-of-town ability in a very desirable package. New style isn't the prettiest but is functional and roomy.Engine: 110kW/350Nm 2-litre 4-cyl turbo-dieselTransmission: 6-speed manual/AWDEconomy: 6.4 l/100kmSafety: 7 airbags, ESC, traction control

Land Rover has spent up big on the newest generation of the Discovery unveiled in Scotland this week.While the exterior changes have been all about easing the visual impact of the car — more horizontal lines rather than vertical, less contrast in colour tonings, a bit more bling and jewellery to suggest form rather than function — it is in the platform engineering and the interior styling where the big effort has gone.A long day spent bashing through a variety of conditions — ranging from motorway cruising through negotiating twisting highland back roads to deep river fording and clawing through some of the slickest stickiest mud in creation — gave the Discovery 4 every opportunity to fall short of the target, but it didn't.EnginesAt the heart of the engineering revisions are a pair of new in-house designed engines, a spanking 5-litre direct injection V8 with 276kW and 510Nm and a sublime sequential twin turbo 3.0-litre diesel V6 with 180kW and a monstrous 600Nm of torque delivered with lag-free efficiency.Both engines will make it to Australia, the V8 replacing the current 4.4-litre at the top of the model range while the new diesel will be offered in both SE and HSE trim while the current 2.7-litre diesel will be retained in the model line-up as the entry-level offering.The new V8 was not available to drive at the launch event but after a day spent in the company of the diesel it became increasingly difficult to mount an argument as to why you would favour the big petrol engine.SuspensionGetting the new engines' performance to the road was a priority during development with the result that a raft of refinements to the suspension architecture — a new knuckle design to improve roll rates and cornering stability, stiffer anti-roll bars, new bushes and dampers to improve ride quality — a redesign of the steering rack to give a more direct and car-like feel at highway speeds and more precision for low-speed off-road applications, and a much more effective and linear brake package upgraded to a size that matches the outgoing Range Rover stoppers.The brilliant Terrain Response system — first introduced on the outgoing model as off-roading for dummies — has also come in for refinements. There are still the five settings for on-road, grass and snow, mud and ruts, sand and rock crawling but there have been a couple of key improvements.A launch function has been built into the sand settings to eliminate the need to feather the throttle when driving away and lower the risk of digging in while a gentle background braking application has been incorporated into rock crawling below 5km/h in first gear or reverse to increase stability.Driving On the open road the Discovery 4 is more settled, composed and a great deal quieter in the cabin than the outgoing model. There is less nervousness abolut the steering and subsequently greater confidence to allow the car to flow through sections where previously the body roll and steering vagueness would have given cause for pause.Off the made surfaces the Discovery still displays the no-nonsense abilties that have built the legend of the badge but without some of the rougher edges. The dial and drive capability of the terrain response system is nothing short of magic. The vehicle's dynamic response to varying conditions are effectively built-in and all the driver need do is use a degree of commonsense to look like a life-long off-road expert.Inside the revised instrument and dash layout is functional and easy to take in. All the key control points come easily to hand, the terrain response control dial has been shifted forward, the gear-shift placement adjusted and the dash console inclined more towards the driver.There is a new seat design with an extended front cushion and height adjustable head restraints. That change is going to disappoint some traditionalists as it comes at the cost the seat-mounted grab-handles.For the first time the Discovery comes with keyless start and it also wins a larger touch-screen navigation system, some extra storage bins and full i-Pod connectivity with full control through the centre console or steering wheel-mounted buttons. That is all very nice — and friendly — but Land Rover's core value is its ability to go almost anywhere and get back again. The Discovery 4 has lost none of that.Pricing and local specifications will be confirmed closer to the car's local release later this year.

Legends are created by vehicles like the Land Rover in much the same way that John Wayne became an icon in the never-ending television war between cowboys and Indians.John Wayne would now roll in his grave. The Indians have taken the legend and are ready to make it their own. No, not John Wayne and the cowboys — the Land Rover.There's an expectation that things would change as Land Rover's new owner, the giant Tata conglomerate of India, starts exercising its rights of ownership.But it's early days. Land Rover is reputed to be a better company over the past few months as Tata peers into its more recent quality issues.Something must be working because Land Rover agents report almost non-existent warranty issues with the most recent Discovery 3.That's welcome news because about the only hiccup I had with Land Rover was its perceived lack of quality. Go back a decade or two and we're talking rubbish quality.On test this issue, the latest Discovery TDV6 SE showed the past issues have been purged.This is simply a brilliant 4WD that is equally as composed and assured in the dirt as on the road.Models and pricingFor the price — $75,990 — it is a whopping $8000 cheaper than the Toyota Land Cruiser GXL V8 turbo-diesel and it's a better vehicle. I wouldn't have said that 10 years ago.The S version that sits under the SE is $67,590 as an automatic and is just as inviting as the SE though probably better suits the family that will actually go bush.You can then pay $86,590 for the even more upmarket HSE but you'd be better off going to the $90,900 Range Rover Sport TDV6. Exterior:There is no mistake that if this is parked in a supermarket carpark, on a private school verge or halfway up the Canning Stock Route, that this is a serious 4WD.It's functional to the point of being military and yet there's something domesticated about it as well. Look how there's no spare tyre on the back door (it's under the chassis rails) so the shape is uncluttered.Think about a plastic roo bar for this one, even if it's just to save that blunt 1sq.m of plastic nose that is just dying to crumple up against a tree in the desert, Skippy's great grandson or the tight Turn 6 in the city carpark.Interior Inside it's equally as neat. Functionality meets subtle luxury in a cabin that, in the TDV6 SE tested, includes leather and lots of pastel hues with alloy-look trim pieces and interesting arrays of switches and knobs. Kids would have a ball in here (just don't give them the keys).The Discovery is a seven seater. But it's a seven seater with a difference because it seats seven adults. Not leprechauns, amputees or kindergarten pupils — real big people.Granted, it does it with minimal luggage room though there's enough flexibility to arrange the seats to store an eclectic mix of humans and stowage.The horizontal split tailgate may be a tad old fashioned and be a clumsy two-handed operation, but the fold-down section aids loading heavy luggage and doubles as a seat.Above everything, the cabin looks fantastic. Even your mates with luxury saloons will love this thing.Drivetrains and chassisYou've heard about the 2.7-litre turbo-diesel through its use in some Jaguar sedans, other Land Rovers and some Peugeots.Different electronic mapping and different turbochargers alter the power and torque figures. For the Discovery the bent six gets one turbocharger and one intercooler.This is a lovely little engine though suffers a tad in the 2.6-plus tonne Discovery.But it gets a reprieve thanks mainly to the ZF six-speed auto with sequential shift — a box that now is as common as noses — and a 4WD low-range ratio that is one of the lowest in the off-road business.The Disco gets Land Rover's famed Terrain Response system. This is basically a Play School panel with bright colours and diagrams — no words, let's keep it simple folks — allowing the driver to select the terrain, the high or low-range gearbox, the hill descent function or height adjustment courtesy of the pneumatic suspension.In a word, brilliant. Just dial up, go easy on the throttle and any terrain is putty in your hands.I love the suspension for its ultra-supple ride but criticise it for its poor wheel travel. However, just when you think traction will suffer, the Disco's sophisticated traction control — which sources firm ground via sensors and will redirect power to any single wheel — pulls the wagon out of potential trouble.The Discovery sits on a frame to which a body is then affixed. This adds a lot of weight but keeps everything durable. Monocoque bodies are lighter and can be tauter, but there's something secure about having a couple of train tracks under your seat when taking to the dirt. EquipmentStandard fare rates highly. The more sophisticated sat-nav in the test car was the only extra-cost item. Around town it's a nice aid but serious bush folk would get a big-screen unit from VMS for about the same price.Leather is a luxury touch and looks great with its perforations. However, while it suits the city you may consider downsizing to the cloth-trimmed Discovery S or get seat covers.The SE adds a six-disc CD player with eight speakers, park sensors front and rear, cruise control and climate airconditioning.The xenon headlights are a boon for the country and are also standard issue on the SE.Driving This is a big machine with a relatively small engine. And it's a diesel, to boot.But though there can be some initial lag off the mark, it's a sprightly performer and will more than keep up with most traffic.Unusually, it doesn't seem to lose its spark when there's three adults aboard which reflects its meaty torque output.Much of the performance can be aimed at the six-speed auto box that neatly spaces the cogs to suit the low-end power delivery of the engine. Drivers who want to work the box for extra zing may use the sequential mode, though this is suggested mainly when overtaking, towing or for specific off-road sections.The engine's quietness and smoothness is so petrol-like that you'll fool most of your friends. That keeps the vehicle quiet and comfy for long journeys and won't make it compete with the clarity of the audio system.The ride comfort will also surprise you. Sure, on the road it's like a big sedan but it's the first corner that will reassess your opinions of large 4WDs.Thanks to an electronic suspension monitor working on the air springs, body roll is kept to a minimum. That's welcome but just don't get too confident — the body may feel controlled but the tyres may be ready to sign off.The steering is pleasantly light — because there's a lot of hydraulic assistance between the wheel and your hands — making city parking easy and off-road excursions painless despite the large number of turns lock-to-lock.Most work on test was gravel though there was a beachside exercise. The low-speed engine torque indicates 4WD High will complete most tasks though the Discovery really comes into its own when the 4WD Low lever is engaged.The drive is a very low 2.93:1 (most 4WDs are in the 1.5:1 category) which gives the heavy vehicle a lot of pull when things get very sandy or slippery.Hot beach sand has the traction coefficient of body talc but it didn't deter the test vehicle. Select the Terrain Response picture with the cactus (that's desert as in sand) and raise the suspension and the system refines its power for a low-speed, low-response delivery that will minimise wheel spin.The tyres were partially deflated — down to 18psi — for the beach stint. They could have gone down to 12psi if things became tricky.In the gravel the picture of rocks was selected, so again there was a slightly retarded throttle response.When raised on its suspension the Discovery has a 310mm ground clearance which is more than sufficient for most off-road pursuits. I was initially concerned about the spare wheel bolted under the rear of the chassis rails but the only touchdown on test was the exhaust pipe under the driver's seat while crawling over a gravel mound.After the drive to the country and the day's outing in the sun, the Disco's computer recorded 11.2 litres/100km. How good is that? Around town I made it climb to 11.9 l/100km but even that was with three adults and a route through morning traffic.This is a superb machine. Perhaps I'd ask for a bigger fuel tank — it's 82 and could go closer to 100 litres — to give it more legs in the country. Beyond that, I'm sold. Price: $75,990Engine: 2.7-litre, V6, quad-cam, 24-valve, turbocharger, intercoolerPower: 140kW @ 4000rpmTorque: 440Nm @ 1900rpmFuel tank: 82 litres (diesel)Economy (official): 10.2 litres/100km, (tested): 11.9 litres/100kmPerformance: 0-100km/h: 11.7secTransmission: 6-speed automatic, sequential, 2-speed transfer; constant 4WDTow (max): 3500kg