The steering wheel is brand new and lifted straight from the Discovery, but there are chunky metal paddle shifters flanking from behind. The menus are clear and concise, the fonts are large, and they really take advantage of its bright and high-definition visuals. It doesn’t utilize rotary dials or hard buttons, but the touch interface is quick, responsive, and lag-free. The infotainment unit is heavily improved over previous iterations, and is arguably one the best and the most seamless systems out there. The 12.3-inch driver’s display is also carried over, and is fully digital and customizable with multiple views and even a full screen navigation map like Audi’s Virtual Cockpit. The center console remains spacious, a bit bare, and pretty much follows the same layout as the new Jaguar F-PACE and XF, replete with the same 11.4-inch touchscreen, HVAC dials, and gear shifter. The interior receives a few goodies for 2021. On a positive note, the front end looks mega, sporting redesigned LED lights and bumpers front and back, and a new R-Dynamic trim that offers a more aggressive look that falls in line with the Velar and Evoque. It’s not our favourite angle of the Discovery but it certainly makes it unique. We won’t comment too heavily on the appearance as much of it is subjective, but the tapered, curved, and asymmetrical rear end seems to draw the most criticism. If you’re not one to dabble over brand prestige, the Discovery is easily the most road-trip worthy Land Rover in their entire lineup. The Discovery matches its charming demeanor with upscale amenities, a buttery new powertrain, and a gentle, isolated ride. It’s got the looks, the presence, and the spacious interior of its premium counterpart, but with less of the garnish and dressings that make the Range a celebrity favourite. You can barely see the wires, and the defogging works a treat, but it does make windshield replacements exceptionally expensive, so make sure your insurance covers it.The Land Rover Discovery is a handsome, seven-seater SUV that we like to think of as a budget Range Rover. Apple Maps via CarPlay looks exceptionally good, though I wish CarPlay and Android Auto were wireless.Įxtra equipment included a $600 Cold Climate Pack that included a heated windshield that uses tiny wires embedded in the glass to warm it up for defogging, much like your rear window does. It's one of the best-looking systems out there, and it's easy-to-use and easy on the eyes. It has all manner of safety features, but the terrific 11.4-inch touchscreen in the center is running Land Rover's Pivi Pro infotainment system and is worth the price of admission right there. It's not a selling point anymore - it just is. The only mention of the hybrid powertrain on the window sticker for the Discovery is the bewildering acronym “MHEV” on the engine description, standing for “Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicle.” That doesn't mean anything to anyone who isn't a car journalist, so you'll be forgiven for being surprised about it being a hybrid. Interestingly, we've gotten to a point where car companies barely mention the hybrid-ness of their vehicles. I wish CarPlay and Android Auto were wireless. That's what the old Discovery used to be (I owned a 2001 Land Rover Discovery, and it was glorious until the engine grenaded itself on the highway), but now it seems like it might be getting squeezed out. These days, it's still a hardcore offroader, but it's been draped in fancy leather and excellent on-road manners. It used to be that the Defender was a hardcore offroader that made no compromises in the name of comfort. I suppose it's for people who can't quite make up their minds. Given how luxurious and still capable the Range Rover lineup is (for buyers who will likely never take them off-road) and given how capable and still luxurious the Defender is (for buyers who will likely never take them off-road), the Discovery occupies a slightly odd niche. Last year, I reviewed the new Defender 110 and declared it “the perfect embodiment of off-road lux.” I stand by that assessment, even as I slid behind the wheel of the 2021 Land Rover Discovery as my test car this week. Land RoverĮxcept all are capable, and all are luxurious, just in slightly different ways. The Discovery occupies a slightly odd niche.
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