Do you need a Range Rover and other similarly accomplished competitors anymore? Our #MCM (#mancrushmonday) May suggest you don’t. The Discovery used to be the car that you knew you’d take from Cape to Cairo but wasn’t quite as polished as the Range Rover when it came to comfort and owners were happy with that. The new Discovery has changed that. The car is super comfortable and very luxurious. It’s still very capable off-road but throw in the air suspension, the 10.2-inch InControl Touch Pro infotainment system, Meridian sound system, an electric tailgate, Intelligent Seat Fold, Activity Key, Terrain Response 2, InControl Touch Pro, surround cameras, and an electric panoramic sunroof, the lines become very blurred. The additional 2 seats that make this car a 7 seater tilts scales towards it as well. Pricing does become an issue though as models that tick all the boxes on the spec sheet may become as expensive as the Range Rover (and other perceivably more luxurious competition) that are in reality positioned above the Discovery. The truth is it won’t be an issue though if you go Discovery, it’s simply excellent. #landrover #discovery #landroverydiscovery #brutishcar #suv #offroad #offroading #sophisticated #discovermore #photography #carphotography 📸 @forever4tune 🙏🏾

A post shared by The Car People (@khulekani_on_wheels) on May 6, 2018 at 10:04pm PDT

By Sala Masindane

With the success of the previous generation Land Rover Discovery (affectionately known as the Disco), it would have been a difficult decision for the manufacturer to update or create a new car that would appeal to everyone. The looks are polarising but they grow on you. This was our experience with the new Disco.

Updates

The new exterior shape is both a plus and a negative factor for the fifth generation Disco. The new Disco has lost the box shape of the previous generation and has been brought closer in looks to the Range Rovers. This appears to have alienated some (based on the feedback we received from our social media platforms and the face-to-face conversations we had with fans), however, others seem to love the new shape as the Disco may no longer be perceived as the “poor man’s” Range. In fact, it opens the Disco to a whole new crowd that may have wanted off-road luxury synonymous with what the Range Rover encompasses. The other noticeable update is the full tailgate as opposed to the split tailgate, which was a signature feature on the previous Disco. Included with the new tailgate is a folding shelve that can accommodate 300kg of seated weight. Impressive? Well wait till you step inside.

The most impressive feature is the boot space, which is spacious and large when the third row of back seats are folded down. The electric folding seats are not the fastest but at least you don’t have to do it yourself. Although the third-row seat is not a standard feature, we think R21,800 is not steep, especially if you consider the fact that these seats can accommodate adults.. If your pocket is deep, an additional R22,100 can get you a Remote Intelligent Seat Fold pack that may be used for seating configuration by either an app on your smartphone or just like our test unit, with buttons in the cabin.

The Disco may have shed some weight from the previous generation but the space or storage inside has not been compromised. The interior is spacious. Leg room for the front and middle rows is impressive whilst it improves in the last row. You will even find some storage space at the back with the last row up. There are also clever storage spaces in the car, including a nifty storage compartment behind the air-conditioning controls on the dashboard. The upper and lower glove box, and central armrest storage also add to the party.

The Disco is not light on technology and almost everything can be controlled from the driver’s seat. This is convenient considering how large the vehicle is. A driver cannot simply reach at the back and has to physically leave his seat to attend to whatever is happening at the back. This may not be always convenient and safe to do. So, whilst systems like this may seem like modern day showmanship, they really do assist motorists. Also included in our test unit was a 10.2-inch InControl Touch Pro Infotainment system, electronic sunroofs and USB ports across the whole cabin. We even lost count of the 12V power outlets. An addition which we would recommend to drivers who do sports like surfing is the Activity Key which connects to a waterproof wristband, and allows the driver to open the car without the key.

Driving comfort and handling on the Disco has been made more enjoyable with the air-suspension. Cornering may still be bit a tricky but if this is done at low speeds, it does become a bit easier. Nothing beats the driving position of the new Disco, visibility is great, the seat specific arm rests ensures that there’s no fight between the passenger and the driver for the arm rests.

The 3.0 TDV6 engine was able and willing to take on most cars on the road with relative ease.
The Land Rover Discovery range is priced from R980,000.