2021 Land Rover Discovery

Looking at the well-specced lineup, the 2.0 S R-Dynamic trim makes more sense to us for its styling and pricing. It adds fog lamps, aluminum interior trim, R-Dynamic-specific front and rear bumpers and LED tail lamps. The base 2.0 S R-Dynamic trim is powered by a 2.0-liter turbo engine, while the R-Dynamic trim can also be optioned with the larger 3.0-liter turbo engine for an additional $5,550 

The Land Rover Discovery is available in three trims namely the S, R-Dynamic S, and the R-Dynamic HSE. The base trim gets almost all the major safety hacks like Cruise Control, Blind Spot Assist, and Traffic Sign Recognition but lacks the 3D Surround Camera which begins from the R-Dynamic S. The HSE gets an edge over the lower trims with its exclusive Advanced Off-Road Capability Pack. Both the S and R-Dynamic S get Configurable Terrain Response Unit but the R-Dynamic HSE gets an exclusive Active Rear Locking Differential.

Even with the base S trim, many features like sliding front sunroof and fixed rear panoramic roof, automatic headlights, dual-zone climate control, and 20-inch gloss-silver tires are standard. The R-Dynamic trims add front fog lamps, black exterior pack, R-Dynamic front and rear bumper design, gloss black wheel surrounds, R-Dynamic badging, shadow aluminum trim finisher, metal tread plates in addition to the standard features. 

 The base S and R-Dynamic models can be had with Cold Climate and Hot Climate Pack, adding features like heated steering wheel, heated washer jets, heated windshield, cooler compartment, four-zone climate control and cabin air purification system. The packages are priced at $600 and $1,100 respectively. 

The Discovery’s fuel economy figures are below average for a vehicle that comes standard with a four-cylinder engine- cars.usnews.com 

The Discovery has the propensity to give you acceptable fuel economy with 19 mpg in the city, 22 mpg on the highways, and 21 mpg overall. With one of the biggest fuel tanks in the segment, it can travel as much as 517 miles on highways. The R-Dynamic trims equipped with 3.0-liter engine can offer 18 mpg in the city, 24 mpg on the highways and 21 mpg in combined driving conditions, thanks to mild-hybrid assist. 

Despite having the biggest engine of the lot, the BMW X5 offers better fuel economy than the Discovery and Q7. The Volvo XC90 might lack in performance but makes up for it by offering higher fuel efficiency. However, in combined driving conditions, the maximum range is offered by BMW X5. Considering economy and range, the Beemer is the clear winner. 

Sleek, Spacious, and Refined- cars.usnews.com

The interior of the 2021 Discovery offers a new steering wheel, gear selector, and rearranged air vents. The cabin is more plush and hi-tech while offering a comfortable experience during off-roading. The cabin is laden with premium materials and gets leather upholstery as standard. The front seats are comfortable with electronic adjustments and get a heating/cooling function depending upon the climate package chosen. The rear seats offer excellent headroom and legroom courtesy of the high roofline, a defining feature of the Discovery.

The interior is very quiet and with the available four-zone climate control system, passengers will always feel at home. Even the front and side visibility is very good. The interior can be had in multiple color combinations like Acorn/Ebony/Acorn, Ebony/Ebony/Ebony and Light Oyster/Ebony/Light Oyster. In the HSE trim, one gets access to Titanium Mesh and Shadow Aluminum at $600. Along with these, one can also avail of the PM2.5 air purification system. Though the third row is manual but with some $300 expense, it can be electrically actuated. 

The Audi Q7 offers a 7-seat configuration but its third-row is impractical but the SUV offers an excellent 14.8 cu-ft of cargo space with all the seats upright. The Volvo C90 offers 11 cu-ft of space, while the Discovery offers 9.1 cu-ft of space. Surely, the cargo space is the least but it can be extended to 45 cu-ft by folding the third row seats. Also, third-row passengers would be more comfortable in the Discovery. 

The 2021 Discovery is equipped with a 11.4-inch infotainment display running on Pivi Pro interface. The interface is intuitive and offers many advanced features like traffic and weather updates in real-time, WiFi hotspot and OTA updates. Some other features like Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto are also standard. Even the premium Meridian sound system with 8-speakers and dynamic volume control is standard with the base trim.  

Some of key interior features are: 

• 12.3" Interactive Driver Display
• Wireless Charger
• Titanium Mesh Finisher
• Morzine Headlining
• Head-Up Display
• Meridian Sound System

With the new design update, the 2021 Discovery looks extravagant and rugged. The front end looks more aggressive than before with a sleek and angular headlamp design and big air intakes. The 20-inch alloy wheels (Gloss Silver- S trim and Black- R-Dynamic) accentuate the exterior styling to great extent. Land Rover offers Fuji White solid exterior color at no additional cost, while the metallic colors cost extra. 

For additional $710, metallic colors like Black, White, Blue, Gray, Bronze, and Silver are also available . The front bumpers wear a smooth and curvy design unlike the boxy appeal of the previous generation Discovery. The side profile looks neat with no unnecessary lines and a curved wheel arch design. The iconic stepped roofline is retained but it is more subtle now, almost imperceptible at a glance. Surely, the Discovery looks ready to compete with its rivals in terms of exterior design.  

The Audi Q7 is the longets and sits on a longer wheelbase, offering better cargo capacity. The BMW X5 looks distinct with its huge kidney grille which is quite polarizing for the segment. The Discovery is the heaviest SUV and XC90 is the lighest. However, the same does not translate to better acceleration. With a higher ground clearance, the Discovery is more compatible for off-roading. 

Some key exterior features are: 

• LED headlights and tali lights 
• Power Liftgate
• Signature DRLs
• Electric Sunroof 
• Rear Panoramic Roof
• Keyless Entry

The 2021 Discovery has not been tested by the NHTSA & IIHS. However, Land Rover has loaded the vehicle with most of the modern and advanced safety techs along with a strong aluminum monocoque construction. The adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist keep you on track and well within a safe driving distance. The HSE is a bit more armed with its configurable Terrain Response unit which is useful in the off-roading and rain-soaked tracks. Some other features like automatic emergency braking, 3D surround camera, and traffic sign recognition

Some standout safety features include:

• Surround-view camera system
• Lane Keeping assist
• Automatic emergency braking 
• Parking sensors
• Adaptive cruise control

2021 Land Rover Discovery vs. 2021 BMW X5 

The BMW X5 is very desirable with its crisp power delivery and higher fuel economy. Accomdating five passengers, the Beemer is ergonomically-sound for daily driving. The BMW X5 handles better and even the steering response feels alive. With electronic air suspension and adaptive dyanmics, the Discovery is very comfortable. 

The Beemer offers better cargo capacity with all seats up, while the Discovery offers better cargo space with third-row down. However, the Discovery comes with a lower price tag and offers better off-road dynamics with Terrain Response system. We would pick the Bimmer over the Discovery anyday for better drivability. 

2021 Land Rover Discovery vs 2021 Audi Q7

The Audi Q7 gives a tough time to the Discovery both in terms of on-road practicality and performance. It is more sporty in terms of handling and offers a lot more interior features to make the experience better. The Discovery is front-heavy and the steering lacks feel. With electronic air suspension and adaptive dyanmics,  the Discovery is very comfortable. 

The seven-seater Audi is slightly more expensive than the Discovery and can't match it in terms of off-road compatability. Both the SUVs offer three-rows but the Discovery has better third-row legroom. The Audi Q7 offers better cargo capacity with all the three rows in place. The Discovery would be our pick here for its versatile nature. 

2021 Land Rover Discovery V/S 2021 Volvo XC90 

The 2021 Volvo XC90 is a more balanced offering and less expensive than the Discovery. It offers better fuel economy and cargo capacity than the boxy Discovery. However, it's more of a urban SUV and the Discovery would be more suited for your off-road adventures. 

The XC90 is less powerful than the Discovery and slower in 0-60 mph acceleration. It can also accomodate seven passengers but the third row legroom is much better in the Discovery. Considering its pricing, fuel efficiency and impeccable safety features, we would pick the Volvo over the expensive Land Rover 

The 2021 Land Rover Discovery is apprppriate for those hunting for a off-roader without compromising much on the riding comfort and cabin features. It gets a decent list of features and excellent off-road driving dynamics and offers acceptable fuel economy numbers as well. Overall, if you’re quite serious about a comfortable off-roader you can consider this SUV as a potential option. However, you should have a look at the other options as well before buying one.