2023 Land Rover Discovery

Land Rover's SUVs are for people who want to go on adventures but like the finer things in life: The Range Rover is the last word in regal comportment of the S-Class variety, the Evoque combines compact and chic, and the Defender is the ultimate rugged go-anywhere Landy - just like the original - in a variety of sizes and configurations. Where does that leave the Land Rover Discovery, though? It turns out that the Discovery is an excellent blend of traditional Land Rover attributes, offering you a three-row mid-size SUV with a tasteful, high-class interior, go-anywhere ability, and a quiet and comfortable ride. But there is no shortage of competition in the hotly contested luxury mid-size SUV space and against rivals such as the Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class, Volvo XC90, and Genesis GV80, the Disco handles a bit ponderously for something that will probably mainly be used on the road, while the third row is tight and difficult to access. And at around $60k, the starting price of the Land Rover Discovery is not exactly low either. Let's see how it stacks up.

The MSRP of the Land Rover Discovery P300 S is $58,400. Next in line is the P300 R-Dynamic S, which will cost you $61,600, followed by the P360 R-Dynamic S at $67,400, the P360 R-Dynamic HSE at $73,700, and the P360 Metropolitan Edition at the top of the lineup at $77,800. These prices don't include any extras or the destination fee of $1,475.

If you've climbed out of something like a Q7, the Discovery's driving position will strike you as a bit bus-like, and it feels more top-heavy and ponderous around corners than the typical sporty German SUV, even if body roll is well-contained. It's not fun to hustle, but the steering is responsive and accurate, and the ride quality is certainly excellent, with a quiet and serene interior environment on the move. It would be unfair to slate the car for its handling because it does come with benefits that mitigate this - excellent off-road ability that easily trounces most rivals. The Disco gets proper overlanding equipment, such as a two-speed transfer case on the menu to further flesh out its go-anywhere ability. Seen in this context, the on-road handling is perfectly acceptable - if you're going to use its talents. If not, a rival will provide a more rewarding drive on the school run.

If you're buying into the Land Rover philosophy of selling SUVs that can actually do SUV things off the beaten track, there is a lot to like about the Discovery. It offers a lot more off-road ability than most rivals, its engines are punchy, and it can tow a big rig if you need to. It's not sporty, and this much should be obvious - and presumably, that's not what you're looking for anyway. If you're looking for something that's a breeze to drive in town, quiet, and comfortable, the Discovery works, although it's not the last word in practicality. It should really be easier to get into that rather tight third row, which is sure to hamstring it a bit on the school run. And its relative thirst will remind you that efficiency takes a back seat to ability. The brand doesn't necessarily have the highest reliability review, and the 2023 Land Rover Discovery has two recalls against it. But if you love what the Discovery stands for, these gripes are unlikely to matter much, even if it's not the best all-round mid-size SUV in this class.

With new standard features on all trims this year, the base P300 S presents a good case for itself and should suffice for most people, especially as it allows you to join the Disco club at less than $60k. If you're happy with the performance, you can do a lot worse. Given that the Discovery is not exactly cheap, the base car's blend of features should keep most people happy, and there is sufficient power on tap, even if it's slightly slower than some rivals. If you are going to tow and need maximum power, the R-Dynamic S with the optional six-cylinder engine will be the best choice, but it does come with a price penalty of $9k and virtually no additional features except the sporty R-Dynamic exterior treatment. Thanks to its mild-hybrid system, it's noticeably lighter on gas than the four-cylinder engine, though, especially on the highway.