This week we are taking a look at the 2021 Land Rover Discovery R-Dynamic, a 4-wheel drive mid-sized luxury SUV with 3 rows of seating.
The Discovery was refreshed for 2021 and is lower and wider than years past. There are new front and rear LED lights, new bumpers, a new infotainment system, and a new gear shifter among the changes.
Performance
Under the hood, you’ll find the larger of two available engines, the 3-liter inline six cylinder that is turbocharged. It is mated to an 8-speed automatic with shift paddles and it puts out 355-horses and 369-pound feet of torque.
Interior
Rovers are known for excellent interiors, and the Discovery certainly does not disappoint. The seats are bolstered and extremely comfortable and have fold down adjustable arm rests.
As you hit the start button, a bright, colorful, digital gauge cluster comes to life. You can configure it with a ton of information, and it is easy to read.
Center dash is an 11.4-inch touchscreen that has been updated for 2021. You operate the Meridian sound system from there, the navigation, Bluetooth, HD radio, SiriusXM, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a whole page of apps. While the system is certainly better, it still is a little slow to react to the touch, in my opinion.
A couple of cool touches are a hidden compartment behind the air conditioning controls, and you can slide the cupholders forward for another large hidden area for valuables.
The center console has the new gear shifter, replacing the old rotary dial, and you can also change the drive modes there.
Second row seat room is good, and headroom for all occupants is really good with the slightly raised roofline. Back seat passengers have USB ports, a fold down armrest, and built into the back of front seats are charging ports.
Third row seat room is limited, but would be fine for children and they are actually quite comfortable.
Utility
With the 3rd row seats up, the cargo area is limited, but with the 3rd row split seats down there is plenty of cargo room. You can lower the 2nd and 3rd row seats with the push of a button. Also there, you can hit the air suspension button to lower the vehicle for easy loading of cargo.
Standard Equipment
Land Rovers come very well equipped with lots of standard equipment including dual moonroofs, power liftgate, keyless entry, and power heated seats.
Notable options include 21” wheels, a head-up display, heated steering wheel, and a trailer hitch.
On the safety front, you get emergency brake assist, blind spot monitor, 3D surround view rear camera, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, and traffic sign recognition.
It does have the auto brake hold feature, which I always love, and it has auto start/stop that can be disabled. However, both require you to go into the touchscreen to use them.
Ride and Drive
The Discovery rides and handles really well thanks to the air ride suspension, the acceleration is very strong, and the cabin is quiet with no road noise.
Overall, it is a very pleasant SUV on the pavement, and make no mistake, like all Rovers, it is a very capable off-roader with lots of ground clearance.
Stats
Fuel economy is rated at 18 city and 24 highway, for a combined 21 overall. MSRP as you see this one is $73,255 which is in line with competitors like BMW X5 and Audi Q7.
Verdict
Personally, it is a little bulbous for me looks-wise, but once inside, it is a very enjoyable luxury SUV that will tow 8200 pounds, but if you regularly use the 3rd row seat for adults, this may not be the one for you.
- What I Liked Most: The interior and acceleration.
- What I would change: Make the infotainment screen more responsive.
- MSRP: Base price $61,900; as equipped $73,255 with transportation.
- Official Color: Lantau Bronze.
- Fuel Economy: 18 city/24 highway/21 combined.
- Odometer reading when tested: 6,000 miles.
- Weight: 5,160 pounds, GVWR 7,075 pounds.
- Spare Tire: Full-sized spare.
- Length-Width-Height: 195.1” long/81.6” wide/74.3” high.
- Fuel Tank Capacity: 23.8 gallons with the filler on the passenger side.
- Towing Capacity: 8,200 pounds.
- 2021 Land Rover Discovery in a few words: A very capable luxury SUV with plenty of power and towing ability, very enjoyable on or off road.
- Warranty: 4-year/50,000 mile bumper-to-bumper with roadside assistance.
- Final Assembly Location: Nitra, Slovakia.
- Manufacturer's website: Land Rover
