Overview & Reviews
Land Rover SUVs are the first choice of England's royals when the need arises for a vehicle gutsy enough to tackle rocks and mud. It's no wonder; in addition to their go-anywhere bravado, Land Rovers offer a uniquely British brand of elegance that feels supremely upper-crust. The Land Rover Discovery, offered in Europe a few years before coming to North America, was created to serve as a bridge between the manufacturer's utilitarian Defender and prestigious Range Rover models.
Unlike today's family-friendly crossovers, the Land Rover Discovery was an old-school luxury SUV that was at its best when pitted against treacherous ravines and vertiginous mountain paths. On-road performance clearly wasn't the primary focus, though on later models, Land Rover made more of an effort to strike a balance between trail-busting capacity and boulevard comfort.
In certain aspects concerning versatility, interior ergonomics and safety, the Land Rover lagged behind its peers. Cargo space was limited, and side airbags and stability control weren't available. Then there was the issue of reliability. Land Rovers of years gone by had a notoriously intimate relationship with repair shops, and the Discovery was no exception. More recent models, though, showed some improvement in this area.
Legendary off-road capabilities and a high level of luxury are the Discovery Series II's best points. But in our opinion, both are overshadowed by the vehicle's faults. Most buyers will probably be better served by competing Japanese or domestic luxury SUVs.
Most recent Land Rover Discovery
The Land Rover Discovery was a two-generation vehicle, and its most recent generation was built from 1999 until the SUV's demise in 2004. (The Land Rover LR3 took its place in the lineup.) Between model years 2000 and 2002, the Discovery was known as the Discovery Series II.
This generation saw a dizzying flurry of trim changes. In 1999, the Discovery was available in two versions: the outgoing generation called the SD and the new Series II. In 2000, the old one was dropped. Model-year 2001 saw another revision; the Discovery Series II could be had in SD, LE and SE models. The LE trim level was dropped in 2002. In 2003, the SUV once again became known simply as the Discovery, and from that point on it was available in base S, SE and top-of-the-line HSE trim levels.
Base-model Discovery models from this generation weren't light on luxury features, offering standard amenities like a CD player, power-adjustable front seats and dual-zone climate control. The nimble Land Rover was also ready to roam the great outdoors, thanks to permanent four-wheel drive, plenty of ground clearance and Hill Descent Control. Active Cornering Enhancement, a hydraulic suspension system that reduces vehicle body lean during cornering, was available, as were a self-leveling rear suspension and third-row seats.
Initially, two 4.0-liter V8s were available, one good for 182 horsepower and 233 pound-feet of torque, and the other for 188 hp and 250 lb-ft of torque. In 2000, the less-muscular V8 was dropped from the lineup. Model-year 2003 saw the introduction of a more potent 4.6-liter V8 good for 217 hp and 300 lb-ft of torque. This engine was used to power all Discoverys until the model's retirement. This Land Rover wasn't known for stellar fuel economy. Discoverys powered by the 4.6-liter got a paltry 12 mpg in the city and 16 in highway travel.
Engine changes weren't the only ones experienced by the Land Rover Discovery during these five years. In 2000, the SUV benefited from minor interior upgrades. In 2002, new alloys were added, along with a standard Harman Kardon sound system. The Discovery got revised styling and interior treatments for 2003, and improvements were also made to its steering, brakes and suspension. By 2004, the options list had grown to include a navigation system, rear-seat DVD entertainment system and rear parking sensors.
Top-notch interior materials were the order of the day in the Discovery's cabin. There was ample head- and legroom, but the SUV's narrow proportions resulted in scarce shoulder- and hiproom. Additionally, this Land Rover's cramped doorways and tall stance made entry and exit somewhat of a challenge.
In editorial reviews, the Land Rover Discovery scored high marks for its off-road performance. On pavement, it was plagued by sluggish steering and an overly harsh ride. Ride quality saw some improvement after 2003's refresh, so opt for a 2003 or 2004 model to get a Discovery offering the most competence in this area. Finding a well-maintained and -documented model is probably wise given the Disco's less-than-exemplary reputation for reliability and durability.
Past Land Rover Discoverys
The Land Rover Discovery's first generation lasted from 1994-'99. Standard features included full power accessories, keyless entry and cruise control. A third-row seat and, eventually, a CD player were offered as options. Early Discoverys got their juice from a 3.9-liter V8 good for 182 hp and 232 lb-ft of torque. This engine was replaced by a 4.0-liter V8 in 1996, offering slightly more torque (233 lb-ft) and improved fuel economy. In 1997, the Discovery's interior was upgraded to include burled walnut trim.
Even more so than later models, Discoverys from this generation were prone to reliability issues; on-road ride quality was also quite unforgiving. Given these factors, we'd recommend that those in the used market place their money with one of the SUV's more amenable Japanese competitors. If you're determined to get a first-gen Discovery, opt for the 1996 and '97 versions, with their more frugal engines.
User Reviews:
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My dream car - 2004 Land Rover Discovery
By weslowery - July 10 - 6:37 pmIm a 17 year old and I have always wanted a Land Rover. I got one at 85,000 miles and by 90,000 we were begging for someone to take it. I loved it but it was way to expensive to fix. First was the front differential at a costly 2,000 and a window regulator 675.00 and then secondairy air pump 500.000 and last but not least the ABS modulator and front right hub. Land Rover was asking 4800 to fix that. We said forget it and sold it for dirt dirt dirt cheap but were just happy to get rid of it. It was junk!!
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Cmon people! - 2004 Land Rover Discovery
By DOC - July 10 - 4:46 pmIve really enjoyed having this SUV! All the complaints about service is probably because a lot of "yuppies" who dont know the first thing about taking care of a car own them! Basic maintenance and upkeep will eliminate these problems. Enough already about the gas mileage...ITS A V8! Great SUV in my eyes!
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The most unreliable vehicle on the road. - 2003 Land Rover Discovery
By Peter - July 4 - 9:50 pmAs the owner of a 2002 Freelander which I traded in for a 2003 Discovery I can tell everyone to take seriously the ratings given by both JD Power & Associates and Consumer Reports magazine (among others). JD Power & Associates reviewed 38 auto manufacturers and Land Rover placed right at the bottom for the reliability of all their vehicles. Consumer Reports magazine ranks Land Rover vehicles as "much worse than average" for reliability but also displays in graph form how much worse than average Land Rover vehicles actually are. When compared among 48 other midsize SUVs, the Range Rover, LR3 and Range Rover Sport all ranked between -129% to -195% in reliability (a score of zero is perfect
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Very Happy with this SUV! - 2003 Land Rover Discovery
By paparvr - July 3 - 10:00 amIve owned my Discovery for 6 months now. I thought I would reserve my review until now. This is an excellent SUV. It has a very smooth ride, excellent build quality and unrivaled off-road ability. What amazes me the most is its ability to conquer almost anything you hand it off-road but ride like a luxury SUV on the city streets. Highly recommended!
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Long Time Coming - 2004 Land Rover Discovery
By JakeBarnes - July 2 - 4:00 pmIve loved the Disco since it first came out and I finally made the plunge this spring. The ride quality is great for an SUV and the styling (interior & exterior) is a cut above. Ive only had it for 6 Mos. but it has been maintenance free. The only shock was gas mileage. Going from an Audi A4 to the Disco was a big difference, especially during a time when gas hovered around $2.50 / gal.
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NO LIMITS - 2003 Land Rover Discovery
By beltran - June 13 - 10:00 amThe Discovery 2003 does have some inconvenient characteristics like the gas consumption and the turning radius .end; Maybe a range rover is too expensive, and maybe a hummer is a bit too big for driving in the city You want to drive a luxurious and practical car for a nice price and feel UNLIMITED!!!! .Discovery is what you are looking for.
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The perfect SUV! - 2003 Land Rover Discovery
By James Chandler - May 20 - 10:00 amBought the 2003 Discovery SE in the summer and still get a kick out of climbing in behind the wheel! Great looking vehicle with a little more class than your everyday SUV! No quality problems or returns to the dealership. Land Rover seem to get a bad rap, but I dont believe it any more or less reliable than any other make. Drove lots of other similar SUVs (BMW, Mercedes etc) before going with the Discovery, but none seemed to have the Land Rover edge. Also not so many of them around!
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Dont Front! - 2004 Land Rover Discovery
By Jungle Fever - May 10 - 11:36 amIf you cannot afford a highline sport- utility vehicle do not buy one. This is NOT a KIA Sorrento, Suzuki, or a GEO Tracker. I have owned mine for 4 years and have had no problems even though I have well over 100k on it now. I regularly have the fluids changed and scheduled maintenance done. No it is not cheap. Do a True Cost of Ownership. If you live pay- check to pay-check you will not like the MPG. Again its not Suzuki, KIA or GEO. I enjoy the vehicle and it is very comfortable. It is an all-weather, all-terrain SUV. Handling and torque is sufficient. You do not need to go 0-60 up a mountain in 4 seconds. Buy what you can afford , not what you want your friends to see you in.
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Sorry, but no Cigar! - 2004 Land Rover Discovery
By mmr1 - May 6 - 8:07 pmIm the original owner of a 04 Disco and its been a living nightmare. Its had excessive oil/antifreeze leaks, consumption, blown head gaskets, axle replacement, worn cam lobes/lifters among many other things and now the infamous "slipped cylinder sleeve" rendering the block useless! All this at only 100k miles on a car which has been fully maintained, never over heated and has had the oil changed every 3-5k miles. Sorry, but complete engine failure at 100k miles is just unacceptable! Other Auto Mfgs. today hold a minimum durability requirement of 150k miles and have far exceeded this on vehicles costing half what this one did. So no cigar LR, Ill spend my money elsewhere!
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Best Buy - 2003 Land Rover Discovery
By Shireen - May 2 - 10:00 amgreat so far. had it for about 2 months now and wouldnt trade it for nothin but maybe the new Range Rover. i chose the HSE Discovery 03 over a BMW X5 and Benz ML after driving all 3.
