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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  me and my Discovery (love it hate it) - 2004 Land Rover Discovery
  By Ken - March 5 - 12:33 am

  Always wanted a Land Rover I have admired them since forever. My land Rover is love/hate relationship. The thing cant go more than 6 months without need for a trip to the dealer, most of the time it is for something minor. My rover loves to gulp gas even on highway trip if Im lucky I might get 14 mpg (avg speed 66 mph). Ergonomics poor, off road performance way better than great. Snow, mud, water no problem. I purchased it with the older style nav system, which after the $700.00 cost Land Rover decided not to make map upgrade DVD disks for up dating. Great they have rendered the system useless as for up to the date maps and such, thanks Land Rover.

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  New Land Rover lover - 2004 Land Rover Discovery
  By sphengolly - January 14 - 2:00 am

  I like the ride both on and off road.It is a truck so it is not a smooth as my brothers Mercedes, but is nice. In rain it sticks on the road and gives you confidence you can control it. people complain about the difficulty of the differentfunctions,locks ,windows,air,ec t. but can learn and use easy enough with practice, as with the key into the ignition takes practice. There is some wind noise on the highway , but only noticable to me at 70mph or higher. It handels fine at those speeds never past 85mph. Rear air is a must and I recomend the SE (like I have)or higher se7 model.

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  At last... - 2003 Land Rover Discovery
  By 3stripes - September 2 - 2:00 am

  This has been a dream car of mine for years. Have always liked its unique design and rugged features. Surprised to find my wife likes driving it as much as I do. Toddler loves the view from her seat. You must like British styling to overlook many of the comforts available from lower priced competitors. I love it.

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  Test drove the S - 2004 Land Rover Discovery
  By nt2050 - June 9 - 2:00 am

  I spent nearly an hour with the sales person on the test drive. He is friendly and willing to take time to answer my questions. Most likely, I will drop the $$ on it after coming back from vacation in 01/2004. Hey, anyone know the "reasonable" price on S? The sales guide quoted me $36K (TT&L...) total.

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  Solid, Fun to Drive - 2004 Land Rover Discovery
  By Pasha - April 10 - 10:00 am

  I bought the Westminster Edition with premium sound system that is amazing. Car is very easy to drive in congested traffic thanks to high seating position and excellent visibility. In harsh rain, this thing is unstoppable - retaining solid surefooted road performance. Additionally, this tank is surprisingly easy to park.

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  Disco SE7 - 2004 Land Rover Discovery
  By ckadventure - February 21 - 1:53 pm

  I am not sure what the negative fuss is about in relation to Land Rover products. My wife & I purchased an 04 LR Discovery SE7 for the purpose of a daily driver that will seat 3 children comfortably, yet is capable of handling serious off road conditions-as we are very outdoor oriented. We made the correct choice! Yes it is an expensive vehicle to both purchase & to maintaine; however, if you DO maintaine the vehicle properly (just as you should any vehicle) you should be issue free. We have never been left stranded, nor have we had any catostofic failures. My Disco is fast approaching 100K miles & I intend to put that many more miles on it. Amazing offroad & equally amazing on the Hwy.

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  Calakes Review - 2004 Land Rover Discovery
  By wjones - January 15 - 10:00 am

  This is an awesome vehicle to drive. The handling far exceeds what I imagined. I have driven 4x4s for some 20 years, and this is an incredible machine, both for getting around town, and (my favorite) hitting the far off and hard to reach fishing spots in the Eastern Sierras that only can be reached with a 4x4. What else can I say, this vehicle is real fun!

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  Youll need to make it yours - 2003 Land Rover Discovery
  By Skifishhunt - December 26 - 9:10 am

  I have owned my Disco for 3 years, I average over 20,000 miles a year. No major problems at all. This vehicle is not a car, it is a truck, and once you replace the oem goodyear tires and put a multifunctional roof rack on it, you will be on your way to owning the most capable SUV on planet earth.

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  Fun to drive in Texas Hill Country - 2004 Land Rover Discovery
  By Troon - September 26 - 10:00 am

  The vehicle is safe and fun to drive. I live in the Texas hill Country and love to hunt. This is a great SVU for going into the hard to get to areas. The gas mileage could be better but over all its a small price to pay. My Irish Setter fits well into the cargo space. Overall I would purchase another Land Rover in a minute.

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  Dream Car, but not quite a Nightmare - 2003 Land Rover Discovery
  By vgardon - September 24 - 10:00 am

  I have always wanted this car and finally bought one in 11/2008. It was already 5 years old, but initially ran well. However, after having it for about 1 year, major issues arose (i.e., O2 sensors went, window motor broke, major ticking noise from under the hood, etc). This car is very expensive to maintain and after a while, it just wasnt worth pouring any more money into it. Thankfully, it has never shut down on me, but I dont think I would buy another one until I know much more about maintaining luxury cars.