Summary
The Land Rover Discovery is a large seven-seat SUV. The current version was launched in the UK in early 2017 and is branded as the fifth-generation model, although it is really the third major iteration in the Discovery’s 30-year history.
The latest Discovery is also no longer built in the UK, as production shifted to Slovakia in 2018 (so it doesn’t get our “Best of British” badge).
The Land Rover Discovery has received a broad range of scores from the UK motoring media, ranging from below average to outstanding. Despite generating such diverse opinions, the Discovery is currently (as of July 2023) ranked a point behind the venerable Volvo XC90, and two points behind its sister seven-seat SUV, the Land Rover Defender.
The Discovery has received particular praise for its combination of on- and off-road ability, as well as its interior comfort and practicality. However, it has been criticised for its polarising rear styling, reliability issues and expensive price tag compared to rivals.
Poor reliability has long been a sore point for Land Rover in general, and the Discovery in particular. Latest information suggests that it’s certainly not getting any better – in a 2021 reliability survery, What Car? rated the Discovery as the second-most unreliable new car on sale, and it finished in the same lowly place in 2022. Full details in our ‘Reliability rating’ section below.
At the end of 2020, the Discovery received a mid-life facelift that consisted of upgraded engines, much-improved infotainment system and minor styling tweaks.
As of July 2023, the Land Rover Discovery has an Expert Rating of 77%, based on 30 different reviews published by the UK’s top motoring sites.
Discovery highlights
- Talented on and off the road
- Practical and polished interior design
- Leisurely driving experience
- Roomy cabin
- Improved infotainment
Discovery lowlights
- Expensive when compared to rivals
- Very poor reliability record over many years
- Cumbersome in urban areas
- Poor fuel economy
Key specifications
Body style: Large SUV
Engines: petrol, diesel
Price: From £60,540 on-road
Launched: Winter 2016/17
Last updated: Autumn 2021
Replacement due: TBA
Image gallery
Media reviews
Reviews, road test and comparisons from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.
The Car Expert
Model reviewed: 2.0-litre petrol automatic
“The Discovery is a hugely compelling package – it’s hugely comfortable, unbeatable off-road, spacious and premium.”
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Auto Express
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“The latest Land Rover Discovery is the most capable yet, blending the unrivalled off-road ability and toughness of the company’s previous 4x4s with a considerably better on-road driving experience and greater efficiency.”
Read review
Model reviewed: 2021
Score: 9 / 10
“The Land Rover Discovery remains our favourite seven-seat 4×4 if you do need proper space for seven people. It’s spacious, as quiet as a luxury car and now boasts one of the best infotainment systems in the business.”
Read review
Model reviewed: Range review
Score: 10 / 10
“The fifth-generation Land Rover Discovery isn’t cheap, but it’s one of the best all-round family cars money can buy.”
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Auto Trader
Score: 8.4 / 10
“The lack of a plug-in hybrid option like the Volvo may be a disappointment for some but, in all other regards, the Discovery is a class act.”
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Autocar
Model reviewed: 3.0-litre diesel automatic D300 Metropolitan
“The Land Rover Discovery Metropolitan Edition doesn’t bring any kit that anyone strictly needs, but if you need seven seats and prefer its looks to the Defender’s (have a word…), it will play the Range-alike role even more convincingly than the regular R-Dynamic HSE upon which it builds.”
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Model reviewed: D300 2021
Score: 9 / 10
“Facelifted Disco 5 offers almost all the Defender’s off-road ability yet is sweeter on the road.”
Read review
Model reviewed: Range review
Score: 9 / 10
“It won’t be for everyone – but for those who have a use for its Amazon-wide range of abilities, it’s a brilliant and unrivalled product.”
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Car
Model reviewed: 3.0-litre diesel automatic Landmark
Score: 8 / 10
“It seems that with the advent of the new, posher Defender, the Land Rover Discovery makes more sense. While that doesn’t necessarily mean Land Rover will sell any more, I still think it deserves more attention because it is an excellent all-round proposition.”
Read review
Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel automatic SD4 HSE Luxury
Score: 8 / 10
“The big Disco will still win the hearts and minds of many middle-class families for a long list of reasons. It’s hugely capable, almost as comfortable as the old one, requires little effort from whoever’s behind the wheel and feels as much at home at a country park as Kensington High Street.”
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Car Keys
Model reviewed: 2.0-litre petrol automatic
Score: 9 / 10
“The Discovery is already a superb package – it’s a superb long-distance cruiser, is incredibly practical and has a fantastic interior. For drivers who don’t do that many miles, this petrol version could also be ideal with its punchy nature, and it makes it an interesting alternative to the typical diesel models.”
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Carbuyer
Model reviewed: Range review
Score: 9 / 10
“The Land Rover Discovery is a premium SUV offering lots of space, ability and surprising fuel-economy, but it doesn’t come cheap.”
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Carwow
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Land Rover Discovery is hugely practical, feels very posh inside and is one of the best off-roaders you can buy, but it’s not as good to drive as some German alternatives.”
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Company Car Today
Model reviewed: Range review
Score: 7.9 / 10
“The looks aren’t perfect, likewise emissions and rear-seat access, but otherwise the Land Rover Discovery is better than ever. And the previous version was darned good.”
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Daily Mail
Model reviewed: 3.0-litre diesel automatic TD6 HSE Luxury
Score: 10 / 10
“The dashing new Discovery is so awesome in every way, it may have knocked the Range Rover off its perch.” (Chris Evans)
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Evo
Model reviewed: 2021
Score: 7 / 10
“The Land Rover Discovery has impressive new diesel engines; tech also vastly improved.”
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Model reviewed: Range review
Score: 7 / 10
“The Land Rover Discovery 5 is better on road than ever before with no compromise off it.”
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Green Car Guide
Model reviewed: 3.0-litre diesel automatic TD6 HSE Luxury
Score: 9 / 10
“The new Land Rover Discovery has to be one of the world’s most capable all-round vehicles. It’s luxurious on the road, it seats seven, and it’s extremely capable off road.”
Read review
Model reviewed: 3.0-litre diesel automatic TD6 HSE Luxury
Score: 9 / 10
“The new Land Rover Discovery has to be one of the world’s most capable all-round vehicles. It’s luxurious on the road, it seats seven, and it’s extremely capable off-road. You’re left with the feeling that whatever the weather or the environment throws at it, everything would be fine.”
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Heycar
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“If you’re after a high-quality, go-anywhere family SUV that can cope with everything you can throw at it, the Land Rover Discovery is pretty much perfect.”
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Honest John
Model reviewed: 3.0-litre diesel automatic TD6
“Land Rover has managed to retain the distinct character of the Discovery – especially in the way it drives – but added a premium feel. The interior is much improved and now feels like it belongs in a car at this price. Because it’s not cheap.”
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Model reviewed: Range Review
Score: 10 / 10
“If you’re after a high quality family SUV that can cope with everything you can throw at it – the Land Rover Discovery is pretty much perfect. Others may handle better in corners, but nothing can match the all-round ability of the Discovery.”
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Parkers
Model reviewed: Range review
Score: 8.6 / 10
“A great combination of space, practicality and brilliant off- and on-road ability.”
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The Sun
Model reviewed: Range review
“The Land Rover Discovery 5 has built on the “go anywhere” DNA of its forefathers and added more curves, glamour, comfort and clever tech for the modern family.”
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The Sunday Times
Model reviewed: TD6 3.0-litre diesel automatic HSE Luxury
Score: 6 / 10
“If you are a casual off-roader, the old Disco made a bit of sense, but this new one’s too plush and too fragile. And if your heart is set on a Land Rover, there’s the Range Rover Evoque, the good-looking and appealing Range Rover Velar and the proper and still brilliant Range Rover.” (Jeremy Clarkson)
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The Telegraph
Model reviewed: Range review
Score: 8 / 10
“This is an excellent large seven-seat SUV that combines luxury and off-road ability better than any of its rivals. However, there are some reliability problems, and if you never need venture off the beaten track, the Audi Q7 and Volvo XC90 might be the more sensible choice.”
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Top Gear
Model reviewed: 5
Score: 8 / 10
“The Land Rover Discovery is a heroically talented go-anywhere, do-anything family SUV. Just be sure you *need* this much space and ability.”
Read review
Model reviewed: Range review
Score: 8 / 10
“The consummate big family SUV. Spectacular off-road, now better on it, but is it just too Range Rover for its own good?”
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What Car?
Model reviewed: Range review
Score: 8 / 10
“The Land Rover Discovery is hugely capable and very desirable, and equally at home both on road and off it. Just bear in mind an Audi Q7 is better to drive, plusher inside and cheaper, too.”
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Which?
Model reviewed: Range overview
“The Land Rover Discovery is a highly impressive machine in all sorts of respects. It’s not without its flaws, though, and overall there are rivals (such as the Audi Q7) that are more convincing.”
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Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
Overall score: 5 stars
Date tested: March 2017
Read the full Euro NCAP review
Adult protection: 90%
Child protection: 80%
Vulnerable road users: 75%
Safety assist: 73%
Eco rating
Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP
No eco rating
As of July 2023, the Land Rover Discovery has not been lab tested by Green NCAP.
Reliability rating
Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
Total claims: 549
Average repair cost: £1672.78
Last updated: November 2022
Reliability score
All data based on MotorEasy average workshop costs for extended car warranty claims
Like most Land Rovers, the Discovery has earned an abysmal reputation for reliability. As of October 2022, it has a shockingly bad reliability rating of 18% – one of the lowest scores of any car we currently track. Our data is provided to us exclusively from warranty records from our partner, MotorEasy. This applies to both this generation of Discovery and earlier generations.
In addition to being woefully unreliable, the average repair cost for a Discovery when (not if) it goes wrong is also one of the highest of any new car – almost £1,700. In particular, engine issues are an expensive problem, with an average repair bill getting close to £6,000. Yes, that number is correct. We haven’t accidentally added a zero.
However, it’s not just our data that paints the Discovery in a bad light. In 2022, a reliability study from What Car? rated this generation of Discovery as the second-worst new car on sale and worst luxury SUV (Land Rovers filled all three bottom places on the luxury SUV table). Land Rover was also the second-worst brand for reliability, ahead of only Jeep.
If you own or are considering buying a used Land Rover Discovery, we’d strongly recommend a used car warranty that covers all of the potential trouble spots shown in the charts above.
Awards
Trophies, prizes and awards that the Land Rover Discovery has received
2021
- Parkers New Car Awards – Best Seven-Seater
2020
- DieselCar & EcoCar Top 50 – Best Luxury SUV
- What Car? Awards – Best Luxury SUV under £60K
2018
- DieselCar & EcoCar Top 50 – Best Luxury SUV
- News UK Motoring Awards – Dog-Friendly Car of the Year
2017
- Scottish Car of the Year
- Auto Express Awards – Car of the Year
- Tow Car Awards – Tow Car of the Year
2016
- Tow Car Awards – Best Tow Car, 1,900kg + category
Similar cars
If you’re looking at the Land Rover Discovery, you might also be interested in these alternatives
Audi Q7 | BMW X5 | Land Rover Defender | Lexus RX | Mercedes-Benz GLE | Range Rover Sport | SsangYong Rexton | Toyota Land Cruiser | Volkswagen Touareg | Volvo XC90
More information
More news, reviews and information about the Land Rover Discovery at The Car Expert
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