If you missed seeing the all-new Land Rover Discovery on show at the Absa Cape Epic, you’ll soon be seeing it cruising around South African roads, as the new Disco has been officially launched in our neck of the woods.
Unlike its predecessor that was fitted with a steel ladder-frame chassis, the fifth-generation model benefits from Land Rover’s strong and light aluminium monocoque platform. It shares this full-size SUV architecture with the Range Rover Sport.
The all-new Discovery is equipped by Jaguar Land Rover’s powerful six-cylinder petrol and diesel engines, powering all four wheels via a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission. V6 diesel power comes from the 190kW Td6, which delivers 600Nm of torque, while petrol customers get the 250kW supercharged petrol 3.0-litre V6, the Si6, which provides 450Nm of torque.
There are four trim levels, namely the S, HS, HSE and HSE Luxury – as well as a limited “First Edition” Discovery (2 400 units) topping the range. A 2.0-litre turbodiesel will join the line-up sometime in the future.
Ground clearance is up by 43mm, so that the new Discovery is rated at 283mm and it also has a maximum wading depth of 900mm (an increase of 200mm).
The new Disco has a maximum towing capacity of 3 500kg and Land Rover has developed Advanced Tow Assist that allows Disco drivers to ‘complete potentially difficult reversing manoeuvres when towing trailers, caravans and horseboxes’ more easily than in the past.
The system takes care of the counter-steering required by letting the driver use the rotary controller for the Terrain Response 2 system. Guidance lines are also overlaid on the feed from the rear-facing camera are displayed on the central touchscreen.
The SUV is able to accommodate seven full-sized adults, with the two rear seats ‘designed for 95th percentile adults to sit comfortably’. Both third-row seats incorporate ISOFIX mounting points (five in total), so families have the freedom to put child seats in the most appropriate seat for any journey.
Base Pricing (excl. CO2 tax):
3.0 TDV6 S: R992 540
3.0V6 Supercharged S: R1 037 310
3.0TDV6 SE: R1 121 790
3.0V6 Supercharged SE: R1 145 560
3.0 TDV6 HSE: R1 235 540
3.0 V6 Supercharged HSE: R1 259 310
3.0 TDV6 HSE Luxury: R1 326 540
3.0 V6 Supercharged HSE Luxury: R1 350 310
3.0 TDV6 First Edition: R1 452 540
3.0 V6 First Edition: R1 476 310