Looking just as ready to go on safari as to haul home the groceries, the Discovery was brought to market with the most advanced safety systems of any sport/utility. Dual airbags, side-impact door beams and all-terrain anti-lock brakes (ABS) are all standard issue and complement the exceptional grip provided by the full-time 4WD. Jeep?s Grand Cherokee is the only other vehicle less expensive than the Discovery to offer non-stop 4WD as standard.
Cloaking the exceptionally rigid chassis are aluminum body panels to keep weight down (the steel roof is the only panel not formed of aluminum). The Discovery?s strong steel box-section frame was not only treated to as special anti-corrosion process, but it was also designed to eliminate moister traps as well. This is one vehicle that should last at least 20 years - given, of course, the required build quality.
The Discovery is still built in a rather antiquated production line without such modern devices as robotics, so there?s some question whether it will show the long-term durability of its competitors that come out of newer plants.
Of course, that question has already been answered in part by the Discovery?s performance in the unbelievable demands of the annual Camel Trophy safaris and Land Rover?s long experience with off-road vehicles.
The discovery looks tall and ours was - more than 14 in. taller than the Grand Cherokee, although it?s about the same length. The bubble-top configuration not only provides ample headroom for front passengers - and placement of the driver?s seat a full 36 in. above the road for superior sight lines - it allows the rear seat to be elevated to a "stadium" position so passengers in the back can see over the heads of those in front.
The list of standard features points out the discovery?s luxurious character as well as its serious intentions as a utility vehicle. The integral Class III trailer-hitch receiver, for instance, allows maximum towing capacity of 7700 lb.
Because the Discovery was designed to tackle the outback as well as the inner city, it retains a typical off-road vehicle?s tall ride height, yet a low center of gravity prevents it from feeling tippy when snaking around a freeway on?ramp. A very neat option on our vehicle was hydraulically retractable rear bumper step, which swung up and out of the way of any road obstacles.
The Discovery?s generous interior proportions are unmatched in its class. A pair of optional folding jump seats behind the 3- passenger rear seat increases interior seating capacity to seven, a setup mirrored only by the Mitsubishi Montero. However, compared with the segment leaders, Explorer and Grand Cherokee, the Discovery?s luggage space is relatively small even with the rear seat folded.
Facing the driver is an easily read instrument panel and a tilt steering column straight from the Rover800 passenger car. Interior items more in keeping with luxury sedan than a utility vehicle abound, including a climate-control system that allows a 10-degree variation between left and right sides of the vehicle. An optional auxiliary A/C system is available for rear passengers. Convenience features are plentiful: Numerous storage bins and pockets, a full-size glove box and four cupholders dot the interior.
The Discovery?s suspension is familiar with Land Rover technology, meaning it performs as ably on rutted roads and muddy tracks as on city boulevards. The Discovery is as comfortable as the Grand Cherokee on the highway - even though it has one of the shortest wheelbases in the category - and off-road it has no match in providing a smooth ride over the most difficult terrain.
The only engine available, Land Rover?s familiar 3.9 liter, aluminum V8, produces plenty of torque that translates into remarkable off-road capabilities, including an ability climb slopes up to 45 degrees.
Although the Land Rover V8 has what it takes for picking its way up impossible slopes and through rock piles, it?s no match for the Grand Cherokee V8 in straight-ahead performance. Acceleration is methodical at best, and there?s thirst to go with it - EPA estimate of 16 mpg on the highway lags behind some of its competitors and frankly isn?t the Discovery?s most attractive feature.
And if heavy towing is part of your sport/utility plan - say 5000 lb. or more - we?d recommend one of the American full-size sport/utilities with more power. Don?t misunderstand: We don?t doubt the Discovery can meet its tow rating. It?s just a question of how long it?ll take to get where you?re towing.
Taking engine power to the four wheels is a standard 5-speed manual transmission designed specifically for the Discovery, or you can opt for the same 4-speed automatic that?s found in the upscale Range Rover. Either way, the feeling is of an ultra-efficient, no nonsense powertrain that is devoid of the noise, vibration and harshness that once plagued the utility market. The full-time 4WD has both a high and low range, and a manual differential lock is there for especially difficult moments.
Chassis stiffness is the hallmark of a superior sport/utility vehicle, and here the Discovery excels. There is body roll during cornering attitude around the bend, aided by precise, power-assisted steering, and follows through as if it were a luxury sedan.