Sat imperioiusly behind the wheel of the 2024 Land Rover Discovery 3.0D Dynamic HSE, it’s difficult to recall what all the fuss was about. Of course, we’re referring to the ‘furore’ over its shift away from boxy styling when the fifth-generation model launched some seven years ago. With the passing of time, the column inches of spilled milk are now duly acknowledged as the storm in a teacup they rightly were.
From inside the cabin, the 2024 Land Rover Discovery 3.0D in Dynamic HSE is quite simply a faultless luxury SUV. The austerity that followed the COVID-19 pandemic made us super-serious about bottom lines and value propositions. As a result, it’s been a long time since we evaluated such an accomplished vehicle. Damn, this 2024 Land Rover Discovery is like an over-achieving ivy-league graduate. With movie-star looks and heart of gold who gives back to the community.
2024 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY 3.0D DYNAMIC HSE
Don’t forget that the original Land Rover Discovery has kudos, too. It was introduced back in the 1980s, way before go-anywhere luxury 4x4s were cool. With that sort of provenance, it’s not unheard of for the pioneering talisman to lose relevance and get left behind – ironically – by the phenomenon it helped popularise. If you’re not adapting, you’re dying is the popular refrain. However, it’s how the 2024 Land Rover Discovery sticks to its guns with a smooth six-cylinder diesel motor that impresses.
Rabid electrification by the world’s car manufacturers hasn’t paid off (yet). And that’s why we’re not at all surprised Land Rover has opted for the creamy, torquey 3.0-litre oil-burner in this configuration. Of course, Jaguar is shifting to an all-electric line-up before the end of the year. But right here, right now, the peerless 2024 Land Rover Discovery 3.0D Dynamic HSE is all yours in South Africa for a sniff over R2 million. That may sound expense but you’ll realise it’s good value once you sample it.
TODAY, AFRICA. TOMORROW, THE WORLD
Of course, the squared-off boxiness was swapped long ago for the beautifully tailored suit of armor you see before you. And in Dynamic HSE spec you get gloss-black 22-inch wheels hanging at each corner from its high-tech suspension. From well-heeled executive commuter, to horse-box tow vehicle, to gin and tonics in the bush, sweetie, darling, the 2024 Land Rover Discovery is one and the same. Looking closely, the smoothly sculpted bodywork improve efficiency and noise, vibration and harshness suppression within the cabin. The traditionally stepped profile gives it a heavier tailend but that’s the price of accommodating a full seven-seat layout (none of this five plus two seating, thank you very much).
Better still, Land Rover has gone to town on the ease-of-use. Remote Intelligent Seat Folding can individually operate any seat at the touch of a button. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg as far as the 11.4-inch Pivi Pro infotainment goes. The interior button count has been significantly reduced but, crucially, not eliminated totally, giving what we believe to be the best of both digital and analogue worlds. A hi-tech, luxury family chariot of the highest order but without forgetting its humble, grounded roots. And it is off-the-scale comfortable place to spend time in.
UNFLUSTERED IN ANY SITUATION
And so the 2024 Land Rover Discovery 3.0D Dynamic HSE proves itself on every sort of terrain possible. On the smooth tarmac of the highway, not a word of a lie, its air suspension rides with all the marshmallowy compliance of a luxury limousine. Adaptive cruise control works instinctively to gap you safely to the car in front of you. Likewise, because it’s a big, tall 4×4, the steering response is fairly slow, but it still has that well-oiled luxury feel you expect from a Land Rover. Veer off-road, fiddle with the Terrain Response dial on the centre console and it doesn’t skip a beat. It’s as comfortable as before but merely with a dust cloud in the rearview mirror now.
As far as the diesel motor goes, its versatile 257 kW and 700 Nm of torque provides ideal motive force on South African roads. There’s all manner of hybrid-petrol-electric alternatives available, but none swells with the same effortlessness as this strong six-cylinder. Zero to 100 km/h occurs in a claimed 6.3 seconds and while there is no quoted economy figure, we saw an average of 9.0 l/100 km during our test. Better still, it shields you from the tedium of long-distance driving and makes an ideal road-trip companion.
THE VERDICT
Sadly, our time with the 2024 Land Rover Discovery 3.0D Dynamic HSE did not afford us the opportunity to go off-roading. Not that we wanted to scratch up the pristine paint job and 22-inch rims. Nevertheless, we have evaluated its Terrain Response mode in Mud and Rut mode before, and its ability to scrabble over rocky riverbeds is something unheard of. There’s also its All-Terrain Progress Control (ATPC) – a sort of slow-speed cruise control for 4x4ing – which reacts by locking differentials and utilising low-range gear ratios all on its own.
Combine that with its class-leading 900 mm wading depth, 285 mm ground clearance and 500 mm wheel articulation (in off-road mode) and the 2024 Land Rover Discovery quite literally knows no bounds. More importantly, the 3.0D motor is a study in versatility and economy out on the open road and the interior is a sophisticated blend of traditional values and modern connectivity. Best of all, the 2024 Land Rover Discovery is a fully fledged seven seater. And it’s supple air suspension – honed over five generations no less – feels like it can turn dirt into silk. Not a lot of luxury SUVs can pull that off anymore.
THE FIGURES
- 2024 Land Rover Discovery 3.0D Dynamic HSE
- Price: R2 092 600
- Engine: 3.0-litre turbodiesel
- Power: 257 kW and 700 Nm
- Transmission: 8-speed auto, four-wheel drive
- Fuel Economy: 9.0 l/100 km (tested)
- Performance: 0-100 km/h in 6.3 seconds / top speed 208 km/h
WOULD YOU PREFER THIS OR A CLASSIC LAND ROVER?
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