2020 Land Rover Discovery

With great luxury, also comes great style and comfort. The 2020 Land Rover Discovery delivers all of the charm, comfort, off-road capability, and style of its predecessor, but with significant improvements to technology.The Discovery has a pretty stylish attitude. The pricing for the 2020 Land Rover Discovery starts at $53,650 and it competes against the likes of Cadillac XT6, Acura MDX, and BMW X5.

The Discovery comes in four distinct trims – SE, Landmark, HSE, and HSE Luxury. All the trims come with both the diesel and the gas engine, except the new Landmark trim, which only comes with the gasoline engine. Also, they are all 4WD and all come with the same transmission. The SE is priced at $53,650. The Landmark starts at $59,525. The HSE kicks off at $61,050. Finally, HSE Luxury is priced at $68,550. To avail of the diesel engine, you will need to pay extra. Only the engine is swapped, but no other extra features are added when you upgrade to the diesel engine.

There are also quite a few packages to choose from. Most of them are small and add protection or some cosmetic changes to the exterior. The Cold Climate package adds heated front and rear seats, a heated steering wheel, heated washer jets, etc. The Drive Package is quite useful as it adds adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, high-speed emergency braking, traffic sign recognition, and adaptive speed limiter.

You can also add the 7-seat package, which adds a third row and a total of 7 seats. The 7-seat luxury climate comfort package adds climate front and rear seats with heated 3rd-row seats, four-zone climate control, heated steering wheel, 16-way front seats, etc. Finally, the Luxury Climate Comfort package adds four-zone climate control, 16-way power-adjustable front seats w/ memory, heated steering wheel, etc.

Which trim should you buy?

If you have the cash, we would recommend going for the HSE trim. Add the Drive Package too. The HSE adds a ton of luxury features and it also includes some really comfortable and convenient features such as 12-way power-adjustable seats, a premium sound system, fog lamps, etc. Whether you should go with diesel or gasoline depends upon your use case. If you want more power at your disposal and want to tow stuff and go faster, then the supercharged V6 is the obvious choice. But if you want better fuel efficiency, then go with the diesel engine.

The 2020 Land Rover Discovery comes with two engine options. The first is the standard 3.0L supercharged V6 engine that produces an impressive 340 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque. The other is the 3.0L turbodiesel V6 engine that is able to churn out 254 horsepower and 443 lb-ft of torque. Both the engines are mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission and come with 4WD only. 

The diesel engine offers linear power delivery, and in the lower rev ranges, performs much better than the gasoline engine. It has massive amounts of torque in the lower rev range, which makes it easy for off-roading and cruising within the city too. The gasoline engine, on the other hand, has better torque higher up in the rev range and has more power. It has a higher towing capacity and can also be better when it comes to driving on the highway.

The gasoline engine is clearly the better sprinter, as it can go from 0-60 MPH in around 6.9 seconds. It reaches the quarter-mile in around 15.2 seconds. But the diesel engine will get there in around 7.5 seconds. While the diesel engine is certainly slower, it is also not the best when it comes to towing. The diesel has a towing capacity of 7,716 lbs and the gasoline engine has a towing capacity of 8,201 lbs.

The Discovery offers the most power output in this list. The Acura is the one with the least power output and yet it still is the second-fastest SUV on this list. The Discovery and the XT6 go hand in hand; while the Bimmer is the fastest in this segment. It is also the most expensive.

How does the 2020 Land Rover Discovery handle?

The Discovery is a potent off-roader – one of the best in this segment. However, the same cannot be said for its on-road capabilities. The steering has a tight feeling and is perhaps not the most responsive. However, the SUV is pretty decent for city driving. When it comes to highway driving at high speeds, the balance tends to be a bit off. It is not the most exciting on-road vehicle to drive.

Comfort is excellent, especially with the air suspension setup. The road imperfections and bumps are handled beautifully. Off-road is where the Discovery shines. The increased ground clearance and the suspension really help the SUV tackle almost any kind of terrain and come out unscathed. It can move over obstacles like it's nothing and even the most annoying obstacles can be handled with relative ease. So, yes, for off-roading the SUV is a blessing, but not so much for on-road driving.

2020 Land Rover Discovery Braking Performance

The British SUV comes with disc brakes on all four wheels; and the front brake rotors are 14.2” in diameter, while the rear brake rotors are 13.8” in diameter. Big SUVs need big brakes, and this 4,735 lbs vehicle is certainly not light.

When it comes to stopping potential, it comes to a halt from 60 MPH in 133 ft, which is an okay figure. Something lower definitely would have been more appreciated, but the pedal is firm and the nose dive is minimal. It is confidence-inspiring too.

The Land Rover and the BMW are the heaviest vehicles on the list, while the Acura MDX is the lightest. No wonder it comes to a halt the quickest in comparison to the others. The XT6 also has decent stopping power. The BMW X5 is the heaviest SUV on the lot, which is followed by the Land Rover and Cadillac XT6. 

When it comes to fuel economy, you either have to choose between efficiency or power. If you choose the gas engine, the EPA estimates are at 16 MPG for the city, 21 MPG for the highway, and 18 MPG for combined driving. The diesel engine fares a lot better than this inefficient gasoline engine and will do 21/26/23 MPG for city/highway/combined driving. The fuel tank is 23.5 gallons with the gas engine. It offers a total range of 376/493/423 miles for city/highway/combined driving. The diesel engine has a 22.5-gallon tank and it has a much better range of 472/585/517 miles for city/highway/combined driving.

As you can see, the X5 has the best fuel economy among the bunch. It also has the best range among the four. The Discovery has the worst engine in terms of efficiency, while the others fare better, especially the Acura and the Bimmer. Although the XT6 and Discovery drive less efficiently than their rivals, they have a larger fuel tank, so they need fewer pit stops between fill-ups.

The 2020 Land Rover Discovery has a premium interior that resembles the inside of a Range Rover. The design is beautifully crafted and the execution is pretty spot on. An abundance of high-quality materials makes the interior a pleasant and opulent place to be in. The seats are adorned with leather on all the trims, and you can also choose from wood or aluminum inlays. The higher trims get Windsor leather and the HSE can also upgrade to Windsor leather for $1,245. There are lots of color schemes and veneer options to choose and customize from. It has a sweet and premium interior.

As standard, the Discovery comes with five seats, but you can also choose to upgrade to seven seats. The highest trim comes with 16-way electric seats with memory and 4-way lumbar support. The lower trims offer 8-way electrically adjustable seats. The first two rows are very spacious and the sunroof illuminates the interior. The third row is pretty cramped and not ideal for adults for long journeys. If you get the five-seat variant, the Discovery will offer you a cargo space of a cavernous 41.2 cubic feet. The second row has 60/40 folding seats that increase the cargo space to a massive 83.7 cubic feet. However, equipping the third-row seats will drastically reduce the cargo space to a mere 10.1 cubic feet. The third-row seats can be folded in a 50-50 split.

The MDX has the most cramped third row, but the XT6 also matches it. The Bimmer does not come with a third row, and the Discovery offers better third-row spacing. However, Discovery also has the worst cargo capacity with all the rows up. However, the BMW X5 boasts the largest cargo room and spacious first row amongst the competition. Some key interior features include:

• 16-way electric seats 
• Windsor leather upholstery
• Heated leather steering wheel
• Four-zone automatic climate control
• Front seat memory and lumbar support
• Aluminum/wood inlays

What’s there to keep you entertained?

The Discovery comes equipped with a Touch Pro infotainment system and comes with a big 10” touchscreen in the center. The system is intuitive and the crisp graphics certainly offer a fresh look of modernity. However, it is laggy and sometimes can get sluggish to your inputs.

The infotainment system comes with all the modern features such as Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, voice control, etc. Navigation is also added along the line and from the HSE trim onwards, you get access to SiriusXM radio, HD radio, Wi-Fi hotspot, etc. In the lower trims, the 10-speaker Land Rover Enhanced Sound System is standard; while on the Landmark trim onwards, you are greeted with a 10-speaker Meridian sound system. The HSE Luxury trim adds a 15-speaker Meridian premium sound system. Highlights of the infotainment system:

• 10” Touch Pro infotainment system
• Wi-Fi hotspot
• Bluetooth
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• SiriusXM radio
• HD Radio
• 15-speaker Meridian sound system

The Discovery is a stylish and gorgeous design that will strum the heartstrings of many. The design is modern and does not resemble the old Land Rover philosophy of ruggedness and simplicity. This SUV has beautiful curves and edges and has a pretty appealing design. The front fascia houses the two headlights that will remind you of a Range Rover. The grille is small but adds to the style. The bumper is long and on higher trims, you get front fog lamps too. From the side, the Discovery looks sleek but ready for business. An elevated ground clearance clears its way to ride on rough terrains.

There are curves but the boxy nature of the Land Rover definitely did not fade away. The rear end features LED taillights and a large rear bumper, along with the “Discovery” badge in stylish capital fonts. The higher trims are accommodated with rear fog lights too. The base trim rides on 19” wheels, while the others ride on 20”. The Landmark trim has specific “Landmark” badging and it rides on 21” wheels. The luxurious off-roader surely has a charm of its own, and it looks to have taken a page from Range Rover’s book.

The X5 has the longest wheelbase, while the MDX has the shortest. However, the XT6 is the longest while the Discovery is the tallest. All the SUVs have their own distinct style and every one of them looks good in its own way. Nonetheless, the dimensions of the Discovery are perfectly balanced to make sure that it has the signature boxy design and Land Rover's signature styling. Some key exterior features include:

• Single stainless-steel exhaust
• Short and long arm front suspension w/ air springs
• Multi-link rear suspension w/ air springs
• 20” 10 split-spoke wheels
• Power w/ tilt down heated auto-dimming side mirrors
• LED headlights
• LED taillights
• Front and rear fog lamps

The Land Rover Discovery has not been subjected to safety tests either by NHTSA or IIHS. However, Euro NCAP has only nice things to say about it; and we have no reason to believe that the 2020 Discovery would not be a safe vehicle. It comes with a long list of standard safety and driver assistance features that are surely appreciated. Also, there are optional features that you can equip to further elevate the convenience. Some of the key safety features on board are:

• Terrain response ESC and roll stability control
• InControl Protect Emergency SOS
• Park assist automated parking sensors
• Blindspot assist
• Lane-keeping assist
• Front collision mitigation
• High speed intelligent emergency braking and reverse traffic detection
• Back-up camera
• Dual-stage airbags

2020 Land Rover Discovery vs 2020 Cadillac XT6

The XT6 is a luxurious offering from the luxury American brand and it gives the Discovery a run for its money. The Cadillac XT6 is meant to be a city and highway cruiser and not necessarily an off-roader. The Discovery, on the other hand, shines off the road. Performance is identical but the XT6 handles better and also offers better fuel economy.

2020 Land Rover Discovery vs 2020 Acura MDX

The Japanese SUV, Acura MDX is definitely a handsome one that has its own charm and execution. The SUV is faster than the British luxury SUV and it can off-road too; but not on the same level as the Discovery. The MDX has a tight third row, but it offers more cargo storage than the LR. Overall, it is a question of priority that should dictate your choice.

2020 Land Rover Discovery vs 2020 BMW X5

The BMW X5 is quite a bit more expensive than the LR. However, it also brings more to the table. The X5 is not a three-row seater, but it does have a much sportier appeal to it. Not meant to do serious off-roading like the Discovery, the X5 gravitates more towards the road and shows off its finesse with athletic handling and a luxurious interior.

The Land Rover Discovery is a beautifully engineered British automobile that does not fail to impress. With two engines on offer, it offers a choice to the owner. It also has the option to rack up the third row, if need be. It is not sporty or athletic but is a terrific off-roader. Anyone who wants to wallow in luxury while traversing the uncharted territory should seriously consider this one. Safe, beautiful, and opulent; the 2020 Land Rover Discovery is a very compelling choice.