Land Rover Discovery 5
Land Rover Discovery 5
The Land Rover Discovery 5 (also known as the third-generation Discovery or L462) made its debut on 28th September 2016, on the eve of the 2016 Paris Motor Show. In the UK, it went on sale in February 2017.
Exterior & Chassis
It is fair to say that in design, the Discovery 5 is the most modern in comparison to its predecessors. Initially previewed at the 2014 New York Auto Show, the exterior design features many similarities to the Discovery Sport model.
The new Discovery 5 uses Land Rover’s aluminium monocoque; something which was first seen on the Range Rover L405. The advantage of using an aluminium chassis and body panels is a much lighter vehicle. This, combined with an aerodynamic design, means the Discovery 5 boasts the best fuel efficiency across the Discovery series. As well as this, the Discovery 5 is built on a uni-body chassis rather than body on frame. This method of construction lends higher torsional rigidity and less weight.
While previous Discovery models favoured a more angular design, the Discovery 5 features a rounded shape. Further changes to the interior include the reorientation of tail lights from vertical to horizontal and the introduction of a new conventional top hinged tailgate made from composite.
Trim Levels
The Discovery 5 is available in 4 different trim levels. The first and least expensive of these, the S, features air conditioning, alloy wheels and 10” touchscreen. The next level up, the SE, has electric leather seats, integrated sat nav, parking sensors and automatic lights. The final two models in this series are the HSE and the HSE Luxury. Packed with luxury features in these you will find a panoramic glass roof, heated seat, keyless entry and four-zone climate control.
Mechanics & Engineering
In terms of engine options, the Discovery 5 is offered with a choice of V6 petrol and diesel engines mated to a standard 8 speed automatic transmission. Choices include four and six cylinder engines and three diesels (2.0 litre SD4, 3.0 TD6 and 3.0 SDV6). Petrol engines include a 2.2 Litre Si4 and 3.0 V6.
On base trim models, coil springs are now standard. However, the air suspension of the older Discovery models is still offered as an option.
The Terrain Response technology which made its debut in the Discovery 3 has received an upgrade in the Discovery 5. Known as Terrain Response 2, it monitors factors such as wheel slip and wheel speed and makes crucial adjustments to improve performance. The new Terrain Response system retains the modes of the original (snow, grass, gravel, mud ruts, sand and rock crawl’, along with a new ‘Auto’ mode.
Special Edition Models
To mark the 30th Anniversary of the Land Rover Discovery, a special edition model was released in 2019. Known as the Discovery SD6 Anniversary Edition, features of this new vehicle include a navigation pro system, LED headlights that wrap around the vehicle’s side, a Meridian sound system, privacy glass and a wide range of metallic paint options (including Santorini Black, Loire Blue, Corris Grey and Indus Silver.
