Land Rover Discovery (2009-2016) review - does it still make for a great 4x4? - MPG and running costs

The definitive 4x4 from Land Rover - if you can’t quite stretch to a Range Rover

Evo rating
Price
from £41,600

MPG and running costs

A prestigious car that comes with upmarket running costs, buying and owning a Discovery won’t be cheap. It might be a turbodieesel engine under the bonnet, but it’s shifting a lot of mass s

o the official 35.3mpg combined economy figure is not a number you’re ever likely to see in reality. You’ll be doing well to return 25-28mpg and if you’re in any way enthusiastic with the accelerator, or towing, then expect much lower. The 213g/km emissions rating usefully avoids the top road tax rates, neatly sitting in the £285-a-year portion rather than the £485 and £500 categories above, but if you’re buying it on company money in the uk it does pop it into the top 37 per cent BIK tax band.

 Fuel and tax aren't going to be cheap, though Land Rover does offer fixed price service plans to keep the costs sensible. Main service intervals are set at 16,000 miles or 12 months. Retained values should be good, though insurance won’t be cheap, while Land Rover’s reputation for reliability isn’t quite as strong as many of its premium alternatives.

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