Skip advert
Advertisement

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
RRP
from £41,600
  • Looks, prestige, utility and huge comfort regardless of what’s beneath the wheels
  • Beginning to feel its age despite many revisions, expensive to run and buy

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.

Advertisement - Article continues below

 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.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Jaguar F-Pace SVR long term test – more efficient than a diesel Discovery
Jaguar F-Pace SVR
Long term tests

Jaguar F-Pace SVR long term test – more efficient than a diesel Discovery

A stint in a diesel-engined Discovery that resulted in only 30mph has convinced me the F-Pace SVR is impressively frugal
8 Apr 2026
The classic Porsche 911 is overhyped, according to the man dedicated to perfecting it
Jan Kalmar
Features

The classic Porsche 911 is overhyped, according to the man dedicated to perfecting it

Kalmar Automotive's mission is to create the perfect Porsches for 'nerds' and push the limits, making 911s into everything from rally cars to hypercar…
6 Apr 2026
Best Japanese cars – performance icons from GR Yaris to NSX-R
Best Japanese cars
Best cars

Best Japanese cars – performance icons from GR Yaris to NSX-R

The Japanese have produced some of the most compelling performance cars we've ever tested, from hot hatches and rally cars to full-on supercars
7 Apr 2026