Skip advert
Advertisement

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

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

Interior and Tech

The current Discovery can trace its roots back to 2004, though it has undergone several serious revisions since then. Notably inside, where the quality is now almost comparable to its Range Rover relations. There’s still a pleasing functionality to the cabin, the switches and dials all chunky and decisive in their operation, feeling like you could operate them with ease with thick gloves on. Utilitarian then, without being low-rent, though the touch-screen satnav and infotainment module - even in its most updated form - feels Speak&Spell in its operation rather than hi-def smartphone.

Advertisement - Article continues below

There’s loads of space as you might expect given its ample dimensions. Five can be sat in comfort easily, while the rear two seats - which stow away under the boot floor when not needed - are useable for shorter journeys with adults in them, though are better suited for children - not least because getting to them is a bit of a scramble.

Given it’s a rugged off-road machine it couldn’t be easier to drive, Land Rover’s Terrain Response simplicity itself. Press the buttons to best reflect what you’re planning on driving over and the Discovery sets itself up accordingly. The premium nature of it also means it’s available with high-end audio, parking cameras and all manner of connectivity, though start ticking the options boxes and the price heads north alarmingly quickly.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

The 'sorry little vehicle' that became the subject of a literary classic
MG Metro
Opinion

The 'sorry little vehicle' that became the subject of a literary classic

Forget Catcher in the Rye, says Porter, Secret Fords is the real must-read
11 Dec 2025
Cars that ended production in 2025
Cars that ended production in 2025
Best cars

Cars that ended production in 2025

From Porsche’s Cayman to the Nissan GT-R to Ford’s Focus ST, these are the iconic performance cars that bow out in 2025
15 Dec 2025
Latest Rocketeer Mazda MX-5 will best the Ferrari F40 on power-to-weight
Rocketeer MX-5
News

Latest Rocketeer Mazda MX-5 will best the Ferrari F40 on power-to-weight

Rocketeer’s been stuffing V6 engines into MX-5s for a few years now. Its operation is now expanding
11 Dec 2025