Skip advert
Advertisement

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

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

Design

Fundamentally the same sheet metal from 2004 the Discovery has been kept fresh by continual tweaks to its design. It still presents a commanding face to the world, distinctive and familiar and ruggedly handsome all at the same time, the Discovery is unashamedly an off-road vehicle rather than a pseudo-SUV with some off-road ability. That’s a huge part of its appeal.

Advertisement - Article continues below

That obviously utilitarian aspect is carried over to elements of the interior. It’s all easily operated; with the exception of the old-school touchscreen, the chunky knobs, dials and buttons are all Fisher-Price like in their ease, yet convincingly premium in their situation and material quality. 

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Four modern classic sports cars that cost a fraction of their modern equivalents
Cheap sports cars
Best cars

Four modern classic sports cars that cost a fraction of their modern equivalents

A new 911 is over £100,000, a new Lotus Evora just under, a new Vantage just over £160,000. Save a fortune and buy their modern classic ancestors
5 Feb 2026
evo Magazine issue 343 March 2026 – on sale now
evo Magazine issue 343
News

evo Magazine issue 343 March 2026 – on sale now

It’s a French revolution in the new issue of evo, with iconic 80’s hot hatches and jewel-like Alpine A110 coach builds, plus a whole lot more
11 Feb 2026
The Ferrari Luce has an interior designed by Apple’s Jony Ive – we take a look
Ferrari Luce interior
News

The Ferrari Luce has an interior designed by Apple’s Jony Ive – we take a look

We’ve seen the powertrain, now we head to San Francisco to get hands on with the bold new interior for Ferrari’s very first EV: the Luce
10 Feb 2026