Disco-Tech: All-New Land Rover Discovery

Land Rover’s latest Discovery features a raft of new technology that aims to bring together the best on-road and off-road abilities. But does it?

- Andrew Middleton

Originally launched in 1989, the Discovery was based on Range-Rover architecture, sharing its driveline and chassis, but coming in at a lower price. This placed the Discovery between the off-road biased Defender and the more upmarket Range Rover. The position of the latest Discovery in the Land Rover group’s line-up is exactly the same as it was nearly 30 years ago – though, of course, the all-new Disco is more advanced than ever.

Like most other 4x4s over the years, the Discovery has gone from a rough-and-tumble, solid-axle bushwhacker to a luxury barge that is primarily used by school-run mums and the odd caravanner. Despite this, the latest Discovery uses a host of new technology to make it possibly the most capable example of the breed to date, both on and off the tar.

Modern tech

To build a vehicle that not only works well on tar but also off it, is a near impossibility without a raft of electronic traction and stability aids. Off-road vehicles must stand high and offer at least two diff-locks and large wheel articulation. On-road skills demand that the vehicle hugs the ground and resists body roll.