THIS LAND ROVER’S QUITE A DISCOVERY

There are 3 distinct models available in Land Rover's Discovery 3 – the 'S', the 'SE' and the 'HSE'. The models are differentiated by varying degrees of appointment – the more letters in the model designation, the more stuff you get. The 'S' in base form is configured as a 5 seater with coil spring suspension. All other models are set up with 7 seats and air suspension as standard. The air suspension comes with Land Rover's Terrain Response™ system.
There are also 3 engine choices available:
• V6 - a 4litre petrol V6 which is only available in the mid-range 'SE' form.
• V8 - a 4.4litre petrol V8 which is only available in the top rung 'HSE' form.
• TDV6 - a 2.7litre turbo-diesel V6 which can be had in 'S', 'SE' or 'HSE' form.
All engines power the same 6 speed ZF auto transmission although the entry level TDV6 'S' is available with the option of a 6 speed manual.
The Discovery 3 offers as standard equipment:
• Climate control air conditioning
• Leather seats & steering wheel
• Cruise control
• Heated exterior mirrors
• Tow pack
• 17" Alloy wheels
• Full size alloy spare
Move up to the 'SE' and you get:
• 7 Seats
• Automatic Bi-Xenon headlamps
• Rain sensing wipers
• Rear parking sensors
• 18" 5 spoke alloy wheels
The HSE gives you:
• Power front seats with driver side memory
• Rear air conditioning
• Premium Harmon Kardon sound system
• 18" 10 spoke alloy wheels

While equipment levels vary across the range, Land Rover is to be complimented on not making any of its extensive list of safety features optional.
These standard safety features include:
• 4 ventilated disc brakes with 4 channel all terrain ABS and Electronic Brake Assist
• Dynamic Stability Control, Active Roll Mitigation & Electronic Traction Control
• Front Airbags for driver and passenger, with Side Airbags for all seat rows

The Discovery 3's Terrain Response™ system has 5 settings, adjusted manually by the driver, via a dial on the centre console.
The settings are:
• General
• Grass, Gravel or Snow
• Mud and Ruts
• Sand
• Rock Crawling
The system is always on and even in the default 'General' position adjusts engine, transmission, traction control and suspension for changing conditions.

Our test car was the Discovery 3 TDV6 'HSE' which we tested through our favourite part of South Gippsland – the Strzelecki Ranges and the Grand Ridge Road some 125kms South East of Melbourne.
This region, although it remains largely undiscovered by casual travellers, is situated amongst some of the most spectacular and beautiful forests you are likely to see in Victoria - not to mention lush green farmland covered with sleek dairy cows.
We were able to put the Discovery 3 through its paces on all types of roads from bitumen to small winding gravel tracks that lead high up into the Mt Worth State Park with its majestic stands of mountain ash and deep fern gullies.
We took some small access roads and climbed up slippery, little used, gravel tracks, often surprising the local wallabies and Lyrebirds who skipped out of our way as we passed by. At one stage we traversed a narrow road across a ridge and as the trees cleared in places we were treated to spectacular glimpses of the distant Morwell power station.
When driving on gravel there's nothing more disconcerting than the feeling of understeer as you head into a corner just a few km/h faster than you should have. The simple solution of course is to slow down, but in Discovery's case all you need to do is dial in 'Grass, Gravel or Snow' and the problem is solved - Discovery just hangs on sure footedly.
It was easy to forget we were toting some 3 tonnes of metal around the road, as the Discovery does it all so effortlessly. The leather seats are comfortable and have enough adjustment to suit the most fussy. Ergonomics are OK with the exception of the placement of the window controls on the driver's side. Our vehicle was fitted with the optional off road navigation system. The 7" screen can also show a graphical representation of steering angle, wheel articulation and traction control. This would all be wonderful in the depths of a British winter but it's very hard to see on a bright day – the screen is angled back to perfectly reflect any glimmer of light and render the system unusable.
Heading back to town on the Princes Freeway at the posted 110km/h we were momentarily annoyed by the car we had just overtaken accelerating back alongside us, with all aboard gesticulating wildly at us. Realising we clearly had a problem, we slowed and moved into the emergency lane and then 500 metres or so down the road turned into a farm driveway. Our front passenger side tyre was about as flat as it could get! The embarrassing thing was not being conscious of it at 110km/h – testament surely to the front end geometry of the Discovery and not our lack of sensitivity. Lowering the spare from its under-car hiding place was relatively easy - manhandling it onto the hub however was not - those alloy wheels are not light! 20 minutes and 30 or 40 mossie bites later, we were back on the road.
Quoted fuel consumption for the TDV6 is 10.2 L/100km. We were surprised to extract just over 11.0 L/100km from the Discovery's 82.3 litre tank, which included some pretty hard (albeit all legal) driving.
Land Rover provide a 3 year/100,000km warranty (body work, 6 years) including 24/7 roadside assistance. Roadside assistance includes help on 4 wheel drive only roads.
In summary, we were really impressed by the Discovery’s versatility over a broad range of road conditions and especially by its ability to comfortably drive on gravel at speed and give both driver and passengers a true feeling of security.

Tested November 2008
Vehicle provided by Land Rover Australia