High Five, Discovery

Drive Out was the first local publication to test drive the new, fifth-generation Land Rover Discovery. Jaco Kirsten gives his impressions.

- Jaco Kirsten

When Land Rover launched the Discovery Series I in 1989 it had one unintentional result: What would they call the Land Rover henceforth? Because up until the Discovery’s launch the company had only two vehicles: the Range Rover and the Land Rover – renamed the Defender. 

The Discovery was a huge success, and as of 1 January this year, 1.2 million of them have been sold. The Discovery II was a development of the I, just like how the Discovery 4 was actually a development of the 3. But the fifth generation is something completely new. 

At first glance you recognise the design language that Land Rover with the Discovery Sport – which is actually the replacement for the Freelander – started with the new Discovery. The lines are similar, but the Discovery is bigger and more luxurious. To be honest, it’s not that dissimilar to a Range Rover Sport.

Under the surface 

But it’s not just a new look. The chassis and mechanics are also new. Where the Discovery 3 and 4’s bodywork was a combination of a monocoque and a ladder-frame chassis called Integrated Body Frame, the new Discovery only has a monocoque chassis. And because this time they used mostly aluminium, the engineers succeeded in creating a vehicle that is a whopping 480 kg lighter than its predecessor. Yes, almost half a ton.