The Discovery has been a staple of Land Rover’s global lineup for about two decades now, but it has long suffered from two major downfalls – asthmatic powertrains and sub-par interiors. However, now in its fourth-generation – and appropriately re-named the LR4 for North American buyers – Land Rover has finally addressed these key issues, transforming the Disco into a truly luxurious off-road champ.
A quick glance at the 2010 LR4 might indicate that Land Rover didn’t put too much effort into the truck’s mid-cycle refresh. Sure the overall look of the LR4 has been refined, but the outside tweaks don’t amount to much more than a revised front fascia and LED lights front and rear. But just as your mother told you, don’t judge a book by its cover.
Land Rover luxury
Open the door to the LR4 and you’ll be greeted by an all new interior. Gone are the hard plastics (everything in the LR4’s cabin is soft touch) and Jeep-like designs, replaced with materials and shapes worthy of the higher-level Range Rover. The LR4’s center stack has been thoroughly redone, including a clean sweep of the LR3’s sea of buttons. Land Rover says there are 50 percent fewer buttons in the LR4 compared to the LR3, and it really shows. With fewer pieces taking up valuable real estate on the center stack, Land Rover designers were able to give the LR4 a healthy dose of style without compromising the brand’s rugged nature.
In order to reduce the number of buttons by half, Land Rover moved many functions to the LR4’s Infotainment touch-screen. Although much more intuitive than many of the systems currently on the market, we’d like to see a bit more integration. For example, the LR4 comes standard with iPod connectivity, but songs can only be changed via the touch-screen, not the steering wheel-mounted controls. In real-world driving, this can unnecessarily take the driver’s focus off driving while hunting for that next song.
But the system works very well overall and also includes a few new features that are just as helpful off-road as they are in the Costco parking lot. New for 2010 is Land Rover’s version of Infiniti’s Around View monitor. By using five exterior cameras – two mounted on the front bumper, two mount under the side-view mirrors and one out back – Land Rover’s Surround Camera System simulates a 360 degree bird’s eye view on the vehicle. All five images are displayed on the LR4’s touch-screen monitor, with several customizable views available. The driver can choose to zoom-in on a single camera view or choose side-by-side shots. The latter is helpful in parallel parking situations and can be used as in invaluable tool off-road.
The Infotainment screen can also be used to display valuable off-road information, such as front wheel angle and wheel positions.
Engine room
Ever since the original Discovery, Land Rover has never blown away customers with world-class powerplants. Horsepower started out at about the 200 mark and slowly climbed to 300 in the LR3. However, the LR4’s engine bay is all-new for 2010, sporting a highly-capable, direct-injection 5.0-liter V8. Designed specifically for Land Rover – although also used by Jaguar – the new motor cranks out 375 horsepower and 375 lb-ft. of torque. More importantly, Land Rover has significantly flattened the engine’s power curves, resulting in more power throughout the rev band.
Coupled with a revised six-speed automatic transmission, the net result is a better driving experience on-road with plenty of low-end grunt to get through the toughest off-road conditions. The LR4 never felt short of breath and had plenty of twist to escape even the muckiest of conditions during our testing.
Driving demeanor
Unlike other automakers, Land Rover faces the unique challenge of producing vehicles that are world-beaters off-road yet can still handle their own on the paved stuff. The Discovery has historically faltered on the latter, but Land Rover has really shored things up with the 2010 LR4. For the new model year, the LR4 now employs the same front suspension used in the Range Rover Sport. The result is a much more planted feel, without the wiggly feeling associated with past Disco models. The LR4 still isn’t a canyon carver, but it’s a huge – and welcome – improvement.
But as good as the LR4 is on-road, it’s even better off. We tested the LR4 on some of Vermont’s toughest roads and the truck never fell short. The LR4 is packed with off-road tech, including Hill Decent Control with Gradient Release Control, Terrain Response and an Electronic Air Suspension. We doubt a high percentage of LR4s will ever be used to their fullest extent, but we can verify that it can handle virtually any road condition with ease – all while offering seating for seven and enough luxury for the red carpet.
Leftlane’s bottom line
Thanks to a vastly improved interior, substantial on-road refinements and a much more capable drivetrain, the 2010 LR4 is now a legitimate contender in the luxury SUV segment. Add in its off-road prowess and the LR4 is simply peerless.
2010 Land Rover LR4 base price, $48,100; As tested, $61,715.
HSE Lux Plus package, $11,115; Rear Seat Entertainment package, $2,500.
Words by Drew Johnson. Photos courtesy Land Rover.
09/29, 3:51 PM
posted by:
05Z88Path
Cool. 375hp, a luxurious interior, good offroad capabilities, and a decent exterior (now with LED lights front front and rear…oohhh!), sounds good to me! The camera feature is a nice touch too…at the end of the day nothing beats a spotter, but when you are offroading by yourself (raises hand) I could see its usefulness. I’d suffer from some sticker shock if I was in the market for one, but then again the asking prices for some of the Audi/BMW/Mercedes SUVs is pretty shocking too. It all comes down to taste though. It seems perfectly normal to me for someone to spend $60+k on a 2-door sports car, so why not a 4 door SUV I guess…
09/29, 4:04 PM
posted by:
idrinorbarsaku
My dad likes this suv a lot! I just can’t get over the huge rear window, and knowing that land rovers are known for being unreliable.
09/29, 4:14 PM
posted by:
DenverGuy217
it’s a nice upgrade from what it was (except the taillights. why must manufacturers throw circular elements into square lenses all the time now)… The devaluation would scare me from buying one. You can find 2-year old models for at least $20k off – often much more…
09/29, 4:14 PM
posted by:
LDMAN
Do not get me wrong. I would love to own one of these but..It is too heavy, the payload capacity is below one ton, the fuel tank and range are too small. Then again in America it is call an LR4 not a Discovery.
Discoveries were raid vehicles that could go the distance and carry stuff. I guess no one uses them for that anymore.
As for reliability, Land Rovers are only as good as the dealer that services them. If your Land Rover dealer is connected and knows how to work the official recalls and more importantly the “unofficial” fixes then no worries. Otherwise just go buy a Jeep if you do not mind working on them.
09/29, 4:20 PM
posted by:
key4wheels
Death before Disco…nice looker but I’d take the defender hands down. Of course I’m talking out of me arse, since I can’t afford either.
09/29, 4:25 PM
posted by:
A4
GO BACK TO DISCOVERY
damn.
09/29, 4:33 PM
posted by:
vicdub85
LLN… like a said before. MPG???
And how dare you dirty up those rims.
09/29, 5:09 PM
posted by:
lemonade
Ha ha, Land Rover has suffered from only two major downfalls? They forgot to mention at least one more: scoring DEAD LAST in quality among all vehicle manufacturers currently in production. YEEEEEOOUCH.
3 strikes. You’re out Land Rover.
09/29, 5:25 PM
posted by:
MarkKleis
Vicdub85- I can’t speak for Drew, but generally speaking LLN only posts the MPG if it is a relevant selling point for the vehicle. For example, a Civic or Focus will be sought for the MPG, so it will be included. With an SUV like this, with a price tag like it has, a difference of a few MPG isn’t terribly relevant to the typical buyer.
09/29, 5:56 PM
posted by:
micanichi
I love the eighth picture where the passenger side airbag seam on the dashboard is A) visible and B) already coming unglued. As lemonade mentioned and you did not, the quality of this vehicle has been so poor that it literally falls off the page when a comparison to other vehicles is shown in graph form. It’s amazing to me that in the year 2009 that a modern manufacturing company, the Detroit three left out for obvious reasons, is not only able to generate such inferior machinery but sell it at a premium as well. At least you’ll be able to see that trail o’parts from your very own iMax theater. Fail.
09/29, 6:24 PM
posted by:
idrinorbarsaku
All you people talking about quality have probably never stepped inside one of these or you wouldn’t be talking…especially for micanichi! Reliability is what they lack, quality ISN’T! It’s an SUV, if you are worried about mpg’s get yourself a damn prius!
09/29, 6:46 PM
posted by:
lemonade
idrnbakdude,
realiability and quality are the same thing. Land Rovers are complete poser-wagons. My ‘88 Camry had more ground clearance and better approach angles than one of these.
09/29, 7:19 PM
posted by:
idrinorbarsaku
ahhh what?? Reliability and quality are NOT the same thing!! Quality is the kind of leather and wood grain you expect to find! Reliability problems are associated with electrical/power plant problems…not leather looking cheap or wood not being high enough grade!! And what, you seriously don’t know how to copy and paste a name? What a loser!
09/29, 7:23 PM
posted by:
05Z88Path
^^you keep thinking that lemonade. The Camry has long been know in the 4×4 world for it’s offroad prowess….
09/29, 10:25 PM
posted by:
lemonade
I tried to copy and paste but your screwed up name broke it.
09/29, 10:43 PM
posted by:
TornadoGTI
Reliability and Quality ARE NOT the same thing. A Scion is reliable but is not a quality car. It uses cheap materials and puts them together cheaply but happens to not fall apart.
This car, as with all Land Rovers, use high quality materials and builds nice cars, they are just not very reliable. However, that has never stopped people from picking up every last Range and Range Sport in sight. By far, the most common luxury SUV I see here in metro Detroit. They are higher quality than Escalade’s and Navigators, but are more unreliable.
Also, reliability only matters if you are going to keep your car for a long period of time. The least reliable car today is still more reliable than the most reliable car 10 years ago. If you keep your car, like most, less than 3 or 4 years, you can’t go wrong. Also, I doubt many buyers of $60,000 luxury SUV’s give a crap about the reliability as made evident by the sales of Range Rover Sports ($59,000) to Range Rover S/C ($95,000). They will buy the next new big thing in 2 or 3 years anyways. Many of us care because we, like many consumers, buy $30,000 cars and keep them for 4 to 6 years. Inside a warranty, who cares.
I really like this car as it looks like NOTHING else on the road. I like that Land Rover can make a competent luxury SUV that can take on trails only matched by an H2 (NEVER H3) or Jeep Wrangler. It is worth the cost as you are getting 2-great vehicles in 1. Luxury, highway, cruiser and offroad beast. Seems like a win win for me. The upgrades just make this even better, it was a bit of a slouch.
09/29, 10:47 PM
posted by:
TornadoGTI
Now that I think about it. It is easier to make a reliable car with low quality. There are less parts and gadgets to break so it naturally is more reliable. When you get into the luxury level of cars, many low quality brands will exceed the reliability because they don’t have things like hill decent control, lockable differentials, AFS Xenons, back up cameras, satellite connected nav systems with updated traffic and weather, heated AND ventilated seats, adaptive cruise control, direct fuel injection, etc.
It just makes sense that a Scion Tc would be more reliable than a car like this. It has power windows and a moonroof. Not a lot going on there. I know this isn’t an absolute with brands like Acura, Infiniti, and Lexus making nice, reliable cars, but even those lack some of the high tech gadgets of Land Rovers and Bimmers.
I wonder if Ferraris and Bentleys are reliable…THEY AREN’T.
09/29, 10:58 PM
posted by:
lemonade
OK, OK I give.
Hey Tornado, maybe next time you could make your post into a movie and I could just watch it? Maybe like one of those award winning documentaries or something…
09/30, 12:16 AM
posted by:
Need more crap from GM
Much better than any GM SUV, this gets my tick any day
09/30, 8:45 AM
posted by:
idrinorbarsaku
TornadoGTI,
from the last JD Power…Hummer was one notch above scion in the reliability standings. People make fun of the hummer for not being reliable, but they stand up for scion claiming that they are UNBELIEVABLY reliable. So, which is it??
09/30, 8:47 AM
posted by:
idrinorbarsaku
lemonade,
My name broke your computer….aaahahahahahahhaahhahaha…you must have a piece of sh!t dell or something!
09/30, 10:07 AM
posted by:
rpiotr01
I wonder how this will compare to the 2011 Jeep GC. I know they were trying to up the luxury factor of the GC and even decked out it may come in thousands of dollars cheaper than the LR.
09/30, 12:02 PM
posted by:
TornadoGTI
@ rpiotr01 – I saw a new Grand Cherokee crusing around a few weeks back. (only benefit of living in metro Detroit is the cars I see. Not to mention Car and Driver and Automobile mag both have their editorial offices in Ann Arbor where I work. Lots of nice cars parked in their lots) It was all black with a matte finish paint, no disguise though. It looked real nice and tough. I think the LR4 is quite a bit larger though. it does have a 3rd row and whatnot.
@ idrinorbarsaku – JD Power is projected reliability, not actual reliability. Hummer is close to the bottom when surveying vehicles produced and sold in the last 3 years. They rate it as problems per 100 cars. Besides, ALL cars made, besides lemons that slip through the cracks, are between 130 and 180 PP100 (problems per 100). That means that the most reliable car has on average 1.3 problems in a 3 year period whereas the least reliable car has 1.8 problems in a 3 year period. Such a small difference that the only concrete value of this is bragging rights. Keep in mind this evaluates problems that are detrimental to the cars ability to do its job, drive safely and appropriately. This does not count a broken radio button or moonroof switch, things like that.
Going forward for Hummer may be, and sounds like, a different story.
I know for me personally, since I don’t keep cars out of warranty, reliability is the LAST thing I look at. So long as it is not SO bad that it effects resale value. The two are oddly not very coorelated. Take VW for instance, very high resale in it’s class and only modest, at best, reliability.
10/01, 12:38 AM
posted by:
jmc8387
Beautiful! It’s good to see Land Rover has not crossed over to the CUV craze! Land Rover puts out great, highly capable SUV’s, I just wish they would focus on getting their quality up to standards.
10/01, 3:39 AM
posted by:
PPD
The vehicle is class leading no matter the fuel economy. I am keen to see the pictures but all I get are empty links. Some help with this please.