Land Rover Discovery 1, 2, 3 and 4: Retro Road Test Special

For a while, the success of the latest Land Rover Defender put the future of the Discovery in doubt. But rather like the car itself, the Discovery name simply keeps on going.

The ‘Disco’ has a long heritage that stretches back to 1989. It’s the upmarket family SUV that doesn’t make any excuses when it comes to rough terrain. 

We visited Eastnor Castle in Herefordshire, Land Rover’s test playground for more than 60 years, to see how the first four generations of Discovery have stood the test of time.

Land Rover Discovery 1

Competition from Japan in the 1980s saw Land Rover losing customers to vehicles such as the Isuzu Trooper and Mitsubishi Shogun. The Defender was too basic for the emerging lifestyle market, while the Range Rover was too expensive.

In September 1989, the three-door Discovery was launched, with the five-door version following a year later. Prices started at a very reasonable £15,750, and more than 20,000 were sold within its first 12 months. The Discovery was a success from the start.

The model I’m driving at Eastnor is a 1991 three-door Discovery, powered by the 200 Tdi 2.5-litre turbodiesel engine. This was the only diesel on offer in the Discovery’s early days. Buyers could also opt for the thirsty and not-particularly-thrilling 3.5-litre Rover V8, which used SU carburettors to differentiate it from the Range Rover.

Before we even get to what it’s like to drive, we need to talk about the Discovery’s interior. Land Rover commissioned Conran Design to work on the cabin and, even today, it’s certainly distinctive. Buyers got a choice of two colours: Sand or Blue. The example here is finished in the former – a much nicer hue than the dank, wishy-washy Blue.

It’s more car-like than the Defender, yet still very ‘lifestyle’. There is a built-in sunglasses holder and map pockets hanging from the roof. Big windows and slim pillars give you a great view of the road ahead.

As we meander through Eastnor’s deer park, there’s plenty of opportunity to enjoy that view. Swift the Discovery is not, taking more than 17 seconds to reach 60mph. Although it’s apparently capable of 92mph, we’re happy keeping the speed down as the steering gets more than a tad vague at speed.

Taking a laid-back approach works well with the gearbox, too – finding the right gear isn’t something that can be done in a hurry. It’s all part of the charm of driving an older vehicle, but it’s hard to believe this was seen as civilised and car-like back in 1989.

Land Rover Discovery 2

Although the Discovery received quite a significant mid-life facelift in 1994 (including a redesigned diesel engine and toned-down interior), the next major change came in 1998. The second-generation Disco was launched on BMW’s watch and, while it looked very similar to the original, it was heavily reworked.

Based on the same chassis as its predecessor, this Discovery was larger, allowing for increased practicality. Quality was also much improved, with much smaller panel gaps, while the interior was brought up-to-date.

One of the biggest changes was the arrival of the five-cylinder turbodiesel engine, the TD5. The same powertrain found in the Defender, here it produced 136hp and was good for 60mph in 14.1 seconds.

However, that isn’t the engine we’re testing at Eastnor. Nope, the Discovery 2 here is powered by a 3.9-litre Rover V8 producing 185hp (enough for 60mph in 10.5 seconds). The stats aren’t really what this car is all about, though. Even after driving the 200Tdi, the V8 Disco 2 doesn’t feel fast.

It does sound fabulous, though. And as you might have guessed from the pictures, this is no ordinary Discovery.

Finished in Tangiers Orange, this example was used during one of the American stages of Land Rover’s first G4 Challenge. Held in 2003 and 2006, the G4 Challenge was a spiritual successor to the Camel Trophy and put participants (and vehicles) to the test in trials across the world.

Modifications fitted to all Discoverys included a Safety Devices roof rack, Warn winch and roof lights, a Mantec sump guard and a raised air intake.

Land Rover Discovery 3

Even following a facelift in 2002, the Discovery 2 was feeling very old-fashioned by the end of its life in 2004. Thankfully, the Discovery 3 represented the biggest change in the car’s history.

Built under Land Rover’s latest owner, Ford’s Premier Automotive Group, the Discovery 3 didn’t have a single part carried over from the previous model. As before, it was available with five or seven seats, plus a choice of petrol and diesel engines.

Despite being extremely heavy (2,500kg), a Jaguar V8 could propel the Disco 3 to 60mph in eight seconds flat – although most buyers opted for the far-more-sensible Peugeot/Citroen-sourced TDV6 diesel engine. That’s the model we’re driving here, which can hit 60mph in a steady 12.2 seconds.

Or it does on paper, at least. Yes, this is another G4 model, equipped with all the associated gear – from a winch to a roof rack. You might also have spotted that it’s wearing an ‘08’ plate, and we’ve already said the G4 Challenge only ran in 2003 and 2006…

That’s because there was meant to be a third G4 Challenge in 2009. It never happened, though, with Land Rover citing the economic downturn and need to prioritise new product launches as the reason for its cancellation. This Discovery is one of the few recce vehicles prepared for the event before it was axed.

After driving the older Discovery, the D3 is a revelation. It feels much more upmarket, with almost Range Rover levels of quality. Prices when new started at £26,995, with the V8 version from £37,995.

All but the most basic models featured self-levelling air suspension, along with a host of clever features, from adaptive headlamps to hill-descent control. The electronics make it an incredibly competent and easy-to-drive off-roader.

Diagrams on the infotainment screen show you what each wheel is doing, while a Terrain Response dial lets you flick between different off-road modes, from Snow to Sand.

Land Rover Discovery 4

Visually, the Discovery 4 appears to be little more than a facelifted Discovery 3. Gone is the black bumper trim (it was actually colour-coded as part of a mid-life facelift for the 3), while the front and rear lights are ever-so-slightly different. Technical changes were more in-depth, however.

While the entry-level GS initially stuck with the 2.7-litre TDV6 diesel engine, it grew to 3.0 litres in other models, offering the performance that the diesel Discovery 3 always lacked. By the end of the Discovery 4’s life, the only engine was a 256hp 3.0-litre SDV6.

That’s the engine we’re trying at Eastnor, and there’s no doubt that it’s surprisingly swift: hitting 60mph in 8.8 seconds.

Less impressive, though, is how dated the Discovery 4 feels. The infotainment system looks archaic – it’s difficult to believe this particular car dates from 2015 – and little has changed since the Discovery 3 was launched in 2004.

The feeling of invincibility – that you could go anywhere and the car’s systems would look after you – wasn’t lost over time, though. Combine that with rugged good looks and a practical interior and the Discovery maintained its winning formula, developed over these first four generations.

ALSO READ:

Land Rover Defender: meeting the ancestors

1983 Austin Metro review: Retro Road Test

Great Motoring Disasters: Cadillac Allante