The 2022 Land Rover Discovery is refreshingly modest, consistently comfortable, and largely defined by a driving experience dialled in to make miles of highways, backroads and trails disappear with as little disturbance, feedback or interruption from the outside world as possible. Still, it’s a machine with driving comfort, not reflexes, in top position on its scorecard — right alongside high-above-average luxury SUV off-road capabilities.
On the highway it’s velvety smooth, with well-controlled noise levels leaving little more than the odd lick of tire noise, or a solid, muted ‘clomp’ from the suspension over highway expansion joints or potholes. It’s a comfortable ride, right down to the audible feedback from the road surface beneath. Road and tire noise is nicely managed, and changes in road surface texture usually have less of an effect on cabin noise levels than I’d expect. The shocks can even suck up bumps and dips, neutralizing unwanted body motions in real time over highways and backroads. With a central nervous system actively controlling four individual dampers on a continual basis, the Discovery’s ride feels custom-controlled to neutralize virtually every bump in the road, just right.
Up, down, done, and that’s it. The adaptive suspension is soft and pillowy, but never bouncy. Trick tech in the shocks allow them to neutralize unwanted body motions and rebound before they occur, giving a more hovercraft-like ride that sees the body (and occupants within) at rest over the wheels, much more of the time. Hit a bump, and it’s ‘up-down-done’ from the Discovery’s body with subsequent bouncing and rebounding dialled out by the electronics.
For comfort-oriented shoppers primarily concerned with floating along peacefully and quietly, my tester (a $92,000 as-tested HSE P360 R-Dynamic) should hit the mark very nicely.
2022 Land Rover Discovery
2022 Land Rover Discovery
2022 Land Rover Discovery
2022 Land Rover Discovery
2022 Land Rover Discovery
2022 Land Rover Discovery
2022 Land Rover Discovery
2022 Land Rover Discovery
2022 Land Rover Discovery
2022 Land Rover Discovery
2022 Land Rover Discovery
2022 Land Rover Discovery
2022 Land Rover Discovery
2022 Land Rover Discovery
2022 Land Rover Discovery
2022 Land Rover Discovery
2022 Land Rover Discovery
2022 Land Rover Discovery
2022 Land Rover Discovery
2022 Land Rover Discovery
2022 Land Rover Discovery
2022 Land Rover Discovery
2022 Land Rover Discovery
2022 Land Rover Discovery
2022 Land Rover Discovery
2022 Land Rover Discovery
2022 Land Rover Discovery
2022 Land Rover Discovery
Come for the comfort, stay for the engine — an Ingenium-series straight six that runs a hybrid electric boost, turbocharger, and 48-volt hybrid-spun electric supercharger. With the orchestrated efforts of the engine and its overlapping power-adders, drivers get 355 horsepower along with impressive low-rev throttle response, all with a reasonable fuel bill thanks to the latest electric hybrid tech.
Torque-rich power is deployed across a big span of its rev range. With the hybrid electric system boosting low-rev throttle response before the gas-fired turbocharger sees the straight-six to redline, the effect is throttle response that’s immediate, rich with torque, and very quiet.
The hybrid hardware means this high-efficiency turbo six fires up with a subtle hum into action, no starter motor sound to be heard. The 48-volt hybrid system also enhances the effectiveness and smoothness of the auto-stop system significantly. Light-footed drivers will love the setup.
Just a little prod on the throttle sees the Discovery off swiftly, and there’s no need to break 2,000 revs for most city driving. There’s plenty of power down low, where the engine is it’s most efficient. Engine noise is muted across the rev range, with about 3,000 revs or more required to get any audible feedback from under the hood. At full song, the sound effects are a mere distant hum, as power piles on in the upper half of the available revs.
Note that this type of ‘mild’ hybrid can’t drive solely on electricity. The electric hardware is more a power-adder than a gas-saver, and if the Discovery is in motion, fuel is being used — though as sparingly as possible.
My tester’s engine was an expert at dispensing the sort of smooth, responsive and quiet torque that glides occupants swiftly up to speed. If you’re primarily concerned with fuel-efficient, quiet and relaxing operation, you’re nicely covered off. If you’re after lightning-speed gearshifts or a snarling exhaust note, look elsewhere. Comfort first, and all of that. Ultimately, the engine adds to the comfortable experience, though for the money, shoppers after something more lively, spirited and responsive do have other options to consider.
Elsewhere on driving dynamics, steering is heavy and solid in your hands, but lacks the precision response some enthusiast drivers prefer. Specifically, in certain situations, I wished I could engage more stopping power with less work on the brake pedal. Emergency stop performance is satisfying, just don’t be shy with your foot; same goes for the throttle. You’ll need to give it a mighty shove to get that straight six to wake up, without pre-engaging SPORT mode with a downwards tap on the gear lever.
Mostly, the Discovery likes to keep its revs low, and its sounds out of the cabin. Even the gearshifts seem calibrated to be smooth and careful — that is, uneventful. You’ll see the engine’s best work at light throttle and low revs where it’s responsive, but smooth and quiet enough that you’d hardly notice it’s there. At full throttle, things really get moving about a third of the way up the rev range, with power output growing much more quickly than engine noise levels as the revs climb. Engine sounds are more muted than satisfying.
2022 Land Rover Discovery
The Discovery’s main controls (throttle, brakes, steering) make it easy to drive the machine smoothly, though it’s far from the most spirited or energizing drive in the segment. Plenty of winding two-lane highways carve through moose country in my part of Ontario, typically flanked by narrow shoulders. In these settings, I found the the Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit Reserve easier to place within its lane, and more stable in motion. It’s sharper at the controls, in a word. Sportier drivers should steer their attention towards a comparably-equipped Grand Cherokee, as the Hemi V8 engine provides a more pleasing performance experience, and the handling and steering are much more precise between the pair.
Out back, it’s a motorized tailgate opening up to a flat cargo area flanked by control panels on either side. The tailgate opens upwards, and the lower segment of the split-gate design folds downwards on a cable. This lower segment can work as a seat, worktop surface, or handy way of keeping that loose items from accidentally falling out of the cargo area. Rear suspension height can be adjusted too. At a button press, the rear of the Discovery can be lowered down on its suspension for easier access. Still, consider your family dog if they’ll be jumping in and out of the back. My 9-year old Golden Retriever, Ghost, found the jump-in height too daunting, so we used his ramp instead — just to be safe. The lower tailgate segment is very sturdy, and supports 600 pounds.
Control panels at the rear of the cargo allow for push-button control over the upper and lower tailgate segments, and power split-folding seats– each of which can be flipped and folded up or away at the touch of a button. The rear row is a little tight to board and exit for adults, but even at 5’10, I found them (just) sufficiently roomy.
2022 Land Rover Discovery
Off-road, the Discovery has the hardware and electronics to power adventure. On my usual off-road testing circuit of moderately-muddy ruts with some rocky trails, slippery climbs and steep descents, the Discovery performed with confidence to spare in its fully automatic setting, with no traction-adders or special drive modes engaged. For light to moderate off-road duty, the system’s fully-automatic setting calls the shots expertly, and drivers will hardly even notice a slipping wheel when the going gets challenging or slippery. Traction control corrections are soft and quiet, and in all, there’s a smug satisfaction in just applying steady throttle and feeling the electronics extract grip from the terrain beneath as you float along on top of all of the hardware.
Need more capability for serious adventures? A menu of drive modes and traction enhancements (complete with additional on-screen tips and information) are available at a button press, and the Discovery’s suspension can be lifted up for maximum clearance in a matter of seconds.
On rocky trails and badly beaten backroads, the Discovery’s suspension can generate the odd whack or clunk, par for the course in SUVs like this. Certain road surfaces can spike noise and feedback levels as well. In all but the most severe settings I drove it in, I found my tester felt nicely calibrated to deliver consistent comfort, and help drivers cover rough ground quickly and peacefully.
After an extended highway-heavy test-drive, It was a modest subtlety dialled into the Discovery that I found the most refreshing.
2022 Land Rover Discovery
If you’re about to spend the better part of six-digits on a new luxury SUV, you’ve got a long list of compelling choices complete with no shortage of glitz and glamour used to ‘wow’ you while your chequebook is open. The Genesis GV80 makes playful use of exterior angles and flashy trim to create some high-impact luxury visuals that virtually suck the eyeballs from your face the first time you see one roll by. The Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit Reserve’s interior works to similar effect, because it’s virtually overflowing with nice stuff to look at. And the handling and steering of this machine is oh-so-good. In a Mercedes GLE, drivers are treated to one of the most impressive after-dark drives in the segment, thanks to potent LED lighting and a cabin that lights up like the multicoloured interior of a high-end gaming PC.
But as near-six-figure luxury SUV models go, I think the Land Rover Discovery is a quiet-looking machine. My tester’s chromeless body and smooth, flat edges look tidy and handsome, and high-impact signature styling touches instantly convey brand identity. It’s got a great, distinctive look, though the asymmetrical caboose isn’t for everyone. Point is, there’s almost nothing shouting at your eyeballs.
2022 Land Rover Discovery
Same deal inside. My tester’s interior used just two main colours: black and metal. There’s a big glossy touchscreen in the middle, two aluminum slashes to visually break the interior into 3 segments, and all of about four buttons on the forward dash. Like the exterior, signature elements carry plenty of brand identity through the cabin, but without shouting at you.
Premium materials and textures and touches are applied in abundance, and finer details are nicely executed and easy to find should your eyeballs or fingertips go in for a close-up. Still, while driving, I like how the clean and calm forward dash and cluster design seem to fade into the background while you focus on the road and scenery out the great big windows, from your commanding and upright driving position. At night, that same forward dash is blissfully free of excessive lighting and reflections: adjust forward lighting brightness of the digital screen and instruments to taste, and it’s just you, the road ahead, and the far-reaching, bright-white flood of illumination from the LED projectors.
Mind the central infotainment system, though. On various occasions, it failed to connect to my smartphone for Android Auto connectivity, switching between wired and wireless modes and requiring occasional phone and vehicle resets to achieve music playback. Just below, the clean touch-responsive climate control system looks great, but may prove fiddly to work on occasion. Passengers unfamiliar with the complex multi-mode dials may require a pre-use lesson, and the haptic-feedback touch-panel that controls other functions can be inconsistently responsive. Extra points for the very clever concealed storage bin behind the climate control console, though.
2022 Land Rover Discovery
Two final things to mention for perspective shoppers. First, the Discovery’s turning circle is smaller than you think, making this big SUV feel fairly agile for its size in parking situations. Second, a powerful washer system uses three spray jets to bathe the windshield with fluid, and two more to clean the headlights. Pull the wand, and the Discovery practically gives itself a bath.
A final reminder for shoppers considering the Discovery, or a top-shelf Grand Cherokee: if you’re driving one, be sure to drive both. Depending on your desired mix of comfort, reflexes and performance, these two machines are some of the best on the road today. The Discovery’s quieter-looking cabin and soft-on-its-feet ride were favourites of mine, though the Grand Cherokee’s steering and handling response are some of the best in a luxury SUV today. If you don’t need extended off-road capability, you’ll likely find the Genesis GV80 be a comfortable touring machine with a similar set of nicely-deployed attributes that place it firmly in contention for your dollars, too.
Comfort-first shoppers looking for plenty of off-road kit will likely find the Discovery a little more appealing, though the Grand Cherokee has a road feel that’ll win over enthusiast drivers trying to choose between one or the other. It’s a nice choice to have to make.
Keyword: SUV Review: 2022 Land Rover Discovery