Some 17.6 centimetres were added by Land Rover to the length of the Discovery for the 2004 version, but this transformed it from a cramped five-seater with two occasional seats to a seven-seater of unparalleled space and comfort.
Though the 2009 revision to the car added some much-needed perceived quality to the cabin, Land Rover still chooses to throw some hard, durable plastics in among the soft-touch stuff. Some buyers may not welcome such utilitarian touches, but they work superbly and lend the Discovery a useable edge.
It isn’t perfect, though. The centre console and trip computer look a bit dated and over-complicated and it’s a shame the speedometer is hard to read. Still, with the upgrades came a high-grade touchscreen multimedia system that noticeably betters the system fitted to the Discovery 3 in terms of its usability and graphics quality.
However, if the Discovery doesn’t offer enough space, quality, comfort and things for children to twiddle, then nothing will. The three individual chairs in the second row have excellent support, and the foldaway third row is brilliantly well executed, simple to erect and big enough for adults.
The Land Rover Discovery’s 2.5 tonnes make it a somewhat intimidating device to drive, but factor in the enormous body structure, the individual three-point belts, the twin front airbags, full-length curtain side airbags and optional curtain airbags for the third row and you have a car that should ensure the safety of those on board.
