Used 2021 Land Rover Discovery

The new 2021 Land Rover Discovery — one of the largest of the Land Rovers, but not quite as large as the big Range Rover — receives a host of new features and a design update for the 2021 model year. New looks and technologies add to the 4-wheel-drive Discovery’s traditional trail-following, mud-traversing, and cliff-climbing off-road capabilities.

With excellent ground clearance and an advanced terrain-management system, the new Discovery can still head for the mud-drenched hills and rocky terrain, places in which less-capable SUVs like the Audi Q7 or Lincoln MKX do not acquit themselves so well.

And though the diesel engine option is gone for 2021, two engines offer either 296 horsepower or an optional 355 horsepower, the latter of which should be quicker than last year’s top model.

On the road, the 2021 Land Rover Discovery plays the luxury SUV quite well, delivering a comfortable ride and composure going around corners. Off the pavement, Land Rover’s reputation as a bad-road master gets earned by the Discovery. With plenty of ground clearance, standard 4-wheel drive, and an available 2-speed transfer case, the Discovery stands ready to take on a rugged challenge.

More power is always a plus, so we would encourage you to stretch for the turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-6 engine. That powerplant offers an 8,200-pound towing capacity with just a minor fuel economy penalty.

Inside, the big Discovery news is a new 11.4-inch infotainment touchscreen with faster processing power. This replaces the former 10-inch unit that was criticized for being slow to respond. Ahead of the driver sits a digital virtual instrument cluster.

Also new this year, a new, more conventional fore-aft operating gear lever replaces the rotary dial used for the past several years. Seven seats are standard equipment, though the third row uses a power-folding mechanism as standard only on the top 3.0 HSE R-Dynamic trim level. The tailgate has a useful drop-down platform that deploys as the tailgate opens, providing a surface for food service during a remote outing or a seat for two or three adults.

The new Discovery undergoes several design updates this year, but they don’t completely transform the Discovery’s styling, and that’s a good thing. It was already a handsome SUV with an upscale, yet highly functional look.

The Discovery details for 2021 are very well done, with new LED headlights and taillights, the latter of which wraps around the rear corners with elegance. Both front and rear bumpers are also revised, as is the front grille. A bright strip across the bottom of the front valance makes the Discovery appear better planted to the ground when viewed from the front, even though ride height has not changed.

Visually, the R-Dynamic trimmed versions carry 20-inch gloss black wheels, dark lower rocker panels, and other minor exterior trim painted gloss black or dark gray, while inside, 2-tone leather front seats, contrasted-color stitching, and aluminum interior trim round out the R-Dynamic mix. All but the one base Discovery 2.0 S models are now designated R-Dynamic, almost standardizing this trim across the range, though the very top 3.0 HSE R-Dynamic model carries 22-inch wheels.

FULL-TIME 4-WHEEL DRIVE (4WD)
Land Rover made much of its reputation for off-road talent, and with the Terrain Response system and the underlying hardware, the new 2021 Discovery continues that lineage. With the low range gearing of the 2-speed transfer case in the 3.0 R-Dynamic and 3.0 HSE R-Dynamic, off-roading ability is even greater.

EXTERIOR DESIGN
The Land Rover Discovery was already a handsome SUV. The updates for 2021 make it slightly more so, even though the front and rear bumper and lighting updates are subtle.

Though it will be offered in four trim levels — 2.0-liter S, 2.0-liter S R-Dynamic, 3.0-liter S R-Dynamic, and 3.0-liter HSE R-Dynamic — even the base model Discovery 2.0 S is well-equipped. Externally, the S model wears the standard bodywork with updated lights and bumpers. Meanwhile, all R-Dynamic models receive gloss black treatment for the lower door trim, fender openings, wheels, roof, and front grille.

Starting with the Discovery 2.0 S ($53,900) powered by the 296-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, it comes with an 8-speed automatic transmission, 4WD, automatic LED headlights, automated high beams, Hill Descent Control when off-roading, engine start/stop function when stationary, a new 11.4-inch infotainment touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, an 8-speaker 180-watt sound system with satellite radio, leather seating with 14-way power front seats, 4G Wi-Fi, 20-inch silver alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, and a full suite of driver-assistance aids including and rear parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning with lane-keeping assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and a 360-degree parking aid.

Options for the Discovery are largely bundled in the uplevel trim packages. The Discovery 2.0 S R-Dynamic ($56,400) adds to the above standard features with 20-inch gloss black wheels, 2-tone leather front seats with contrasted stitching, and aluminum interior trim.

Centered around the bigger engine, the next trim level Discovery 3.0 S R-Dynamic ($61,900) adds the 355-horsepower turbocharged inline-6, plus a 2-speed transfer case for better low-speed off-roading to that feature and package set.

The Discovery 3.0 HSE R-Dynamic ($68,900) also adds a 2-speed transfer case for better low-speed off-roading, plus 22-inch alloy wheels, premium LED headlights, power raising and lowering for the third-row seats, electrically reclining second-row seats, 2-tone Windsor leather seating, 20-way power front seats with heating and cooling, a 700-watt Meridian sound system with 15 speakers, a gesture-controlled power tailgate and configurable ambient interior lighting.

Engines are thoroughly revised for 2021, with neither of the previous V6 engines anywhere in sight. Two gasoline engines are now offered in the ’21 Discovery, with the previous diesel-engine option now gone. The larger engine is also a mild hybrid drivetrain and uses a 48-volt electrical system, which other Land Rover and Range Rover models have debuted recently. A diesel engine is no longer offered.

2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4
296 horsepower @ 5,500 rpm
295 lb-ft of torque @ 1,400 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 19/22 mpg

3.0-liter turbocharged inline-6
355 horsepower @ 5,500 rpm
365 lb-ft of torque @ 1,750 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 18/24 mpg