2017 Land Rover Discovery Review

Name: 2017 Land Rover Discovery Review
Brand: Land Rover
Price: 18917 USD

2017 Land Rover Discovery HSE Td6 4dr SUV Exterior Shown

2017 Land Rover Discovery HSE Td6 4dr SUV Exterior. Options Shown.

2017 Land Rover Discovery HSE Td6 4dr SUV Exterior. Dynamic Package Shown.

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Land Rover Discovery model years

Land Rover Discovery for Sale

Land Rover Discovery types

SUV
Diesel

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Edmunds' Expert Review

byMark Takahashi^{Correspondent
Mark Takahashi has worked in the automotive industry since 2001. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Mark has also contributed to Motor Trend, Auto Aficionado, Chevy High Performance and several motorcycle magazines in various roles. Mark is also a juror on the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards and can be seen regularly on the Edmunds YouTube channel and sometimes representing the company in media interviews.}

Pros

Smooth driving manners on the road
Incredible capabilities off-road
Interior is luxurious, with excellent materials
Clever features in terms of utility and technology

Cons

Front-seat comfort is lacking on long-distance drives
Ride quality isn't quite as smooth as that of top rivals
Touchscreen interface isn't the easiest to operate
Diesel engine option has little advantage over standard gasoline engine

What’s new

The all-new 2017 Land Rover Discovery replaces the LR4 with a new look, more features and better on-road manners.

Vehicle overview

For almost three decades, the Land Rover Discovery has been one of the best SUVs available for providing all-terrain excellence. The Discovery name might not be all that familiar to you, though, as Land Rover started calling the Discovery the LR3 (and later LR4) in America back in 2005. But now the "Disco" has returned.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2017 Land Rover Discovery SE 4dr SUV 4WD (3.0L 6cyl S/C 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of N/A undefined in Ohio.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio

Not EPA tested

$254/mo

Avg. Large SUV

Calculate my fuel costs

This 2017 Land Rover Discovery has undergone a complete redesign, receiving needed improvements in design and technology while maintaining its core strengths. Most noticeably, the new Discovery has a svelte new look that stands in contrast to the old LR4's deliberately boxy shape. The same holds true for the interior. Here you'll find a more refined style, better cabin materials and improved technology features. Land Rover also says the Discovery is about 1,000 pounds lighter than the outgoing LR4, which helps improve fuel economy and on-road handling.

Certainly, the Discovery will be very appealing if you're shopping for a luxurious SUV and not much else. But the Discovery separates itself from the pack by maintaining its off-roading heritage. It's just as good as, if not slightly better than, the already impressive LR4 when driving through the muck or over rocky terrain.

While the Discovery's individual scores suggest an admirable overall rating, its unique position as a go-anywhere, do-anything vehicle gives it a well-deserved boost. This is one SUV that has strong potential to be everything to everyone.

Edmunds' Expert Rating

4.5 / 5

With plenty of refinement and luxury-oriented features, the 2017 Land Rover Discovery is the brand's most comfortable and versatile three-row SUV to date. Yet it also maintains the ability to traverse treacherous terrain. It's one of the rare SUVs that can get you anywhere in style.

Trim tested

Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our First Drive of the 2017 Land Rover Discovery HSE Lux SUV (supercharged 3.0L V6 | 8-speed automatic | 4WD).

Scorecard

Overall	4.5 / 5
Driving	4.0
Comfort	4.0
Interior	4.0
Utility	4.5
Technology	3.5

Driving

4.0

It's quite an achievement to have a vehicle that is as good on pavement as it is over punishing terrain. Whether you intend to use it for the daily commute or scaling a seemingly insurmountable obstacle, the Discovery does either without compromise.

Acceleration

3.5

Land Rover claims a zero-to-60 mph time of 6.9 seconds, which is average for the class. Our experience backs this up as the Discovery got up to highway speeds with ease. The diesel is slower and doesn't respond as quickly to your gas pedal inputs.

Braking

3.5

Brake pedal feel is appropriate for this class of vehicle. In everyday driving, there's nothing noteworthy, and that's a good thing. For emergency braking, there's a fair amount of nosedive, but the Disco tracks straight.

Steering

4.0

Steering effort and precision are good for a vehicle this big. On the highway, very little input is needed from the driver to keep it cruising within its lane. Off-road, there's a noticeable lack of kickback.

Handling

3.5

The Discovery feels top-heavy and tippy, which may discourage more aggressive cornering. When called upon, however, the vehicle is well mannered for a tall, off-road-capable SUV.

Drivability

4.0

You can drive the Discovery just as you would any other SUV, despite its off-road orientation. The turning circle is a bit wide, which means more multiple-point turns than you'd have to make in the typical crossover.

Off-road

5.0

Few stock vehicles are as capable off-road as the Discovery. Besides the Disco's good amount of clearance, the numerous all-terrain systems contribute to easy climbs and descents. The amount of confidence it instills is extraordinary.

Comfort

4.0

One of our few gripes with the Discovery is that the seat padding is overly firm. Otherwise, it does luxury right, and there is very little to sacrifice in exchange for its off-road ability.

Seat comfort

3.0

The front seats have unusually thick side bolsters. They keep you well anchored but could be intrusive for bigger passengers. The seat padding is on the firm side, and we experienced some fatigue after a few hours.

Ride comfort

4.0

Even though the Discovery rides fairly high, jostling is kept to a minimum when driving over uneven surfaces. It transmits more road imperfections into the cabin compared to typical crossover SUVs, but we doubt most passengers will be able to tell the difference. It's a comfortable-riding SUV.

Noise & vibration

4.0

Road noise is present but never intrusive. Wind noise is almost absent, even at highway speeds. Even in the driving rain, the cabin remains luxuriously silent, allowing for quiet conversations and letting the premium audio system shine.

Climate control

4.0

The automatic climate control works well enough that you only have to set it once and then forget it. For normal operation, it's also pleasantly quiet.

Interior

4.0

Land Rover touts the Discovery's interior as a split-level design with premium materials up top and durability below. It's a smart move considering it's a luxury SUV with unusual all-terrain skills. It's not as refined or pretty as some rivals, but we don't think it should be.

Ease of use

4.0

The primary controls are well placed and readable. In no time, operation is second nature without even having to glance at them. The off-road controls are less intuitive since they use pictograms instead of labels.

Getting in/getting out

4.0

With the air suspension, the ride height drops by 1.6 inches when parked to allow for easier entry and exit. In this mode, it's as easy to access as any midsize SUV. Access to the third row is hampered by a narrow passage and slow-powered second-row movement.

Driving position

4.0

The HSE Lux trim's 16-way power adjustments ensure a comfortable driving position for a variety of body types. You're a bit more upright than you'd be in some other car-based SUVs, but it's appropriate for a vehicle like this.

Roominess

4.5

There's an abundance of space in the first two rows, enhanced by the airy feeling from the tall windows, stadium seating and huge panoramic sunroofs. The third-row seats have enough headroom for taller adults, but the low-mounted cushions ultimately make them better for smaller passengers.

Visibility

4.0

Thanks to the elevated ride height and tall windows, outward front and side visibility is better than the average SUV's. The rearward view is still somewhat obscured by the thick roof pillars, but the standard rearview camera and available surround-view camera system help out considerably.

Quality

4.0

In HSE Lux trim, the interior has premium leather upholstery. There's a good balance of refinement and sturdiness in every surface and control. Some other luxury SUVs have nicer cabins, but the Discovery's materials are appropriate for its capabilities.

Utility

4.5

There's no shortage of space or storage with the Discovery, and utility is further enhanced with smart tech and clever design.

Small-item storage

4.5

There are more than enough pockets, trays and bins for your personal items. The dual gloveboxes are an added bonus, and HSE trim and above get a small bin hidden behind the climate controls.

Cargo space

4.5

Cargo space behind the third row is restrictive, but generous if stowed. The maximum volume is one of the biggest in the class and the powered Intelligent Seat Fold system makes passenger-to-cargo changes easy. The power inner tailgate and flat floor make loading effortless.

Child safety seat accommodation

4.0

Child-seat anchors are easily accessed behind well-labeled flaps in the outboard second-row seats. The amount of fore/aft travel should accommodate rear-facing infant seats.

Towing

4.5

With a maximum tow rating of 8,201 pounds for the gasoline-powered model, the Discovery is one of the most capable SUVs in the class (diesel drops to 7,716). An optional advanced towing system simplifies reversing with a trailer by adding a steering knob.

Technology

3.5

The Discovery gets high marks for tech as it relates to all-terrain systems and remote smartphone control, but it still lags a bit behind other luxury SUVs when it comes to infotainment.

Audio & navigation

3.5

Land Rover's InControl infotainment system doesn't benefit from a knob controller, opting instead for a touchscreen that requires more attention to operate. Menus are conveniently split into four groups and become intuitive after some time.

Smartphone integration

4.0

Besides the usual Bluetooth connections, the Discovery capitalizes on smartphone integration with remote control and monitoring over numerous systems. Most notably, the Intelligent Seat Fold system allows you to configure the cargo from afar.

Driver aids

3.5

Most of the advanced safety features are effective without being overly sensitive. The lane keeping assist is the exception as it seems to fight you rather than gently nudge you in line.

2017 Land Rover Discovery models

The 2017 Land Rover Discovery is a midsize luxury SUV that replaces the outgoing LR4. It is offered in three main trim levels: SE, HSE and HSE Lux. Land Rover will also offer a limited-production First Edition version.

The standard engine is a supercharged 3.0-liter V6 gasoline engine (340 horsepower, 332 pound-feet of torque) while a turbocharged diesel V6 (254 hp and 443 lb-ft) is optional on HSE and HSE Lux models. An eight-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel drive are standard on all versions.

The base SE trim is only available with the gasoline engine and comes standard as a two-row, five-passenger SUV. A third row of seats is optional, increasing passenger capacity to seven. Standard feature highlights include 19-inch wheels, a hands-free power liftgate, power-folding mirrors, rear parking sensors, automatic wipers, a panoramic sunroof, keyless entry and ignition, dual-zone automatic climate control, leather upholstery, power front seats, and 40/20/40-split sliding, reclining and folding rear seats. On the Technology front, the Disco has Bluetooth, a rearview camera, an 8-inch touchscreen, Land Rover's InControl infotainment and telematics systems, and a 10-speaker audio system with USB input.

The HSE trim is eligible for the diesel engine option and adds features such as 20-inch wheels, LED headlights, foglights, front parking sensors, a powered inner tailgate, upgraded taillights, a power-sliding front sunroof, tri-zone climate control, wood interior trim, additional interior storage features, a power-adjustable steering wheel, driver-seat memory functions, compatibility with the InControl remote smartphone app, a 10-inch touchscreen, the InControl Pro infotainment system with navigation, USB ports for the second-row seats and an upgraded Meridian audio system with satellite and HD radio.

Going with the HSE Lux gets you an air suspension, a two-speed transfer case with low-range gearing, power-folding third-row seats, configurable ambient interior lighting, premium leather upholstery, additional leather trim, upgraded power front seats, heated front and second-row seats, power-sliding and -reclining second-row seats, a heated steering wheel and a 14-speaker Meridian premium surround-sound system.

Many features on higher-trimmed Discovery models are available on supporting trims at additional cost. Other options for HSE and HSE Lux models include the Vision Assist package (adaptive headlights, LED running lights, automatic high beams, a surround-view camera system and auto-dimming exterior mirrors); the Drive package (blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, a drowsy driver warning system, a speed limiter and a traffic sign reader); and the Drive Pro package (includes the Drive package plus adaptive cruise control, forward collision mitigation and lane departure intervention).

Pretty much all of the above comes standard on the First Edition.

Other Discovery add-ons include 21- or 22-inch wheels, roof rails, a heated windshield, an automated parallel/perpendicular parking system, a trailer hitch with electrical connections, an advanced towing system with reverse trailer steering, a head-up display, a waterproof activity key bracelet, massaging front seats and a cooler box in the front center console.

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

3.5/5Above Average

#18 out of 29 among Luxury Midsize SUVs

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

^{The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the Land Rover Discovery from 2008-2022.}

$958/yr

vs. $602/yr
for Average Luxury Midsize SUV

Frequency

^{The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).}

0.85x/yr

vs. 1.09x/yr
for Average Luxury Midsize SUV

Severity

^{The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).}

12%

vs. 9.4%
for Average Luxury Midsize SUV

powered by RepairPal ^{Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.}

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2017 Land Rover Discovery.

5 (35%)

4 (4%)

3 (15%)

2 (8%)

1 (38%)

2.9

26 reviews

Write a vehicle review See all 26 reviews

Most helpful consumer reviews

Never Buy a Land Rover Discovery

Nikki Meyers, 08/22/2018

2017 Land Rover Discovery HSE Luxury 4dr SUV 4WD (3.0L 6cyl S/C 8A)

Picked my Disco up last August...it was flat bedded back to the dealership within hours! It is in the dealership right now...it is the SIXTH time, and they usually have my car for 7-10 days every time. Only has 5000 miles on it and have had non-stop issues, many that you have featured on here. The infotainment system has been "update" 7 times and is STILL very much broken. Cameras, …

Do not buy a Discovery.

Ira, 10/02/2017

2017 Land Rover Discovery HSE Td6 4dr SUV 4WD (3.0L 6cyl Turbodiesel 8A)

Bought this car due to the VW buyback--we had a Touareg TDI, and wanted another diesel vehicle. The Discovery ticked all the boxes: seemingly solid build quality, diesel efficiency, great handling, and plenty of storage space. Its price was less than that of a comparably equipped BMW X5/Mercedes. We also considered a Q7, but there is no diesel option. We have put on just over 2K … miles in the month we have had it--fuel economy with 50/50 city/highway is spot on at 25.1mpg. Can't wait to take it on a road trip and see what it can do. It is a great riding vehicle, we have taken it off road a few times at our farm and it handled great--looking forward to the snow to see how it does. Again, this is the most expensive vehicle we have ever purchased, but getting our $ back from VW was a major factor in deciding to purchase it. Complaints: the rear driver's side door was not assembled very well-the arm rest is not flush, but the dealer will fix it. There was also a rattle in the exhaust shield, but that was easily fixed. Thus far, no leaks or other issues. The car is very quiet, and handles well for a vehicle of its size/weight. I would recommend this car. ****Update**** We now have nearly 9000 miles on the vehicle. Here are the highlights: the vehicle needs snow tires for winter driving in Wisconsin--the OEM tires are horrible in snow and ice. The 4WD system is great, and the winter driving mode are incredible, but the tires could be improved. -We had an issue with the DEF sensor in the extreme cold (ewe had a week of -10F)--it was remedied after several days at the dealership. -Our family appreciated the heated 2nd row seats and heated windshield, washer fluid nozzles, rear camera and headlight washers. -Great on a road trip--got 31mpg @ 73mph on the interstate. Plenty of room. -The vehicle gobbles up DEF. Have extra on hand, but don't overfill the tank, as it confuses the sensor, which could lead to an engine shutdown. -The navigation system suck-no voice commands-sadly, it is much easier to use Google maps on the iPhone. -The sound is great from the upgraded Meridian entertainment system. The interface through the Land Rover App sucks--it drops connection to the phone, causing the streaming to stop. -I wish it had apple car play. -The bluetooth phone system works great--very little background noise-very clear voice transmission. -There is a voluntary fix for the suspension. I have to schedule time to take the vehicle in for 45 min installation of a new part. Haven't done so yet. -Got the vehicle stuck in both mud and snow on our farm--but was able to get it unstuck using some the fancy 4wd settings. Pretty cool. It's a good car, that could be great with a few tech updates and better cold weather tires. ********Update August 2019******* ~29000 miles The car continues to have issues--glitches here and there, in the shop for a tailgate that was out of alignment, DEF heater/pump issues, interior panels coming loose, the back-up camera and entertainment system work intermittently. Never could get the hands free tailgate to work consistently. Additional electronic gremlins. Took forever to get a replacement windshield after it was destroyed by an errant golf ball while on the way to meet a client. Still gets great fuel economy, questionable reliability, and the dealership service staff were very inconsistent. Worried about future issues, costly maintenance, and low resale value, we traded it in for a 2019 VW Atlas. Now we don't have to worry about anything--other than crappy fuel economy.

2017 Discovery is a lemon

Alberto de Armas, 02/23/2018

2017 Land Rover Discovery HSE Luxury 4dr SUV 4WD (3.0L 6cyl S/C 8A)

2107 Discovery is a lemon and worse is the customer service from Alan’s Rover North America and Warren Henry North Dade!! For the past seven months I have had the truck I had electrical issues with the computer and the infotainment system. After for attempts to repair they couldn’t fix. I filed for final attempt and it didn’t work. So I have been fight with Warren Henry Land Rover North …

2nd Update to my original review from Dec 2017

Babak, 01/17/2018

2017 Land Rover Discovery HSE 4dr SUV 4WD (3.0L 6cyl S/C 8A)

Current mileage 35K, I have had this car for 2 years and 4 months. Here is the list of new issues since my last update: 1. This past summer the engine started losing coolant. It turned out that the water pump had a crack in it. The dealer replaced the water pump, issue was resolved. 2. After the water pump, the A/C started acting up and would not cool the car. After three visits to the … dealer, it was finally determined that the A/C compressor had gone bad. By the time they managed to figure that out, fall had already arrived, so I have not had the change to fully test that. 3. Right before thanksgiving, one rainy morning, with no warning water started pouring down the upper corner, passenger side of the windshield. Called the dealer and they said that it is known issue with all 2017 and some 2018 Discoveries (talk about quality control). They said they need to order a new windshield for my Discovery. This was 2 months ago. I have called the dealer a number of times and they are still waiting for the part. Meanwhile the headliner is already destroyed the carpet is in a bad shape. Land Rover's customer service is telling me to park the car in a garage and not drive it. They are offering me $35/day for a rental. Not a happy experience. Good luck getting any kind of support from Land Rover. ******* This is a follow up to my original review from Dec 2017. Mechanically the Discovery has been a beast with no mechanical issues to report with 20K miles on the odometer. My biggest issue with the car was the infotainment system and also emergency breaking system (land rover calls it AEB) not working. In regards to the infotainment system I can report that after 4 software updates in the past 12 months, the system is finally working well. As a matter of fact I got the car back from the dealership yesterday (1/17/2019) and they even installed Apple Carplay on my 2017 Discovery ($350 charge for the upgrade). AEB is another story, I finally found a way to test a system without damaging a car (using cardboard cut-out of a car and also a person). The system kicks is very late, only with few feet between the car and the object. 3 out of 10 tries the system did not work at all and I ended up hitting the object. The audible warning is almost non existence. In general I don't trust the AEB system in this car. All said and done, I feel a better now comparing to the first few months of ownership of this car. The dealership support is very poor (at least for my local dealership) and same goes with Land Rover's customer service. They don't have much power over the dealer. So if you run into an issue with your local dealer, good luck getting any help from Land Rover. ****** I have had my Discovery for 4 months now and have driven it for exactly 4200 miles. I had this car special ordered and had to wait 4 months for it to be delivered. This is not a car that I just picked up off the dealer's lot. I tried to leave a similar post on Land Rover's own website, however they blocked my review twice. So here I'm. The support from Land Rover or the dealership is non existent. They love you up the point that you are purchasing the car. As soon as you pay for it, good luck getting any kind of support from them. The car now has been sitting at the dealership for the past 10 days, due to TouchPro (infotainment center) issues. Nothing works. From slow boot ups (up to two minutes), to entire system locking up, to USB ports not connecting or rejection an iPhone after 30 seconds. Bluetooth music streaming has poor quality and has connectivity issues. Cameras continue to lock up and not available. The front parking sensors work only when you put on reverse, otherwise they don't work (unless you manually activate them for 2 or 3 mins). Navigation locks up. You cannot receive your listen to your text messages on infotainment system. The Bluetooth cannot support it. I can write a whole book about it. On the 7th day of the ownership a screw fell of the driver's side door. This is the screw that holds the door latch in place. It turned out that the other 3 doors had the same issue. The AEB (autonomous emergency breaking) does not work. I ended up setting up a soft dummy (that did not damage the car) and drove over it at about 10 miles per hour (the system should be active a 3 miles per hour an up). The system never kicked in. The dealer is telling me to continue driving and are telling me that they don't have a way to physically test the system. The only way to remotely start the car is to use the Land Rover app. Good luck getting the app to work. 9 out of 10 tries to get an error message about network congestion or poor cell coverage. The steering is very lose. You need a constantly correct the path even on straight high way stretches. Overall very disappointing ownership experience and would definitely consider off loading the car once it is financially feasible.

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2017 Land Rover Discovery video

2017 Land Rover Discovery Review

The Land Rover Discovery received a major redesign for 2017, giving it a more streamlined exterior design and a heightened level of interior refinement, luxury and comfort. In this video, Edmunds Senior Writer Mark Takahashi questions whether the Discovery traded some of its off-road…

2017 Discovery Highlights

Type:

SUV

Trim:

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$49,990
Engine Type	Gas
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	45.0 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	four wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the Discovery models:

Autonomous Emergency Braking: Applies the brakes to stop the vehicle if a risk of a front collision is detected and the driver does not react to warning signals.
Lane Keep Assist: Applies steering input to keep you in your lane if you begin to drift out of it.
Driver Condition Monitor: Suggests the driver take a break if steering inputs indicate fatigue.

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2017 Land Rover Discovery Review

Edmunds' Expert Review

Pros

Cons

What’s new

Vehicle overview

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2017 Land Rover Discovery SE 4dr SUV 4WD (3.0L 6cyl S/C 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of N/A undefined in Ohio.

Edmunds' Expert Rating

Trim tested

Scorecard

Driving

Acceleration

Braking

Steering

Handling

Drivability

Off-road

Comfort

Seat comfort

Ride comfort

Noise & vibration

Climate control

Interior

Ease of use

Getting in/getting out

Driving position

Roominess

Visibility

Quality

Utility

Small-item storage

Cargo space

Child safety seat accommodation

Towing

Technology

Audio & navigation

Smartphone integration

Driver aids

Which Discovery does Edmunds recommend?

2017 Land Rover Discovery models

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

Cost

Frequency

Severity

Most helpful consumer reviews

Never Buy a Land Rover Discovery

Do not buy a Discovery.

2017 Discovery is a lemon

2nd Update to my original review from Dec 2017

2017 Land Rover Discovery video