SA Road Tests

Welcome

This is the home of automobile road tests in South Africa. We drive South African cars, SUVs and LCVs under South African conditions. It also just happens that most of the vehicles we drive are world cars as well, so what you read here probably applies to the models you can get at home.

*To read one of our road tests, just select from the menu on the left.

*Please remember too, that prices quoted were those ruling on the days I wrote the stories.

We drive the 2010 Land Rover Discovery 4 V8 HSE

No doubting its credentials

Published in The Witness Motoring on Wednesday June 9, 2010

When people criticise SUVs, it’s usually to say that this make or that is “not sufficiently off-road-capable.”  In the case of Land Rover’s Discovery 3 there was never any doubt as to its boondocking credentials; it was apparently just not luxurious enough. I always thought they looked smart, but in order to satisfy some critics, the Discovery 4 has been given a prettier face with revised front sheet metal, led lighting back and front (with daytime running lights), a refreshed interior with more soft plastic, and revised switchgear with fewer knobs and buttons.

It also gets bigger front brakes, revised steering geometry and a thicker anti-roll bar – all from the Range Rover Sport. The same car donated its five-way terrain control system and modifications to make it even user-friendlier. One of these is Gradient Release Control that works in tandem with Hill Descent Control (HDC) to prevent the sudden lurch you used to get when releasing brakes on downward slopes, before HDC kicked in. You now simply release and let the electronics do the work.

Another is a revised rock crawl program with improved braking and traction control response times. This reduces any tendency to roll when crossing boulders and generally makes life more civil in rocky terrain. The revised front end pays off as less body movement during cornering, improved steering response and an altogether more satisfying ride.

The present crop of Discoveries consists of four options: 3.0 litre diesels in ‘S’ tune with three levels of trim and a naturally aspirated 5-litre petrol V8 that comes in HSE form only. This is the one we tested recently. Like the supercharged engine, this unit uses dual independent variable cam timing (DIVCT) to broaden its torque band, resulting in a pleasant balance for on- and off-road use. Figures are 276 kW at 6 500 rpm and 510 Nm at 3 500.

Inside, the Discovery feels bright and airy, helped by big side windows and three sheets of glass sunroof. Only the front section tilts and slides. Head and legroom is plentiful, while entry and exit is easy thanks to a flat floor without side sills. Making life easier for those with “little legs” is a loading height selector on the central console.  Also borrowed from Range Rovers, this settles the car’s suspension down a couple of inches to make loading easier and then reverts to normal height as you move off.

Even the foldaway pair of seats right at the back is reasonably comfortable thanks to space for feet under the second row. Cargo area verges on huge, ranging from 280 litres with all three rows of seats up, to 1 192 and 2 558 litres as chairs are folded. The split tailgate provides a pleasantly low loading threshold that doubles as an occasional seat or extension platform for longer items.

Unlike its big sister Range Rovers, the Discovery rides on 255/55 R19 M&S tyres that would be more practical off the beaten track than the 40-profile 20-inch road versions fitted to the more luxurious cars. The spare wheel, located under the body, is full-sized. This reduces departure angle slightly but is probably the lesser of two evils, as I don’t know anyone who would fancy using a space saver to exit the boonies with.

On the road, the Discovery is quiet, spacious and comfortable, with no more than a hint of the top-heavy feeling one expects of tall SUVs. Cruising at 120 in top gear, the engine is loafing along at just over 2 000 rpm, with overtaking no more than a formality. Shifts occur smoothly without noise or flare, while “sport” mode and manual override are obviously available as well. Low range is engaged or disengaged from neutral.

Discovery 3 was a very pleasant vehicle and, with features lifted from its more expensive siblings, Discovery 4 is even more so. Somehow, a Range Rover doesn’t seem quite as “necessary” as it did before.

The numbers

Price: R720 000

Engine: 4 999 cc quad cam, 32 valve V8

Power: 276 kW at 6 500 rpm

Torque: 510 Nm at 3 500 rpm

Zero to 100 km/h: 7.9 seconds

Maximum: 195 km/h

Average fuel consumption: About 16.5 l/100 km

Tank: 86 litres

Ground clearance - minimum/off road height selected: 185mm/240 mm

Wading depth (off road height): 700 mm

Approach/Departure/Ramp over angles (Min.): 31.5/24.9/22.3 degrees

Approach/Departure/Ramp over angles (OR height): 36.2/28.1/27.3 degrees

Music: Radio/CD/iPod/USB

Care plan: 5 years/100 000 km

What We Do

This is a one-man show, which means that road test cars entrusted to me are driven only by me. Some reviewers hand test cars over to their partners to use as day-to-day transport and barely experience them for themselves.

What this means to you is that every car reviewed is given my own personal evaluation and receives my own seat of the pants judgement - no second hand input here.

Every car goes through real world testing; on city streets littered with potholes, speed bumps and rumble strips, on freeways and if its profile demands, dirt roads as well.

I am based in Pietermaritzburg, KZN, South Africa. This is the central hub of the KZN Midlands farming community; the place farmers go to to buy their supplies and equipment, truck their goods to market, send their kids to school and go to kick back and relax. 

So occasionally a cow, a goat or a horse may add a little local colour by finding its way into the story or one of the pictures. It's all part of the ambience!

Comments?

Want to ask a question, comment or just tell me you thoroughly disagree with what I say? That's your privilege, because if everybody agreed on everything, the world would be a boring place. All I ask is that you remain calm, so please blow off a little steam before venting too vigorously. Contact me here

Back to Home page