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This off-road trooper has real on-road presence

An incredible amount of space is earned with the easy fold-down seats.

An incredible amount of space is earned with the easy fold-down seats.

Expert rating: 72/100

Engine, drivetrain and chassis: 15/20
Price, packaging and practicality: 15/20
Safety and technology: 14/20
Behind the wheel: 14/20
X-factor: 14/20

Long established as the large SUV (over $70,000) master off-roader, the Land Rover Discovery remains a strong seller; indeed it was beaten only by the BMW X5 in segment sales for July 2015, according to VFACTS figures (241 units plays 284, in case you were wondering).

This reflects not only the Disco’s adventurous reputation, but the fact that the latest car, refreshed in 2014, is able to hold its own in Toorak as well as Tatura.

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This image is further amplified by the tested SDV6 SE variant. Available from $84,429 plus on-road costs, it features the stealthy ‘Black Pack’.

For an additional $3900 this option group adds 19-inch black alloys (standard items are also 19 inches diameter), black external Discovery badging, gloss black grille, fog lamp bezels and door handles, privacy glass and tow eye cover. Offset against sparkling Indus Silver coachwork (an $1800 option), the large Land Rover looks ready for the Disco.

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The Discovery achieves fuel consumption impressively close to its claim of 8.8L/100km.

To display some of the available options, the tested vehicle is also equipped with the electric glass sunroof ($3860), Technology Pack ($3520, includes voice control, hard disk drive (as opposed to SD card) satellite navigation, and park distance control to the front (rear is standard)), grand black lacquer ($1800, a trim finish to door inserts and centre console, and a leather steering wheel with gloss black inserts), air-conditioning to the rear ($1590) and DAB digital radio ($850).

For the adventurous the $1060 inclusion of a rear differential lock adds off-road ability.

As tested, therefore, this Discovery SE retails for $102,889; a not-insignificant amount.

There is of course a solid, if unspectacular, level of fitted standard equipment. The seven-seat arrangement also provides third-row map lamps, an accessory socket and – most importantly – head curtain airbags for its occupants, for a start.

There’s also xenon headlamps, a rear-view camera, grained leather seats with electric adjustment up-front, eight-speed automatic transmission and 11-speaker audio.

Second and third row passengers are more than catered for in the comfort stakes.

Second- and third-row passengers are more than catered for in the comfort stakes.

The long bonnet, viewed from a pleasingly high driving position that allows quite accurate placement of this 2.5-tonne behemoth, hides JLR’s renowned 3.0-litre sequentially-turbocharged diesel V6.

In this higher-output form it produces some 183kW at only 4000rpm, but more importantly there’s 600Nm available at only 2000rpm.

It’s enough to pedal the Disco to 100km/h in a decent 9.3sec and contributes to making the Discovery such an impressive towing vehicle, capable of lugging up to 3500kg.

It also achieves a fuel consumption figure relatively close to claim, and that’s with some low-range, high-rev off-roading mixed into the week.

The SDV6 consumed diesel at the rate of 9.5L/100km on average, throughout our time with the car, though that figure did consistently climb once eighth-gear highway speeds were removed from the equation.

The V6 is also as smooth as can be for a big diesel, and that goes from idle, to cruise, to under heavy throttle loads.

While the engine is more than up to the task, however, it is under braking where the Land Rover feels its weight … and that’s even before adding extra load to the mix.

The initial pedal response is soft and it stays that way. It’s almost as though the pad material itself isn’t robust enough to handle the strain on-road.

The interior feels as spacious as it looks and features leather seats.

The interior feels as spacious as it looks, and features leather seats.

Off-road, the relative pedal travel at slow speeds allows you to place (and, indeed, pace) the vehicle effectively, but we’d trade some of that for more effective on-road retardation.

Also on the road – where, let’s face it, we see the majority of these new Discos treading most of the time – the big Land Rover lacks the dynamic polish of something like an BMW X5.

There’s more roll in corners and it feels much less car-like, though its ride refinement and the application of its permanent all-wheel drive system and suite of safety functions means traction and security remain strong.

Inside, comfortable leather seats ensconce you into that ‘command’ driving position, the leather steering wheel is smooth yet grippy to touch, the switchgear is tactile and the infotainment functionality is good, though starting to show its age now.

Second- and third-row passengers are also adequately catered for, the relatively stilted look of the Discovery offering incredible head room, and decent packaging helping with cabin width; it actually feels its size, where the Range Rover Sport feels narrower inside than it looks.

An incredible amount of space is earned with the easy fold-down seats.

An incredible amount of space is earned with the easy fold-down seats.

Of course it would be remiss of us not to sample the five-mode Terrain Response drive program suite the Discovery boasts, just as it would be silly not to increase the suspension height, select low range and flick the screen to off-road mode, to watch the locking centre and (optional, remember) rear differentials at work.

Selecting the mud and ruts program, the Disco digs beneath surface mud and plows through on a steady throttle. Remembering what we learned from the Land Rover Experience last year we let the vehicle find its way through the rutted surface, with no hint of traction loss.

Out of the mud but onto a claggy downhill stretch, the Hill Descent Control – operated via the cruise control system – keeps the wheels from locking, allowing you to concentrate on keeping things tidy through the steering.

Two other benefits crop up in the Disco: Its turning circle is incredible, given its size – even when compared to the smaller Discovery Sport – and the paddle shifts are a gift off-road, when two hands at the wheel is often essential.

Also essential is considering a Discovery SDV6 when shopping for a capable off-road companion. It may be a costly entry, but remains worth every cent if you want to go beyond your Toorak nature strip.

2015 Land Rover Discovery SDV6 SE Black Pack pricing and specifications:
Price:
$84,429 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 diesel
Output: 183kW/600Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 8.8L/100km (Claimed, combined)
CO2: 230g/km (Claimed, combined)
Safety Rating: Not tested

What we liked:
>> Unrivalled off road
>> Presence on road
>> Rewarding engine/gearbox combination

Not so much:
>> Brakes feel soft for size
>> Low car park entries
>> Off-highway fuel consumption

Also consider:
>> BMW X5
>> Mercedes-Benz M-Class
>> Land Rover Range Rover Sport

This article originally appeared on motoring.com.au. All images via motoring.com.au.

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