2023 Land Rover Discovery

The 2023 Land Rover Discovery is an SUV that blends a supremely luxurious interior with rugged off-road capabilities in a way that few rivals can imitate. It has a few drawbacks, like a cramped third row of seats and unimpressive fuel economy.

Still, aside from those flaws, the Discovery is a well-rounded luxury SUV with a premium interior, advanced tech features, and two satisfying engine options.

If you’re looking for a midsize luxury SUV that you can actually take off-road, the Discovery has few direct rivals. A couple of options include the Lexus GX and the more luxurious trims of the Jeep Grand Cherokee L.

If off-road prowess isn’t a big priority for you, then you might get more value out of one of the 2023 Land Rover Discovery’s less rugged and more affordable competitors like the Acura MDX or Lexus RX.

If you’ve always wanted a Land Rover and you need a practical midsize 3-row SUV, then the 2023 Land Rover Discovery could be right for you.

The Discovery lineup gains a loaded Metropolitan Edition for 2023, complete with the 355-hp inline-six engine, special 22-inch wheels, a head-up display, a heated steering wheel, and heated seats for all three rows.

The exterior is dressed up with a unique grille, special emblems, and silver bumper inserts; inside, a new Titanium Mesh trim is inlayed on the dash and door panels.

The mid-range R-Dynamic trim now comes standard with a black contrast roof and the rest of the lineup gains several new standard features, including heated front seats, adaptive cruise control, three-zone automatic climate control, and a Meridian stereo system.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

All Discovery models come with full-time all-wheel drive as standard, but buyers can choose between a 296-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder or a 355-hp turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six, the latter of which employs a 48-volt hybrid system.

We haven’t had a chance to test-drive the Disco with the base turbo-four, but with the inline-six, the big 2023 Land Rover Discovery feels sprightly around town and delivers adequate power for highway merging and passing. At our test track, the six-cylinder Discovery made it to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds.

The Land Rover’s adventure-ready mission caters to those seeking an SUV for much more than just trolling the parking lot at the mall, but it comes at the expense of on-road dexterity. The Discovery’s handling isn’t as ponderous as one might expect, but it still feels clumsy and top-heavy when changing direction.

The Disco never lets you forget that you’re piloting a large SUV. Overall ride quality is quite good, and even harsh bumps are dealt with easily.

Steering feel, however, is nonexistent, especially on-center, where a large dead spot creates a need for frequent steering corrections when cruising on the highway. If towing a heavy load is on the docket, the Disco is rated to tow up to 8200 pounds.

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

The EPA estimates that the turbocharged four-cylinder model will deliver 19 mpg city and 22 mpg highway while the hybridized six-cylinder powertrain is rated for 18 mpg city and 24 mpg highway.

On our 75-mph highway fuel-economy test, our six-cylinder test vehicle managed only 22 mpg. For more information about the 2023 Land Rover Discovery’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

The 2023 Land Rover Discovery‘s interior materials are upscale, and the design is appropriately posh. Luxury features abound throughout the cabin, and the level of comfort only increases as you climb through the more expensive trims.

Power-adjustable, heated leather seats with optional massage function for the driver and front-seat passenger offer good support and even better cushioning; second-row seats provide fore-and-aft and recline adjustments.

Without adequate space to haul gear, there would be fewer opportunities for adventure. With both of its rear rows of seats folded, the Disco’s spacious cabin proved to be quite accommodating with room for 29 of our carry-on suitcases.

But flip the last row of seats up and load the 2023 Land Rover Discovery with the full complement of seven would-be explorers and the maximum number of carry-ons it can carry drops to just two behind the third row.

Infotainment and Connectivity

All Discovery models come standard with Land Rover’s Pivi Pro infotainment system. It features an 11.4-inch touchscreen display and advanced features such as an onboard Wi-Fi hotspot powered by a 4G LTE data connection and real-time traffic-and-weather updates.

Pivi Pro debuted with the Land Rover Defender in 2020 and is being rolled out in other Land Rover and Jaguar products. It features a simpler menu layout and is capable of over-the-air updates.

As many as nine USB ports dot the cabin, and novel tablet-holding accessories can be used to set up rear-seat entertainment for kids. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability are standard, as is a wireless smartphone charging pad, a 12.3-inch digital gauge display, and a full-color head-up display.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

A handful of driver-assistance features are standard here, but more advanced tech will require upgrading to an optional package.

Land Rover also offers a novel 360-degree exterior camera system that also provides a view of what is directly under the front end of the 2023 Land Rover Discovery—the area blocked from view by the hood—which is intended to improve safety when driving off-road.

For more information about the 2023 Land Rover Discovery’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites.

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Full Specifications