The third model of the Land Rover Discovery has earned recognition from car enthusiasts around the world. Among the advantages, motorists note a brutal image and an extraordinary appearance of the car. In addition, he can easily overcome obstacles of varying difficulty, has such advantages as wheel lock, four-wheel drive and high ground clearance. But even despite its positive qualities, the foreign car also has disadvantages that can spoil the joy of owning such a solid vehicle.
History of creation
Mid-size jeep appeared on the world car market back in 1989. At the moment, 5 generations of the model are released, the last of which was presented by manufacturers in 2016. Most of all, motorists value Discovery for its brutal, angular design. The manufacturer is trying to maintain it throughout the years of release.
The third generation largely repeats the previous ones, although more attention was paid to the design of the cabin compared to its predecessor. This was done so that passengers and the driver could comfortably move along any tracks. The developers added the latest electronic devices, arranged the interior differently, and improved the suspension. Despite the fact that “Discovery 3” was produced for only 5 years, it managed to gain popularity in many countries of the world. It was first introduced in 2004.
After that, the marketers of the automobile concern "Land Rover" recorded the highest level of sales. This happened thanks to a correctly conducted advertising campaign, in which the implemented innovations were described favorably. After 2 years, the level of sales decreased due to the fact that not all innovations were evaluated by motorists. In addition, some flaws became visible. However, over time, Discovery 3, according to owners, confirmed its high position among Land Rover SUVs.
Appearance
From the previous generation, the third version of Discovery is distinguished by an even more massive appearance, which is favorably emphasized by a large radiator grill and optics. The wheelbase had a length of 2885 mm with a total dimension of 1837 × 2190 × 4835 mm (height, width, length). These dimensions confirm that the Discovery 3 belongs to mid-size SUVs.
Another advantage was that the ground clearance was 180 mm in variations with the base suspension, and the version with air suspension and variable clearance could boast a ground clearance of 180-285 mm. With such a rise, the jeep could calmly overcome shallow water obstacles with a depth of 7-10 cm. At the same time, the mass of the SUV in the minimum configuration is 2494 kg.
Salon
The interior of the Land Rover Discovery 3, according to owners, is very convenient. The driver's seat offers excellent visibility, and the seat itself has a function for storing settings, thanks to which you can choose a comfortable fit. The interior adheres to the minimalist style characteristic of English cars.
Much attention was paid to decoration and sound insulation. As many drivers note, extraneous noise practically does not penetrate the Discovery 3 cabin. Among the pluses, the owners noted the sufficient illumination inside the cabin, which helped ensure comfort during night trips.
The developers also took care of additional gadgets, which include a modern audio system with high sound quality. A small minus is not very reliable electrical equipment - it crashes quite often. Other disadvantages inside the cabin include:
- random shutdown of the radio;
- Terrain Response system failure
- malfunction of the rear door lock;
- sound signal breakage.
In this generation, there are two types of interior layout - seven-seater, equipped with two folding seats in the trunk area, and the traditional five-seater. Judging by the seven-seat version on Discovery 3, according to owners, the minus of this option is the low functionality of the rear seats, which could only accommodate children under 10 years old.
Specifications
In our country, Discovery 3 was delivered with a gasoline and diesel engine, although even in Russia you can meet a car with a non-standard power plant imported from the secondary market of other countries. It has a capacity of 4.0 liters with a performance of 219 horsepower. As a transmission, a 6-band gearbox was used here.
The basic diesel engine was developed by specialists of the English company Land Rover together with colleagues from the Peugeot and Ford automobile concerns. Thanks to this, they were able to create a reliable power unit, adapted to harsh road conditions. The main characteristics of the diesel installation are:
- 6 cylinders that have a V-shaped arrangement;
- volume - 2720 cm³;
- torque - 440 Nm;
- power - 195 horsepower.
As a transmission, it was initially planned to install a 6-speed Steptronic automatic gearbox or a 6-speed manual transmission. The most common is a manual gearbox due to its unpretentiousness. Although the machine was less "gluttonous." According to the owners, “Discovery 3” with a 2.7-liter diesel engine is recognized as a fairly reliable car.
For lovers of a quiet ride, dealers offered a V-shaped gasoline mechanism with the following qualities:
- 8 cylinders;
- volume - 4394 cm³;
- torque - 425 Nm;
- 6-speed automatic transmission;
- power 295 horsepower.
The negative aspects included the fact that the power plant consumes too much fuel, so Discovery 3, equipped with a gasoline engine, did not find recognition among Russian motorists due to the large number of negative reviews.
Fuel consumption
In the generation released in 2004, the developers aimed to reduce fuel consumption, which distinguishes all full-size and mid-size SUVs. However, they did not succeed, since Discovery 3, according to drivers, is also very "gluttonous." Especially to improve performance, types of motors were replaced. The diesel engine became the most popular, as it could be combined with any gearbox having 6 gears. In mixed mode, this unit worked most economically, although it consumed at least 11.5 liters of fuel.
Gasoline has not gained popularity in the Russian car market. The disadvantage of this mechanism was that it was paired with a robotic gearbox, characterized by high fuel consumption. Only on the highway fuel consumption was 13.2 liters, and on city streets this figure could increase by 20-30%.
Many drivers choosing this SUV admitted that they bought it specifically for trips in difficult terrain and used it only for hunting and fishing trips. He also became popular among residents in the mountains, who daily have to overcome dangerous roads.
Options
Manufacturers decided to release the third generation of Discovery in three versions - S, SE and HSE. The simplest configuration was option S, and the richest - HSE. Even the basic version included alloy 17-inch wheels, reliable airbags (front and sides), various electronic systems to help control the car, air conditioning and an audio player. In these trim levels, everything was thought out for the convenience of people. Thanks to this, in the fourth generation Land Rover Discovery, all options remain the same.
Chassis
The car, released in the third generation, did not completely repeat the traditions of its predecessors. It used an integrated frame and a supporting body. A multi-link suspension was installed both front and rear. This helped to significantly increase the level of comfort, especially when traveling on public roads, which do not always have even coverage.
Along with the usual spring suspension, which was placed on the basic configuration, the top versions received a modern air suspension. With its help, it was possible to adjust the distance to the ride height. The SUVs that entered the Russian car market were all-wheel drive and had a central differential lock. Significantly facilitated driving the presence of modern systems - HDC, EBD, ABS, ETC. The wheels were equipped with disc brakes that were ventilated in front.
Motorists familiar with previous versions of Discovery were afraid that a large number of the latest devices would not affect the patency of the car. However, their fears were in vain - even the innovative electronic transmission control system, the so-called Terrain ResponseTM, proved to be great.
About Discovery 3 models in 2008, the feedback from the owners was mostly positive, but until this year, occasionally there were problems with ball bearings, silent blocks on the front suspension or steering tips. However, manufacturers made sure that in subsequent years these mechanisms were replaced with more reliable options.
Benefits
This modification has a lot of advantages, for which many motorists appreciate the Land Rover Discovery 3. The feedback from the owners of the 2.7-liter diesel and 4.0-liter gasoline engines suggests that the car has the following advantages:
- reliable power plant;
- strong frame construction;
- high-quality finishing materials;
- suspension that tolerates bumps in the road;
- modern audio system.
In addition, many motorists appreciated the diverse equipment of the complete sets of foreign cars and rich functionality.
disadvantages
Unfortunately, the painstaking work of design engineers did not help to avoid the common mistakes that often appear in other SUVs. The most important shortcomings are:
- increased fuel consumption;
- high price for spare parts and repairs;
- the rapid appearance of corrosion;
- breakage of door locks;
- airbag malfunction.
Other problems that occur very rarely include an oil leak through the front oil seal and a poor fit of the crankshaft liner. Because of this, the device rotates.
Owner reviews
Car owners who purchase a foreign car mainly in the secondary market are generally satisfied with the vehicle. The car is well established if you buy it from the owner, who carried out scheduled repairs on time.
According to the owners, the Land Rover Discovery 3 (diesel) is moderately dynamic, maneuverable and has a high level of comfort. Many are ready to turn a blind eye to some shortcomings and forgive these shortcomings for a brutal and stylish design. In recent years, even the fairer sex began to choose this SUV, since it allows you to feel yourself protected by a reliable car.
Conclusion
Among all-wheel drive SUVs, one of the best is the Range Rover Discovery 3. Owner reviews confirm that it is very practical, spacious, has a unique, recognizable design. However, when choosing a machine, it is best to purchase versions released after 2006. It was at this time that the manufacturer tried to eliminate all previous shortcomings.