A VERY classy 4×4 that can now be picked up for a bargain price of less than £5,000 was once highly praised by Jeremy Clarkson.
Released between 2004 and 2009, the motor is known for its rugged build and surprisingly comfortable driveability.
Reviewed by Jeremy Clarkson upon its release in 2004, the second generation Land Rover Discovery – confusingly known as the Discovery 3 – was described by the former Top Gear star as “hugely comfortable” as well as “robustly built.”
He even praised its design, writing in The Sunday Times: “The raised rear roof line remains for those who have a pet giraffe, and the doors seem to have come from a different car, but overall, there’s no doubt that it’s a looker.”
But perhaps the biggest selling point of the second-gen Discovery is its ruggedness, which Clarkson highlights by saying: “Underneath you get a separate chassis and a monocoque, so you have the toughness to deal with the green lanes.”
It’s not a military-eque though, and even 20 years later the Disco 3 is a great SUV to drive.
Clarkson added: “It is a hugely comfortable car to drive: quiet, not too roly-poly in the bends and blessed with an extraordinarily delicate throttle pedal that makes parallel parking – even on a steep hill – a complete doddle.”
It packs a 4.4-litre version of Jaguar‘s 4.2 litre V8, boasting plenty of torque and power, while the diesel iteration uses the twin turbo from Jaguar‘s S-type.
On the motor’s space and luxurious interior – which includes seven seats – Clarkson said: “While you don’t get the style or flair of a Range Rover, you do get a sense of utilitarian toughness.”
There are hundreds of examples to choose from on the UK marketplace, and can be quite the bargain.
For example, we found a 2005 example currently up for sale on Autotrader for just £4,475 – and it isn’t a battle-scarred farm hauler.
This comes as it was recently revealed Land Rover will be reviving another iconic model some eight years after it was discontinued – but it won’t be made here.
Meanwhile, rival 4×4 maker Ineos has delayed its upcoming EV ‘indefinitely’ – just months after they first unveiled it.
