2000 Land Rover Discovery: Overview

Vehicle Highlights

Minor equipment revisions are the only change of note to Land Rover's lower-priced sport-utility vehicle for 2000. Discovery comes as a 4-door wagon with permanently engaged 4-wheel drive and standard seating for five. An optional third-row seat expands capacity to seven.
A 4.0-liter V8, 4-speed automatic transmission, and antilock 4-wheel disc brakes are standard. The 4WD system is designed to apply each brake individually to limit wheel spin in severe conditions. It also employs Land Rover's Hill Descent Control, which applies the brakes to slow the vehicle when descending steep grades in 4-wheel low range. Land Rover's optional Active Cornering Enhancement (ACE) system replaces the usual anti-roll bars with hydraulic rams to reduce body lean in hard turns. Self-Leveling Suspension is also available.
For 2000, a compass is integrated with the rear-view mirror, a universal garage-door opener becomes standard, and ordering the extra-cost rear air conditioner no longer requires also ordering the optional leather-upholstery package. On the debit side, the Harman/Kardon audio system is now part of the leather-package option; it had been standard. Ford recently purchased Britain's Land Rover from the German automaker BMW.

COMPETITION

This is by far the hottest market segment right now. Crowded with more than 20 vehicles, midsize SUVs vary in size and type but nearly all seat five adults and offer V6 or V8 engines. Our Best Buys include the Ford Explorer, the Lexus RX 300, and Mercedes-Benz M-Class. Explorer and M-Class are more traditional SUVs with full off-road capability and V6 and V8 engines. RX 300 is a car-based SUV that lacks a low range in 4WD mode, but is the most carlike to drive.
Our Recommended choices are all traditional SUVs: the Dodge Durango, which offers optional third-row seating; the slightly more expensive Explorer clone Mercury Mountaineer; the utilitarian Nissan Xterra; and the refined but expensive Toyota 4Runner.
If you are on a Budget take a look at the old standby Jeep Cherokee. It is cruder than the rest but offers go-anywhere ability, utility, and a low price.