2001 Land Rover Discovery: Overview

Vehicle Highlights

Land Rover's lower-priced SUV offers SD, LE, and top-line SE models. All Discoverys have a 4.0-liter V8, automatic transmission, ABS, and all-wheel drive with low-range gearing and traction control. Available Rear Seat package increases capacity from five to seven and changes badging to SD7, LE7, and SE7. Optional SE/SE7 Performance Package combines 18-inch wheels (vs. 16s) with Land Rover's Active Cornering Enhancement (ACE) suspension that uses hydraulic rams to reduce body lean in turns. Rear Self-Leveling suspension is standard for 7-seat models, optional for LE, SE. SE/SE7 come with leather and premium audio with in-dash CD changer. Ford recently purchased Britain's Land Rover from Germany's 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 Buy is the car-based Lexus RX 300. Though it lacks a low range in 4WD mode, it's the most carlike to drive and offers all of the versatility of a truck-based model.

Our Recommended choices are all traditional SUVs: the Dodge Durango, which offers optional third-row seating; the best-selling Ford Explorer clone Mercury Mountaineer; the Teutonic Mercedes-Benz M-Class; the utilitarian Nissan Xterra; and the refined but expensive Toyota 4Runner.