land rover discovery 4 21192
land rover discovery 4 27388
land rover discovery 4 21193
land rover discovery 4 21194
land rover discovery 4 27390
Cliff Chambers16 Nov 2018
ADVICE

Buying a used Land Rover Discovery 4 (2009-2013)

Owned by India's Tata Motors since 2008, Land-Rover has seemingly found a home where off-road competence blended with appreciable luxury is appreciated. But has the revamped Discovery 4 fixed doubts that linger concerning the brand's reliability?

Discovery history

The Discovery was the vehicle Land-Rover just had to build. Back before the 1990s dawned L-R offerings encompassed a model that could trace its direct lineage back to 1948 before jumping straight to the urban opulence of a Range Rover.

Into that gulf was slotted the mid-sized, V8 (usually) powered Discovery. A competent off-roader, it had its flaws, which constant use and owner neglect were quick to expose. The Disco 4 was intended to change all that and very nearly succeeded.

Stocks began arriving locally in late 2009 with pricing that began below $70,000 for the 2.7-litre TDV6 and moved to more than $125,000 if you wanted a fuel-swigging, 276kW V8.

Lots had changed under the Discovery's upright, some say 'severe' shape, and mostly for the better. The styling underwent only a minor revamp, yet the new headlamp/grille combination brought the Disco appreciably closer to the Rangie in appearance and delivered what Land-Rover defined as its night-time 'signature'. A few readers might remember the distinctive 'signature' of the original Land-Rover, which with its lights mounted in the centre of the vehicle and barely half a metre apart, could be mistaken for an oncoming motorcycle.

land rover discovery 4 27389

Supplementing and eventually superseding the long-lived 2.7-litre turbo-diesel was a new 3.0-litre V6 that produced 180kW of power and a massive 600Nm of torque. Six-speed automatic was the only available transmission and would remain so until 2013 when an eight-speed arrived. Due to the new diesel's sophistication and all of that torque available at lowish rpms, fuel economy was claimed to improve by up to nine per cent.

As is so often the case with prestigious All-Wheel Drives, many owners bought a Disco 4 based on its intimidating appearance. That bluff front and prominent wheel-arches do nothing for aerodynamics but the shape brought to mind an East London 'security consultant' in a nice suit and that imagery was ideal for bluffing Prado drivers out of the last parking spot at school pickup.

Equipment even at base TDV6 level included climate-control air conditioning, 18-inch alloys and lots of interior electronics. Jumping $14,000 in price bought an SE with full leather, even bigger wheels and Xenon lights, Not even the HSE at almost $95,000 could boast a power sunroof as standard, although you could specify one by spending an extra $3880.

The 'roof' plus a huge selection of other fairly pointless luxuries came as part of the package for the very few who chose to spend $127,000 on a 5.0-litre Disco V8. So few seem to have been sold locally that they hardly ever appear in used-car listings.

Updating the Disco 4 in 2012 avoided any significant visual change but allowed buyers to add a Vision Assist Pack with the Surround Camera system, Adaptive Cornering headlights and Tow Assist, or a Technology Pack that included Off-Road Sat Nav.

land rover discovery 4 27388

On the road

Drive one around town and there immediately seems to be a lot of Disco 4s bumping about. Maybe it's the happy-looking chrome grille that makes them stand out from the crowd. Venture to the bush though and you see hardly any and that says something about perceptions of Tata's efforts at improving build quality.

Older models did have their issues, it must be acknowledged, but the Generation 4 also has far fewer detractors and there are fewer endemic issues. Most of the reported complaints relate to one-off component failures or stem from dealers refusing to acknowledge faults.

Even the $70,000 'base' model TDV6 is still a lavish thing. The armrest/door pulls are substantial, with equally impressive door handles and window switches above them. The seats are well-shaped and the dash crowded with useful-looking gadgets. Same goes for the chunky steering wheel with its confusing array of controls for lots of functions.

In our humble opinion the engine to get whether you are an urbanite or serious off-road explorer is the 3.0-litre. With so much more torque than the 2.7 it has terrific low-end urge so you won't get left behind when leaving the lights and cruising in fifth is almost silent.

land rover discovery 4 21193

Using a Discovery to good effect on the beach or off-road is largely a matter of following instructions, turning a dial and pushing the correct combination of buttons. However, taking too simplistic view of the car's capabilities might lead to over-confidence from inexperienced off-roaders.

'Terrain Response' lets the computer decide, based on the driver's assessment of conditions to be encountered, which of the vehicle's traction control measures need to be engaged and to what degree. To help cope with sand, ruts or rocks the electric suspension will increase clearance by a massive 125mm.

There is also a 'rock crawl' function that in conjunction with Traction Control will minimise wheelspin and help the driver maintain a slow walking pace while picking the best path through deep sand or along rutted tracks.

land rover discovery 4 27390

Some owners will buy a Disco with long-distance towing in mind. All models are rated to tow 3500kg and various electronic systems are useful in maintaining stability. The six-speed auto is perfect for this role, however the standard 82 litre fuel tank might create some anguish for those travelling in isolated areas.

Factor in the weight of a caravan and associated equipment to the 2.4 tonnes of the Discovery in its unloaded state and that 82 litres will disappear very quickly. With luggage space at a premium, the fuel needed to provide a safety net will most likely be stowed on a roof-rack where it will mess with the aerodynamics and affect vehicle stability.

Discovery's are tall for their size anyway, so a bit of body roll when cornering at higher speeds is to be expected. Around town it certainly never gets extreme, with the height adjustment at its lowest ebb and sophisticated suspension maintaining mid-bend decorum. The wrong tyres and a wet road could make life exciting but even then stability control can calm the situation.

The Discovery 4 justifies a Five Star passenger protection rating thanks to its multitudes of airbags, belt tensioners, active suspension and stability controls. For the benefit of people venturing into isolated areas a full-sized spare wheel is standard.

land rover discovery 4 21194

Discovery 4 check points

>> Before even sending a Discovery that interests you for professional inspection, have a good look around for underbody damage, especially to drive-shafts, their joints and rubber boots, suspension arms, the sills and floor-pan. Those showing paint loss or gouging to the floors and chassis members may have spent a lot of time on beaches. They could also be harbouring rust and one of those you do not want at any price.

>> Some 2.7-litre diesels suffered crankshaft bearing failures when new, however all should by now have received replacement engines. A diesel of either type that generates more than the usual complement of start-up rattles or blows excessive smoke of any kind is one to avoid.

>> Look while under the car at edge-worn tyres, which are symptoms of worn suspension control arms and bushings. Also with the engine running have someone move the steering wheel to spot leaks from the power steering.

>> Some owners have reported sudden issues with engine-management electronics, however it's unlikely that a vehicle being offered for sale will stop dead in the midst of a test drive. More likely symptoms will include reluctant starting when hot, stalling in traffic and stuttering under acceleration.

>> Leather trim in older versions can become shabby unless well fed with a quality conditioner. Get the vendor to demonstrate raising and retracting the third-row seat as the release mechanisms can be tricky and may even seize if not used in a while.

Used vehicle grading for Discovery 4
Design & Function: 15/20
Safety: 15/20
Practicality: 15/20
Value for Money: 13/20
Wow Factor: 13/20
Score: 71/100

Also consider: Toyota Prado, BMW X5, Jeep Grand Cherokee

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Written byCliff Chambers
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