My only complaint with the powertrain per say was its fuel economy, sitting at 20 L/100 km in the city and 14 on the highway. To add insult to injury the big V8 thirsts after premium grade unleaded. Go figure? If parent company Ford can build a 231-hp V8 with 293 lb-ft of torque that needs nothing more than regular, how does Land Rover get off requesting champagne and foie gras for beer and pretzels performance? It's high time that the blue oval boys hand Land Rover a few more bones, the first being the 4.6-L Ford engine with the second being the option of the 300-hp 5.4-L V8 with 365 lb-ft of torque.
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| To add insult to injury, the gas hungry V8 engine requires premium grade unleaded, ouch. (Photo: Shawn Pisio, Canadian Auto Press) |
But to be fair many competitors in its price range only offer V6 power and the added cachet of the Land Rover name should be recognized for its unquantifiable value. No foreigner to the country club crowd, only the bargain basement $49,000 Discovery S does not include standard leather seats. Rather, seating surfaces are covered with fairly convincing leatherette, perfect for scrubbing out after trekking through muddy trails. Base equipment includes power windows, locks, etc, plus air conditioning and a 100-watt AM/FM/cassette. A what? That's right, a cassette and no standard CD in a near $50K vehicle - wouldn't want to break the bank.
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| For only $5,500 more, the Discovery SE comes with a host of additional equipment, some of which could be argued, should be standard. (Photo: Shawn Pisio, Canadian Auto Press) |
Realistically this model is more of a loss leader, allowing the brand to market its luxury SUV under the $50,000 price point. Drop into your local Land Rover dealer and you'll be hard pressed to find a base example, and if it exists at all the salesperson will do his darnedest to bait and switch you to a pricier model.
My advice to you is this; listen to him/her. For $5,500 more, leather is standard, plus that CD player features 6-discs and quasi-convenient under-the-front-passenger-seat placement - only slightly handier than making you run out in the rain to swap discs in the previous cargo area installed changer. A host of additional equipment spiffs up the interior, making the Discovery SE a fairly decent buy for its $54,500 price tag.
