Land Rover retired the Discovery nameplate in the United States a decade ago. But it's not that easy to keep a good name down, and last year the British SUV brand revived it with the Discovery Sport.
Now, for 2017, the Discovery itself is back, as a replacement for the Land Rover LR4.
The Discovery has a cult following across the world as a rough and rugged off-roader. But this time, it's aiming squarely at families with a cabin sized for up to seven passengers and an architecture on loan from the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport.
![2017 Land Rover Discovery 2017 Land Rover Discovery](https://images.hgmsites.net/lrg/2018-land-rover-discovery_100567293_l.jpg)
2017 Land Rover Discovery
The Disco's three rows of seating make it a rival for the Audi Q7, BMW's X5, and the Mercedes-Benz GLS. The front two rows seem fine, but that third-row is going to be more of a plus-2 situation for the kids.
All the usual Land Rover design cues are here. The Discovery wears lots of straight lines and angles, a mesh grille, LED headlights, and slight bump in the roofline.
Inside, the Disco offers up an austere cockpit with a plain, horizontal design, a minimum of fuss and glitz, and some quality, soft-touch surfaces. A rotary dial manages the transmission, and a wide high-resolution touchscreen controls the infotainment system.
Land Rover will offer a choice between gas and diesel powertrains in the Discovery. A 3.0-liter supercharged V-6 produces 340 horsepower, while a 3.0-liter turbodiesel pumps out 254 horsepower. Both are connected to an 8-speed automatic transmission and both send their power to all four wheels.
![2017 Land Rover Discovery 2017 Land Rover Discovery](https://images.hgmsites.net/lrg/2018-land-rover-discovery_100567318_l.jpg)
2017 Land Rover Discovery
Off-road chops include an extra 1.7-inches of ground clearance over the outgoing LR4 and an extra 11.1 inches of fording depth. That gives it 35.4 inches of wading depth. It can tow up to 8,201 pounds with the turbodiesel, so hauling the boat to the lake won’t be an issue.
When it comes to equipment, you'll get such features as Land Rover’s InControl infotainment system, USB ports, Bluetooth, and a 17-speaker Meridian sound system. Things you won’t find? Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.
Priced from $50,895, including destination, the Discovery will go on sale in the middle of 2017. Stay tuned for a first drive.