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2003 Land Rover Discovery
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| Of Kings and Canyons |
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| Updated |
Jun 10, 2004 22:13:38 |
| Rating |
 180 ( 3 +1.66% ) | | Author | Dan Lyons |
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Description:
Of Kings and Canyons
2003 Land Rover Discovery
Writer's Notes
Test Vehicle:
2003 Land Rover Discovery
MSRP: $34,350 (S), $38, 350 (SE), $40,350 (HSE)
Showroom appeal:
Blue blood heritage, with dirt under its fingernails cache
Cool Factor:
Boxy look now seems retro cool, when in fact it just hasn't changed
Plus:
Exceptionally capable off road, refined on road
Minus:
Petrol Hog
Inside, the Discovery offers a well equipped and comfortable cabin, with room for five seating and generous cargo capacity (40.5 cubic feet, expandable to 63.3, with rear seat folded).
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Land Rovers are British built, with a lineage link to royalty and a tradition of taking just plain folks just about anywhere. The goal is civilized travel, even in uncivilized terrain, and Discovery has been about the task since 1989, (stateside since 1994). The new, '03 Discovery represents the third generation, and brings with it mechanical upgrades, interior refinements and cosmetic updates on the familiar, boxy shape.
On the whole, it would be tempting to call the Discovery's downright upright lines "retro", but the angular look and stepped roof with alpine windows have simply been a styling constant since the first generation. What's new now is the facial view, borrowed from big brother Range Rover. Prominent are "pocketed" headlamps - overlapping low and high beams - book-ended by vertical parking lights. Land Rover is writ large across the hood lip, and rests above a three bar grille which now stretches from headlight to headlight. Just below, the re-styled bumper integrates recessed fog lamps. Rear view changes are less noticeable, centering on revamped tail lamps, with directional signals sited higher for greater visibility. Discovery is offered in three model ranges - S, SE and HSE, each of which claims its own unique alloy wheels (16" in the case of the base S, 18" for SE and HSE).
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"The 2003 Discovery continues the Land Rover tradition of a wide breadth of capability, combining confident on-road handling with renowned off-road prowess."
Though the SUV field is littered with off road poseurs, Discovery isn't one of them. The truck's extreme capability has been a given since the first gen units and remains the core personality trait of the new models. Discovery has a permanent four wheel drive system with high and low ranges. It's manually accessed by means of a pint-sized shifter, sitting low and dead center up front. Many electronic aids facilitate off road stability. Most useful among these, I find, is HDC. Hill Descent Control combines engine and wheel braking, automatically applying the binders to maintain a constant (slow) speed during steep downhill maneuvers. This leaves the driver foot loose and free to fancy the best way to steer through your chosen path. Electronic Traction Control helps maintain forward momentum on slick roadways and also comes in handy off road when, for example, traversing loose surfaces. A large measure of Discovery's confidence off road can be traced to its suspension. The exceptional flexibility of the system - eight inches of travel up front and 11 in back - makes stepping over obstacles a routine matter. The full, ladder frame also provides cover for the power train. By the numbers, Discovery has a minimum ground clearance of 8.2", with angles of approach and departure of 31 and 21 degrees, respectively. The ramp break over angle is 27 degrees.
Lift the bonnet and you'll find Land Rover's 4.6 liter V8. This motor generates 15% more horsepower (217) and 20% more torque (300 lb. ft.) than its predecessor. The eight will push the mid-size ute from 0-60 in 9.5 seconds; 1.7 seconds faster than gen last, and it's rated to handle trailers up to 7,700 lbs (low range), 5,500 lb (high range). On road, there's good power on tap and the abundant torque is especially noticeable (and useful) off road. Discovery weighs in at a skosh less than 2½ tons and that, combined with an aerodynamically challenged shape, makes for mediocre gas mileage: 12 mpg's city/16 highway, according to EPA. The high profile body is also a good reason to keep both hands on the wheel in crosswind situations.
Inside, the Discovery offers a well equipped and comfortable cabin, with room for five seating and generous cargo capacity (40.5 cubic feet, expandable to 63.3, with rear seat folded). Adding $1,000 to the sticker adds seven passenger capacity, courtesy of a third row seat. New and standard is a revamped instrument display. New and optional is Rear Park Distance Control. The latter, with its audible warning for impending hazards, comes in handy. Like many sport utes, Discovery's rear visibility is hampered by a combination of back seat headrests and looming spare tire carrier that provide a partial eclipse of your rear view.
There's been something of a British invasion going on of late, with Aston Martin, Jaguar and Land Rover ranking 1,2,3 as the fastest growing brands in North America. For its part, the new generation Discovery keeps the model's trademark looks while adding many refinements in performance and comfort. The mid-size ute is well bred for dual duty, and manages the competing tasks of off road competence and on road elegance with considerable grace.
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---Story and photos by Dan Lyons
photos © Dan Lyons 2002 |
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