Description of the car Land Rover Discovery 4, 3, 2 and 1

The Discovery is an SUV produced by the British company Land Rover. It was introduced in 1989 as a bridge between the top-of-the-line Range Rover and the all-terrain utility Defender. The Discovery quickly became Land Rover's most popular model. There are currently four generations of this vehicle.


First generation Discovery it was produced between 1989 and 1998 and came in both three-door and five-door versions. Initially there were only three-door cars, but a year later they began producing five-door ones as well. There were two more seats in the luggage compartment, meaning the total capacity of the car was 7 seats.

At first, two types of engines were installed - a 2.5-liter diesel (4 cylinders, in-line, 113 hp) and a 3.5-liter gasoline engine (8 cylinders, V-shaped, 166 hp). After 1994, the engine lineup was expanded with two petrol engines - 2.0 liters (4 cylinders, in-line, 134 hp) and 3.9 liters (8 cylinders, V-shaped, 182 hp).

An automatic transmission was only installed on the Discovery with a 3.9-liter petrol engine; other modifications had a manual transmission. All modifications feature all-wheel drive with the ability to manually lock the center differential using the transfer case.

The first Discovery underwent two modernizations: first in 1992, then in 1994. The interior was redesigned, and the headlights were replaced. It is also interesting that between 1992 and 1995, the Discovery was sold in Japan under the name Honda Crossroad.

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Discovery 2 it replaced the first one in 1998. The appearance was not very different from its predecessor, but it was a completely different car. Engineers made about 700 changes, although most of them were minor. The car's interior has become more comfortable and luxurious. The luggage compartment became larger, which increased the load on the rear part, resulting in reduced cross-country ability.

The most important change is that the all-wheel drive is now controlled electronically. Many people didn't like this. Some models were equipped with a hydraulic anti-roll bar control system, which reduced roll when cornering at speed.

The engines have also been updated. Now Discovery 2 is equipped with only two engines - a 4.0-liter petrol (8 cylinders, V-shaped, 185 hp) and a 2.5-liter diesel (5 cylinders, in-line, 138 hp). Both engines were equipped with either an automatic or manual transmission. This generation was produced until 2004.

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In 2004, the generation of this popular SUV changed and to the delight of fans, a Discovery 3. This is a completely new car, which has little in common with its predecessor. They wanted to replace the second generation for a long time, but in 2001 the Range Rover generation changed and this delayed the replacement of the Discovery.

One of the biggest changes is the fully independent air suspension. It allows you to change the vehicle's ground clearance on the move. For example, on the highway it is reduced for better control, while off-road, on the contrary, it is increased to improve geometric cross-country ability.

The Disco 3 was equipped with three types of engines: a 4.0-liter petrol (6 cylinders, V-shaped, 219 hp), gasoline 4.4 liters (8 cylinders, V-shaped, 295 hp) and a 2.7-liter diesel (6 cylinders, V-shaped, 200 hp). All cars had an automatic transmission; manual transmission was only available with the diesel engine.

Now the electronics completely controlled the traction control system. The anti-skid system, hill descent control, and traction control system all allow you to confidently drive off-road and not be afraid of slopes or wet roads.

The most important feature of this vehicle was the Terrain Response system developed by Land Rover. Previously, driving a vehicle on challenging off-road terrain required experience, skill, and in-depth knowledge of the vehicle. With this system, you select surface types ("mud and ruts," "grass, gravel, snow," "sand"), and the computer adjusts the suspension, gearbox, and locking modes, making it much easier for beginners to drive.

The design of the car has undergone significant changes. The interior has become a full-fledged seven-seater. Now 7 adults can comfortably fit in the car. A navigation system and DVD player were added. The car received many positive reviews, especially after a Top Gear appearance, when it was driven up the 307-meter-high Knock an Frisdane mountain, a climb no other car had ever reached.

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The next generation of this SUV appeared in 2009. Discovery 4 this is most likely an improvement and update of the previous generation. The car's design was changed, the Terrain Response system was improved, and many modern automotive features invented at that time were added.

These technologies include, for example, a 360-degree camera system, adaptive headlights, a TFT touchscreen display, various interfaces for connecting other electronic devices, a modern multimedia system and GPS navigator, etc.

The Discovery 4 is produced with four different engines. Two petrol - 4.0 liters (6 cylinders, V-shaped, 216 hp) and 5.0 liters (8 cylinders, V-shaped, 375 hp) and two 2.7-liter diesel engines (6 cylinders, V-shaped, 190 hp) and 3.0 liters (6 cylinders, V-shaped, 245 hp). All cars are equipped with automatic transmissions. Only the car with a 2.7-liter diesel engine can be purchased with a manual transmission.

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In 2016, the next generation with the code "L462" was introduced (which is considered the third) and the name Discovery 5 in the UK, and the car went on sale in early 2017. Based on the same platform as the Range Rover, it was initially produced in the UK, but in 2019, production moved to Slovakia. Both five- and seven-seat versions are available. The body length was 4970 mm, width 2000 mm, height 2193 kg (petrol) / 2230 kg (diesel).

The design was developed under the guidance of English automotive designer Gerard McGovern, who left JLR in 2025. The exterior has changed significantly compared to the overall boxy style of previous generations. It can be said that the design is very similar to the Discovery Sport, which was presented in 2014.

The Discovery 5 is built on a monocoque body rather than a frame. The car's chassis and body panels are made of aluminum, which has resulted in a significant reduction in weight (almost half a ton compared to the Discovery 4). The rear hatch is made of composite materials, the rear lights are now vertical (were previously horizontal). There were four trim levels (by degree of cost): S, SE, HSE, and HSE Luxury. Standard models feature coil spring suspension, while air suspension is optional. The interior now closely resembles that of other modern Land Rover models. The Terrain Response 2 system has also been updated.

The car was equipped with petrol and diesel engines. Petrol engines include the following models: 2.0 liter (1997 cm³, Si4/P300, R4, 300 hp) and 3.0 liters (2995 cm³, Si6, V6, 340 hp) and 3.0 liters (2996 cm³, P360, R6, 360 hp). Diesel engines are as follows: 2.0 liters (1999 cm³, TD4, 180 hp), 2.0 liters (1999 cm³, SD4/D240, 240 hp), 3.0 liters (2993 cm³, TD6, V6, 249 hp) and 3.0 liters (2993 cm³, SD6, V6, 306 hp). Gearbox - only 8-speed automatic ZF brand.

In November 2020, the model was restyled and went on sale as a 2001 model. The multimedia system screens were enlarged, and the 2.0-liter diesel engine was removed.

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Cars with similar characteristics to the Discovery are Audi Q7, BMW X5, Chevrolet Tahoe, Infiniti QX56, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Lexus GX, Mercedes G-Class, Mitsubishi Pajero, Nissan Patrol, Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, Porsche Cayenne.

Discovery Specifications

Name	Years of production	Engine	Power	Transmission	Doors
Discovery 1	1989-1998	3.5 / V8 / Gasoline	166 hp / 287 Nm	Manual transmission	3
		3.5 / V8 / Gasoline	155 hp / 261 Nm
		2.5 / L4 / Diesel	113 hp / 265 Nm
		2.5 / L4 / Diesel	113 hp / 265 Nm
	1995-1998	2.0 / L4 / Gasoline	134 hp / 312 Nm
		2.0 / L4 / Gasoline	111 hp / 265 Nm		5
	1990-1998	2.5 / L4 / Diesel	113 hp / 265 Nm
		3.5 / V8 / Gasoline	155 hp / 261 Nm
		3.5 / V8 / Gasoline	166 hp / 287 Nm
	1994-1998	3.5 / V8 / Gasoline	182 hp / 312 Nm
		3.5 / V8 / Gasoline	182 hp / 312 Nm	Automatic transmission
Discovery 2	1998-2004	2.5 / L4 / Diesel	138 hp / 300 Nm	Manual transmission	5
		2.5 / L4 / Diesel	138 hp / 300 Nm	Automatic transmission
		3.9 / V8 / Gasoline	185 hp / 340 Nm
		4.0 / V8 / Gasoline	185 hp / 340 Nm	Manual transmission
Discovery 3	2004-2009	2.7 / V6 / Diesel	200 hp / 440 Nm	Manual transmission	5
		2.7 / V6 / Diesel	200 hp / 440 Nm	Automatic transmission
		4.4 / V8 / Petrol	295 hp / 425 Nm
	2005-2008	4.0 / V6 / Petrol	219 hp / 360 Nm
Discovery 4	2009-2014	2.7 / V6 / Diesel	190 hp / 440 Nm	Manual transmission	5
		2.7 / V6 / Diesel	190 hp / 440 Nm	Automatic transmission
		4.0 / V6 / Petrol	216 hp / 360 Nm
		3.0 / V6 / Diesel	211 hp / 520 Nm
		3.0 / V6 / Diesel	245 hp / 600 Nm
		5.0 / V8 / Gasoline	375 hp / 510 Nm