Land Rover Discovery 4 (2009 – 2017) Review

Land Rover Discovery 4 (2009 – 2017) At A Glance

4/5

+Imperious on and off-road, hugely practical, more desirable than the current Discovery, refined and high-quality interior.

-High running costs, reliability and quality issues, a little old-fashioned.

Insurance Groups are between 38–40
On average it achieves 87% of the official MPG figure

The Land Rover Discovery 4 is one of the best SUVs in the world. If you demand proper off-road ability to go with your spacious and luxurious family car, the ‘Disco’ is arguably the only choice for the price. It’s a car that bridges the gap between authentic 4x4 workhorses like the Toyota Land Cruiser and Mitsubishi Shogun, and premium road-going SUVs like the BMW X5 and Volvo XC90. It’s not perfect, for reasons which we’ll explain in a moment, but it speaks volumes that the Discovery 4 remains in such high demand.

An evolution rather than a revolution: the Land Rover Discovery 4 was a comprehensive revamp of the Discovery 3, with Land Rover taking the best bits of the earlier model, then making improvements across the board. The result was a Discovery that felt closer to a Range Rover than ever before.

 

Launched in 2009, the Discovery 4 enjoyed a long production run, with loyal owners growing to love its compelling blend of on-road comfort, off-road brilliance and interior space. Thanks to seven seats, the Discovery 4 became a favourite of school-run parents who didn’t fancy owning a humdrum MPV. More than a decade on, the Discovery 4 remains as desirable as ever, maybe more so than the current model.

 

It has everything going for it. The chunky and upmarket styling wouldn’t look out of place in the Land Rover range today – many people prefer it to the softer and controversial look of the current Discovery. Inside, the Discovery 4 also feels noticeably more upmarket than the Discovery 3, even if elements like the infotainment system and trim materials are beginning to show their age.

 

This thing is huge. Even in seven-seat mode, boot space is on a par with a supermini. If the third row of seats isn’t required, luggage capacity rivals a large estate car, while a Discovery 4 in two-seat mode is cavernous enough to shame a large van. Crucially, the rearmost seats are suitable for teenagers. This isn’t always the case in a seven-seat SUV.

 

All versions come with a V6 diesel engine and an automatic transmission. As a basic guide, the later the Discovery 4, the better it will be. The 2.7-litre TDV6 diesel was a hangover from the Discovery 3 and isn’t up to the challenge of powering this goliath of an SUV. The 3.0-litre TDV6 is preferable. Better still, opt for the later 3.0-litre SDV6 diesel, which is both more efficient and more powerful. As for automatic transmissions, the six-speed unit is adequate, but the eight-speed gearbox is more flexible.

 

Buying a Land Rover Discovery 4 makes most sense if you intend to venture off-road. Few cars are as good as tackling the rough stuff as a ‘Disco’, so you’re free to climb every mountain and ford every stream. Thanks to a maximum towing capacity of 3,500kg, it’s also ideal for towing a caravan or large trailer.

 

So what are the drawbacks? Running costs are one. The sheer weight of the Discovery 4 means that its diesel engine has to work incredibly hard, so fuel economy will be poor. Then there’s the cost of parts and maintenance. The complex software and hardware will be expensive to fix when something goes wrong. Note the use of the word ‘when’.

 

Which is why we recommend buying a Discovery 4 via the Land Rover approved used scheme while you still can. You’ll pay more for a later model, but these are the best resolved of the crop, and the warranty should provide some initial reassurance.

Ask Honest John

How can I Insure my children on my Discovery?

"I drive a 2015 Discovery 4 and I am trying to add my children to the insurance policy as I am fed up with having to do all the driving. My eldest (daughter) was born in 2001 and has had her licence for 5 years whilst my other child (son) has had his licence for 4 years. Neither have had any claims made against them but still I am unable to insure them on my car, even just for a week or two. Do you have any advice?"
Assuming your children do not have any no claims bonus, the issue is that your Land Rover is a large vehicle and is in a high insurance group. Although your children have had their licences for some years they are still seen as inexperienced, and it is likely that insurance companies see them using your Land Rover as too great a risk. If shopping around and using price comparison sites has not yielded any success, the best option may be to consider a second car for them to use. A cheap city car will have the lowest insurance group and result in the smallest possible premiums, and also allow them to build up experience behind the wheel and the crucial no-claims bonus. Even if you were able to insure them on your Land Rover, a second car may still work out to be the cheaper option.
Answered by David Ross

Why is my Land Rover Discovery 4 steering wheel wobbling when I brake?

"My Land Rover Discovery 4 steering wheel wobbles at braking from 70mph to 50mph. The dealer replaced the front lower arms bushes but the problem came back after 30 minutes drive. Then they said the front brake discs are warped and need replacement. However, the front brake discs were only replaced last September and I did only 3,500 miles. They blamed it on our driving behaviour (constant heavy braking) but it is our family car for holiday use only and we never go over speed with young children abroad! Can you advise what could cause the wobbling issue?"
It reads like a typical case of warped brake rotors/discs. Warping occurs when you sit on the brakes for long periods. It traditionally happens when you drive down a steep hill with the brakes applied constantly - this causes the pads to overheat and damage the discs or cause uneven wear. If the warping is causing the steering wheel to vibrate then I would argue this is a very serious safety issue. However, I'm disappointed to read that the dealer didn't inspect the brakes before replacing the bushes. I would suggest taking your car to an independent Land Rover specialist as the cost of the repair will be cheaper: https://good-garage-guide.honestjohn.co.uk/directory/search?name=&postcode=&region=&service=Land+Rover
Answered by Dan Powell

My car has been parked up for a long time - does it need a full service before going back on the road?

"My Land Rover Discovery has been garaged for a very long time. We intend to use the vehicle again in the winter and have requested a basic service in order to have all the fluids changed and the vehicle inspected. The dealer says the distance covered is immaterial and the service interval is based on time. I can understand that that as far as replacing the fluids is concerned but as it hasn't moved for the best part of a year is anything other than a visual inspection as well as the basic service I have requested necessary? The difference in cost is not small."
Your car has been off the road for a relatively long time so I would personally give it the full service (although I can understand why that would sting when you have barely used it). Service intervals are measured in time as much as mileage covered.
Answered by Russell Campbell

Can you recommend a used, seven-seater that's ULEZ compliant?

"I have a 2015 Land Rover Discovery 4. I live in London and it does not comply with the ULEZ regulations coming into force in October 2021. I need a second-hand seven-seater that does comply. I like the Disco 4 as it is roomy. Are there other makes that are comparable and ULEZ compliant? My budget is around £32,000? "
Skoda Kodiaq, Volvo XC90 or the Hyundai Santa Fe. All are large, comfortable and available with seven-seats. I would also add the Kia Sorento to the shortlist, it's the only model to come with a seven-year-warranty. A budget of £32,000 would get you a near-new Sorento with the majority of its warranty still left to run: https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/cars-for-sale/search/Kia/Sorento/?l=0&p2=35000&s=PriceDesc
Answered by Dan Powell
More Questions

What does a Land Rover Discovery 4 (2009 – 2017) cost?