Land Rover Discovery 3 (2004 – 2009) Review

Land Rover Discovery 3 (2004 – 2009) At A Glance

3/5

+Immensely competent in all environments from serious off roading and towing to motorways and country lanes. Handsome looks. Roomy, classy full seven-seater

-Heavy and not very fuel efficient. Still suffering quality problems and demoted from four to three stars because of them.

Insurance Groups are between 33–37
On average it achieves 90% of the official MPG figure

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Child seats that fit a Land Rover Discovery 3 (2004 – 2009)

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Real MPG average for a Land Rover Discovery 3 (2004 – 2009)

RealMPG

Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.

Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.

Average performance

90%

Real MPG

13–34 mpg

MPGs submitted

306

Diesel or petrol? If you're unsure whether to go for a petrol or diesel (or even an electric model if it's available), then you need our Petrol or Diesel? calculator. It does the maths on petrols, diesels and electric cars to show which is best suited to you.

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Ask Honest John

Can you recommend a large car to replace my Discovery 3?

"I currently drive a Land Rover Discovery 3 (2004), which I'm looking to replace. I need something with a big boot for 2 large dogs and capable of towing a caravan. I love my Discovery not only for its capability but how comfortable and easy it is on a long journey. I'm looking at up to three years old with a max budget of £22,500 and assume a diesel is still the best option. I doubt there is an electric vehicle that can fulfil my needs but would be pleased if you can suggest one! Any suggestions welcome."
If it's a small, lightweight caravan and you regularly cover short journeys, a petrol or hybrid might be a better option. Otherwise, stick with a diesel. We'd recommend a Skoda Kodiaq – your budget will get a 2017 model with a 2.0-litre diesel engine and four-wheel drive. It's got a big boot and will be cheap to run, while its 2000kg towing capacity is enough for a fairly hefty caravan. We'd also recommend a Kia Sorento or Hyundai Santa Fe.
Answered by Andrew Brady

What should I do if I misfuel?

"What will happen to a Land Rover Discovery 3 if it's misfuelled?"
Depends on how much of the wrong fuel was poured in. Less than 10 litres, a dose of diesel treatment with lubricity enhancer and the use of superdiesel from now on and forever may help as long as you do not let the tank run below half full for 2000 miles. More than 10 litres, I'd start to worry and have the tank drained.
Answered by Honest John

Will a Ford Transit van tow a Coachman caravan?

"I'm looking at a 2016 LWB crew cab Ford Transit van 2.2, 155PS. I was wondering if you know if it would tow my caravan, it's a 2009 Coachman Laser 645. I have an old Land Rover Discovery 3 at present and I cannot afford to replace it."
Depends on which model Transit 2.2 TDCI you have, but towing weights range from 2.0 - 2.5 tonnes. This is usually enough to tow your average sized caravan. Owning to the fact your van is still quite new, I'd double check with the dealer to find out exactly what your van's towing limit it is first. However, check what the van's Gross Train Weight (GTW) is first as this will tell you its maximum permitted weight of the vehicle plus any trailer being towed and its respective load. You can find a vehicle’s weight limits in the owner’s manual and they are usually detailed on a plate or sticker somewhere on the vehicle itself. This might be on the body behind the driver’s door, on the back of the fuel filler cap or in the engine bay, for example. You should never exceed the GTW.
Answered by Dan Powell

Can I ask Land Rover to pay for my gearbox failure due to their inaccurate service schedule?

"Land Rover state in their service schedule that the oil in the automatic gearbox should be changed at 150,000 miles or 10 years. Mine has done 115,000 miles and the gearbox requires an expensive rebuild due to oil failure. Gearbox experts say that ideally the oil in that gearbox should be changed every 30,000 miles and will rarely last more than 70,000 miles without causing damage. Could I ask Land Rover to pay the full amount due to their somewhat unrealistic expectation and take them to the small claims court if they refuse to pay?"
JLR has been overestimating the life of transmission fluid for 20 years or more. The experts are right. But I've never heard of anyone succeeding in a case against JLR for premature failure as a result of their bad advice. When they say things like "sealed for life", they mean a "life" of 80,000 - 100,000 miles.
Answered by Honest John
More Questions

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