2.7-litre turbo-diesel wagon6-speed auto $74,990
They don't come much bigger than the Land Rover Discovery. But if it's serious four-wheel driving you're after, they don't come much better either. Australia is a place where 4WDs often are used to their full capability. At the serious end of the 4WD market, competition for the car buyer's dollar is particularly fierce.
However, as the engineering and design of 4WDs has improved, buyers no longer need to accept a compromise between off-road capability and on-road comfort and performance. Accordingly, the judges were again impressed with the well-rounded performance of the Land Rover's 'Disco' 3 diesel, which again scored top of the most rugged class of all.
Land Rover Discovery 3 diesel is clearly at the quality end of the all-terrain 4WD market. It gives buyers the best list of standard features, along with the highest levels of safety and security in the class. While that means some additional dollars lost to depreciation, it is not the most expensive vehicle in the class. Prospective buyers can rest assured that once they are comfortable with the dollars, they will have one of the best-engineered 4WD vehicles on the market.
Notably, however, the warranty on offer is still nowhere near the best in this category. Although the general ride and handling characteristics of the whole of this segment has improved over the past couple of years, the Discovery has made the most ground with a tangibly better on-road handling and driving feel. This is not just the result of good suspension geometry, but good wheel control through the full range of travel, more accurate steering than expected in this group and adjustable air springs, all of which help belie its size and weight.
The V6 diesel engine is the pick of the Land Rover powerplants, providing good performance as well as good fuel economy, which is no mean engineering feat. But the diesel comes at a hefty $11,000 hit to the wallet compared to its petrol sibling. The strong pulling power of the diesel is complemented by the refined six-speed automatic, and the driveline always feels smooth. A feature of the Discovery's 4WD system is the ability to adjust the suspension via a selector dial on the centre console to cope with different road and off-road conditions. There is also an electronic hill-descent control button.
At full suspension height, the approach and departure angles, as well as the overall ground clearance, will handle even the worst bush tracks, while the degree of selectable suspension control means it does not dance around at higher speeds on corrugated roads. The Discovery's generous cabin space is complemented by some clever interior design work. This is particularly evident in the good seating comfort throughout and the adult space available in the third-row seats.
Also, the rear-seat folding mechanism, which transforms the rear into a useable hard floor, is a work of art. Discovery has grown in girth over the years and it now weighs 2.4 tonnes. Like most large 4WDs, it is not only less environmentally friendly but is also a noticeably more cumbersome vehicle than a conventional wagon to live with around the suburbs. But if a full-size 4WD is the only thing on your shopping list, or towing is a prime requirement, then this is one of the best vehicles for the job.
Finalists Mitsubishi Pajero VRX CDi; Toyota Prado GXL Diesel
Source: www.australiasbestcars.com.au
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