Likes
- The looks
- The interior
- The driving experience
- The immense set of skills, abilities and image.
The Land Rover Discovery 5 is a large luxury SUV that is designed to provide a unique combination of off-road capability, luxury, and practicality. The fifth-generation of the Discovery was launched in 2017 and has received several updates and improvements since then.
The Discovery 5 is available in both petrol and diesel engines and is equipped with a sophisticated all-wheel-drive system that can handle any terrain and is capable of wading through water up to 900 mm deep.
Inside, the Discovery 5 offers ample space for seven passengers across three rows of seats, making it a great family car, though some come with 5 seats. The interior is designed with premium materials and advanced technology, including a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and more tech than you can shake a stick at.
Safety features in the Discovery 5 include automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. Additionally, the SUV has received a five-star safety rating from ANCAP in 2017..
The Land Rover Discovery 5 is not the most fuel-efficient SUV on the market, but it’s a highly capable and luxurious vehicle that can tackle any challenge. Overall, it’s a great option for those who prioritise off-road performance, practicality, and luxury.
Exterior:
There are plenty of reports of leaking sunroofs and windscreens. This can range from small amounts of water entering the cabin, however some owners have experienced more severe cases where the water leaks are so serious, it can impact the electronics which possibly impacts the airbag.
The real disappointment to this issue is that even though it’s a commonly reported problem, plenty of owners have been denied any sort of warranty help from Land Rover.
On the subject of electronics, pretty much anything electronic on the exterior has complaints attached to it. Door lock actuators and central locking issues, lighting issues, electric mirrors failing, if it’s electronic, it may have or possibly will have issues.
There are a few reports of the 360 surround cameras showing black screens and in a few instances, some cameras have been fitted incorrectly meaning the display may be the wrong way around or just wonky.
Air suspension systems can have a range of issues. Small air leaks commonly occur in the lines of air struts. This can then eventually lead to the suspension ‘sagging’ which then puts additional pressure on the air compressor, which has to compensate for the leak. The labour, time and expense repairing this will vary depending on the seriousness of the issue however, it is a Land Rover, parts and labour ask a premium.
Interior:
The electronic gremlins continue and they continue everywhere.
Firstly infotainment system can have a variety of problems. Best case scenario the system becomes slow and immensely frustrating to use, the bluetooth can drop out or not connect, the whole system can just either turn off or not even start which requires you to re-start the car.
In the worst case scenarios, the entire system has to be replaced and being a Land Rover, that won’t be cheap if it’s out of warranty.
More common on the HSE models apparently due to the extra tech and features, these models have a habit of draining the battery quite quickly. Apparently this is worse if the Disco is unlocked.
Steering problems are also somewhat apparent, some owners have reported instability or even wobbling whilst driving.
Mechanically:
Land Rover suggest Servicing every 26,000km under normal conditions or 10,000km under extreme conditions. However, if you drive your car in a hot climate or a cold climate, if you tow anything or drive off road, if you drive in stop start traffic, these are all considered extreme conditions.
As we’ve stated in other cheat sheets, even with modern synthetic oils, no engine will last with any type of extended service intervals and in a Discovery 5 where all of the engine options (petrols and diesels) are plagued with problems, you’re
Exterior:
There are plenty of reports of leaking sunroofs and windscreens. This can range from small amounts of water entering the cabin, however some owners have experienced more severe cases where the water leaks are so serious, it can impact the electronics which possibly impacts the airbag.
The real disappointment to this issue is that even though it’s a commonly reported problem, plenty of owners have been denied any sort of warranty help from Land Rover.
On the subject of electronics, pretty much anything electronic on the exterior has complaints attached to it. Door lock actuators and central locking issues, lighting issues, electric mirrors failing, if it’s electronic, it may have or possibly will have issues.
There are a few reports of the 360 surround cameras showing black screens and in a few instances, some cameras have been fitted incorrectly meaning the display may be the wrong way around or just wonky.
Air suspension systems can have a range of issues. Small air leaks commonly occur in the lines of air struts. This can then eventually lead to the suspension ‘sagging’ which then puts additional pressure on the air compressor, which has to compensate for the leak. The labour, time and expense repairing this will vary depending on the seriousness of the issue however, it is a Land Rover, parts and labour ask a premium.
Interior:
The electronic gremlins continue and they continue everywhere.
Firstly infotainment system can have a variety of problems. Best case scenario the system becomes slow and immensely frustrating to use, the bluetooth can drop out or not connect, the whole system can just either turn off or not even start which requires you to re-start the car.
In the worst case scenarios, the entire system has to be replaced and being a Land Rover, that won’t be cheap if it’s out of warranty.
More common on the HSE models apparently due to the extra tech and features, these models have a habit of draining the battery quite quickly. Apparently this is worse if the Disco is unlocked.
Steering problems are also somewhat apparent, some owners have reported instability or even wobbling whilst driving.
Mechanically:
Land Rover suggest Servicing every 26,000km under normal conditions or 10,000km under extreme conditions. However, if you drive your car in a hot climate or a cold climate, if you tow anything or drive off road, if you drive in stop start traffic, these are all considered extreme conditions.
As we’ve stated in other cheat sheets, even with modern synthetic oils, no engine will last with any type of extended service intervals and in a Discovery 5 where all of the engine options (petrols and diesels) are plagued with problems, you’re just asking for trouble if not serviced at least every 10,000km.
In regards to reported faults, the 4-cylinder petrol engines (the Ingenium engines) are well known for having a number of different timing chain issues. If you do manage to catch the timing chain before it fails and causes a catastrophic failure, because the engine is designed with the timing chains at the back of the engine, it’s either an engine out or transmission out procedure to fix it, and unsurprisingly, its eye-wateringly expensive.
The 4-cylinder diesel engines are designed the very same way and have the same problem. However, they also have diesel injector problems that have caused engine failure, there are plenty of reports about cracks in the engine block which requires a whole new engine and like all modern-day diesels, they have EGR cooler, DPF and turbo complications.
As for the 6-cylinders, the early versions had a V6 diesel (which is a Ford engine) and is arguably the pick of the bunch. It’s not perfect though with oil starvation and crankshaft failures on the list of common issues. It does have a timing belt so maintenance is more expensive but way cheaper than failed timing chains in the other engine options.
More recent versions received a straight 6 which is from the Ingenium family and so far, it does appear to be more reliable than the 4-cylinder versions although time will tell.
We should note, these are just the more common issues reported, the sheer number of reports of more sporadic mechanical, quality and electronic issues is honestly terrifying. It seems that every single element of the Disco can and quite often does have some sort of issue attached to it. As an example of inconsistencies in quality, the Disco might just take the cake.”
Recalls:
Exterior:
There are plenty of reports of leaking sunroofs and windscreens. This can range from small amounts of water entering the cabin, however some owners have experienced more severe cases where the water leaks are so serious, it can impact the electronics which possibly impacts the airbag.
The real disappointment to this issue is that even though it’s a commonly reported problem, plenty of owners have been denied any sort of warranty help from Land Rover.
On the subject of electronics, pretty much anything electronic on the exterior has complaints attached to it. Door lock actuators and central locking issues, lighting issues, electric mirrors failing, if it’s electronic, it may have or possibly will have issues.
There are a few reports of the 360 surround cameras showing black screens and in a few instances, some cameras have been fitted incorrectly meaning the display may be the wrong way around or just wonky.
Air suspension systems can have a range of issues. Small air leaks commonly occur in the lines of air struts. This can then eventually lead to the suspension ‘sagging’ which then puts additional pressure on the air compressor, which has to compensate for the leak. The labour, time and expense repairing this will vary depending on the seriousness of the issue however, it is a Land Rover, parts and labour ask a premium.
Interior:
The electronic gremlins continue and they continue everywhere.
Firstly infotainment system can have a variety of problems. Best case scenario the system becomes slow and immensely frustrating to use, the bluetooth can drop out or not connect, the whole system can just either turn off or not even start which requires you to re-start the car.
In the worst case scenarios, the entire system has to be replaced and being a Land Rover, that won’t be cheap if it’s out of warranty.
More common on the HSE models apparently due to the extra tech and features, these models have a habit of draining the battery quite quickly. Apparently this is worse if the Disco is unlocked.
Steering problems are also somewhat apparent, some owners have reported instability or even wobbling whilst driving.
Mechanically:
Land Rover suggest Servicing every 26,000km under normal conditions or 10,000km under extreme conditions. However, if you drive your car in a hot climate or a cold climate, if you tow anything or drive off road, if you drive in stop start traffic, these are all considered extreme conditions.
As we’ve stated in other cheat sheets, even with modern synthetic oils, no engine will last with any type of extended service intervals and in a Discovery 5 where all of the engine options (petrols and diesels) are plagued with problems, you’re just asking for trouble if not serviced at least every 10,000km.
In regards to reported faults, the 4-cylinder petrol engines (the Ingenium engines) are well known for having a number of different timing chain issues. If you do manage to catch the timing chain before it fails and causes a catastrophic failure, because the engine is designed with the timing chains at the back of the engine, it’s either an engine out or transmission out procedure to fix it, and unsurprisingly, its eye-wateringly expensive.
The 4-cylinder diesel engines are designed the very same way and have the same problem. However, they also have diesel injector problems that have caused engine failure, there are plenty of reports about cracks in the engine block which requires a whole new engine and like all modern-day diesels, they have EGR cooler, DPF and turbo complications.
As for the 6-cylinders, the early versions had a V6 diesel (which is a Ford engine) and is arguably the pick of the bunch. It’s not perfect though with oil starvation and crankshaft failures on the list of common issues. It does have a timing belt so maintenance is more expensive but way cheaper than failed timing chains in the other engine options.
More recent versions received a straight 6 which is from the Ingenium family and so far, it does appear to be more reliable than the 4-cylinder versions although time will tell.
We should note, these are just the more common issues reported, the sheer number of reports of more sporadic mechanical, quality and electronic issues is honestly terrifying. It seems that every single element of the Disco can and quite often does have some sort of issue attached to it. As an example of inconsistencies in quality, the Disco might just take the cake.”
Recalls:
Buying a used Land Rover Discovery is such a gamble.
Obviously not all Disco’s are rubbish, as we found through our research, there are countless owners out there that adore their examples and have never had even the slightest drama and ignoring any of the potential issues, the Disco is still one hell of an SUV.
Very few other vehicles offer such an immense set of skills, not to mention the fact the Disco wraps these skills in such a gorgeous, understated and classy aesthetic, or the fact it is still incredible to drive.
But we’re talking about used Disco’s with possibly no factory warranty and potentially not maintained with the fastidious care and attention they require.
Because of that, we’re sorry but it’s a no, you probably should not buy one, the very long list of potential issues, and the costs to repair them, are just too much risk.
Although, if you can categorically confirm the Disco’s history and you have immense cash reserves to throw at the Disco if (or when) things possibly go very wrong, in that case, sure why not, buy one.
Even then, when researching through countless reliability surveys and consumer reports, Land Rover as a brand often ranks as the worst manufacturer when it comes to reliability, and as impressive as the Disco is when it behaves, not only does it often rank at the bottom of its respective class, it’s proving to be arguably the very worst Land Rover or even Range Rover
Buying a used Land Rover Discovery is such a gamble.
Obviously not all Disco’s are rubbish, as we found through our research, there are countless owners out there that adore their examples and have never had even the slightest drama and ignoring any of the potential issues, the Disco is still one hell of an SUV.
Very few other vehicles offer such an immense set of skills, not to mention the fact the Disco wraps these skills in such a gorgeous, understated and classy aesthetic, or the fact it is still incredible to drive.
But we’re talking about used Disco’s with possibly no factory warranty and potentially not maintained with the fastidious care and attention they require.
Because of that, we’re sorry but it’s a no, you probably should not buy one, the very long list of potential issues, and the costs to repair them, are just too much risk.
Although, if you can categorically confirm the Disco’s history and you have immense cash reserves to throw at the Disco if (or when) things possibly go very wrong, in that case, sure why not, buy one.
Even then, when researching through countless reliability surveys and consumer reports, Land Rover as a brand often ranks as the worst manufacturer when it comes to reliability, and as impressive as the Disco is when it behaves, not only does it often rank at the bottom of its respective class, it’s proving to be arguably the very worst Land Rover or even Range Rover in general.
Buying a used Land Rover Discovery is such a gamble.
Obviously not all Disco’s are rubbish, as we found through our research, there are countless owners out there that adore their examples and have never had even the slightest drama and ignoring any of the potential issues, the Disco is still one hell of an SUV.
Very few other vehicles offer such an immense set of skills, not to mention the fact the Disco wraps these skills in such a gorgeous, understated and classy aesthetic, or the fact it is still incredible to drive.
But we’re talking about used Disco’s with possibly no factory warranty and potentially not maintained with the fastidious care and attention they require.
Because of that, we’re sorry but it’s a no, you probably should not buy one, the very long list of potential issues, and the costs to repair them, are just too much risk.
Although, if you can categorically confirm the Disco’s history and you have immense cash reserves to throw at the Disco if (or when) things possibly go very wrong, in that case, sure why not, buy one.
Even then, when researching through countless reliability surveys and consumer reports, Land Rover as a brand often ranks as the worst manufacturer when it comes to reliability, and as impressive as the Disco is when it behaves, not only does it often rank at the bottom of its respective class, it’s proving to be arguably the very worst Land Rover or even Range Rover in general.
Body Style:
5-door SUV
Engines:
2.0 litre 4-cylinder turbo diesel
3.0 litre V6 turbo diesel
3.0-litre 6-cylinder twin-turbo diesel
3.0-litre 6-cylinder turbo petrol
Power:
132kW – 2.0 litre 4-cylinder turbo diesel (TD4 S, TD4 SE, TD4 HSE, TD4 HSE Luxury)
177kW – 2.0 litre 4-cylinder turbo diesel (SD4 S, SD4 SE, SD4 HSE, SD4 HSE Luxury)
190kW – 3.0 litre V6 turbo diesel (TD6 S, TD6 SE, TD6 HSE, TD6 HSE Luxury, TD6 First Edition)
225kW – 3.0 litre V6 turbo diesel (SD6 S, SD6 SE, SDV6 Landmark Edition, SD6 HSE, SD6 HSE Luxury)
221kW – 3.0-litre 6-cylinder twin-turbo diesel (D 300 S, D 300 R-Dynamic S, D 300 SE, D 300 R-Dynamic SE, D 300 HSE, D 300 R-Dynamic HSE)
265kW – 3.0-litre 6-cylinder turbo petrol (P 300 R-Dynamic S, P 300 R-Dynamic SE, P 300 R-Dynamic HSE)
Torque:
430Nm – 2.0 litre 4-cylinder turbo diesel (TD4 S, TD4 SE, TD4 HSE, TD4 HSE Luxury)
500Nm – 2.0 litre 4-cylinder turbo diesel (SD4 S, SD4 SE, SD4 HSE, SD4 HSE Luxury)
600Nm – 3.0 litre V6 turbo diesel (TD6 S, TD6 SE, TD6 HSE, TD6 HSE Luxury, TD6 First Edition)
700Nm – 3.0 litre V6 turbo diesel (SD6 S, SD6 SE, SDV6 Landmark Edition, SD6 HSE, SD6 HSE Luxury)
650Nm – 3.0-litre 6-cylinder twin-turbo diesel (D 300 S, D 300 R-Dynamic S, D 300 SE, D 300 R-Dynamic SE, D 300 HSE, D 300 R-Dynamic HSE)
500Nm – 3.0-litre 6-cylinder turbo petrol (P 300 R-Dynamic S, P 300 R-Dynamic
Body Style:
5-door SUV
Engines:
2.0 litre 4-cylinder turbo diesel
3.0 litre V6 turbo diesel
3.0-litre 6-cylinder twin-turbo diesel
3.0-litre 6-cylinder turbo petrol
Power:
132kW – 2.0 litre 4-cylinder turbo diesel (TD4 S, TD4 SE, TD4 HSE, TD4 HSE Luxury)
177kW – 2.0 litre 4-cylinder turbo diesel (SD4 S, SD4 SE, SD4 HSE, SD4 HSE Luxury)
190kW – 3.0 litre V6 turbo diesel (TD6 S, TD6 SE, TD6 HSE, TD6 HSE Luxury, TD6 First Edition)
225kW – 3.0 litre V6 turbo diesel (SD6 S, SD6 SE, SDV6 Landmark Edition, SD6 HSE, SD6 HSE Luxury)
221kW – 3.0-litre 6-cylinder twin-turbo diesel (D 300 S, D 300 R-Dynamic S, D 300 SE, D 300 R-Dynamic SE, D 300 HSE, D 300 R-Dynamic HSE)
265kW – 3.0-litre 6-cylinder turbo petrol (P 300 R-Dynamic S, P 300 R-Dynamic SE, P 300 R-Dynamic HSE)
Torque:
430Nm – 2.0 litre 4-cylinder turbo diesel (TD4 S, TD4 SE, TD4 HSE, TD4 HSE Luxury)
500Nm – 2.0 litre 4-cylinder turbo diesel (SD4 S, SD4 SE, SD4 HSE, SD4 HSE Luxury)
600Nm – 3.0 litre V6 turbo diesel (TD6 S, TD6 SE, TD6 HSE, TD6 HSE Luxury, TD6 First Edition)
700Nm – 3.0 litre V6 turbo diesel (SD6 S, SD6 SE, SDV6 Landmark Edition, SD6 HSE, SD6 HSE Luxury)
650Nm – 3.0-litre 6-cylinder twin-turbo diesel (D 300 S, D 300 R-Dynamic S, D 300 SE, D 300 R-Dynamic SE, D 300 HSE, D 300 R-Dynamic HSE)
500Nm – 3.0-litre 6-cylinder turbo petrol (P 300 R-Dynamic S, P 300 R-Dynamic SE, P 300 R-Dynamic HSE)
Transmission & Drive:
8-speed automatic, four-wheel drive (4×4)
Fuel Consumption:
6.2 – 9.2L/100km
Length:
4970mm
Width:
2073mm
Height:
1888mm
Kerb Weight:
2193 – 2230kg
Towing (braked/unbraked)
3500/750kg
ANCAP rating:
5 stars (tested 2017)
Body Style:
5-door SUV
Engines:
2.0 litre 4-cylinder turbo diesel
3.0 litre V6 turbo diesel
3.0-litre 6-cylinder twin-turbo diesel
3.0-litre 6-cylinder turbo petrol
Power:
132kW – 2.0 litre 4-cylinder turbo diesel (TD4 S, TD4 SE, TD4 HSE, TD4 HSE Luxury)
177kW – 2.0 litre 4-cylinder turbo diesel (SD4 S, SD4 SE, SD4 HSE, SD4 HSE Luxury)
190kW – 3.0 litre V6 turbo diesel (TD6 S, TD6 SE, TD6 HSE, TD6 HSE Luxury, TD6 First Edition)
225kW – 3.0 litre V6 turbo diesel (SD6 S, SD6 SE, SDV6 Landmark Edition, SD6 HSE, SD6 HSE Luxury)
221kW – 3.0-litre 6-cylinder twin-turbo diesel (D 300 S, D 300 R-Dynamic S, D 300 SE, D 300 R-Dynamic SE, D 300 HSE, D 300 R-Dynamic HSE)
265kW – 3.0-litre 6-cylinder turbo petrol (P 300 R-Dynamic S, P 300 R-Dynamic SE, P 300 R-Dynamic HSE)
Torque:
430Nm – 2.0 litre 4-cylinder turbo diesel (TD4 S, TD4 SE, TD4 HSE, TD4 HSE Luxury)
500Nm – 2.0 litre 4-cylinder turbo diesel (SD4 S, SD4 SE, SD4 HSE, SD4 HSE Luxury)
600Nm – 3.0 litre V6 turbo diesel (TD6 S, TD6 SE, TD6 HSE, TD6 HSE Luxury, TD6 First Edition)
700Nm – 3.0 litre V6 turbo diesel (SD6 S, SD6 SE, SDV6 Landmark Edition, SD6 HSE, SD6 HSE Luxury)
650Nm – 3.0-litre 6-cylinder twin-turbo diesel (D 300 S, D 300 R-Dynamic S, D 300 SE, D 300 R-Dynamic SE, D 300 HSE, D 300 R-Dynamic HSE)
500Nm – 3.0-litre 6-cylinder turbo petrol (P 300 R-Dynamic S, P 300 R-Dynamic SE, P 300 R-Dynamic HSE)
Transmission & Drive:
8-speed automatic, four-wheel drive (4×4)
Fuel Consumption:
6.2 – 9.2L/100km
Length:
4970mm
Width:
2073mm
Height:
1888mm
Kerb Weight:
2193 – 2230kg
Towing (braked/unbraked)
3500/750kg
ANCAP rating:
5 stars (tested 2017)
Warranty:
3 years/100,00kms
5 years/unlimited kms (from April 2021)
Servicing:
12 months/26,000kms
Have ultimate peace of mind when buying a used car by purchasing an official PPSR report.
Please note that pricing information is subject to fluctuations in the automotive market.
Information correct as of March 03, 2023.
The advice provided on this website is general advice only. It has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on this advice, you should consider the appropriateness of the advice, having regard to your own objectives, financial situation and needs.
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