Land Rover Discovery
Is a four-cylinder petrol engine suitable?
DIESEL ENGINES AND Land Rovers. They go together like fish and chips, bangers and mash, tea and biscuits, bread and butter… you get the idea. Not only are they both British preoccupations, but they also complement each other perfectly, diesel engines typically providing both better fuel economy and plenty of low-down grunt for off-roading.
So why, you might ask, is the Discovery you see before you fitted with a small turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine? Well, it would seem that large SUVS have finally fallen victim to the hysteria that is now surrounding diesels.
But don’t think this move towards petrol power is simply a marketing ploy. We’ve previously tested the Discovery’s new 2.0-litre Si4 engine in two very different applications and have been impressed with its refined nature and punchy performance. It also offers a cheaper entry point into the Discovery range and, on paper at least, looks like it could be a match for the TD6 V6 diesel for performance.
But, of course, outright acceleration isn’t all that important in heavy family SUVS. Indeed, that’s why we aren’t too fond of the rangetopping 3.0-litre supercharged petrol V6. Because despite the fact that it’s the quickest model in the Discovery range, it has to be worked hard to deliver its best performance.
There’s no such problem with the 2.0-litre unit. With maximum grunt on tap from just 1500rpm (versus 3500rpm for the petrol V6), the Discovery accelerates with an urgency than belies its two-tonne kerb weight. And there’s even a slight dynamic advantage if you opt for the Si4, because it has less weight over the nose than the heavier diesels, in turn giving the Discovery a slightly sharper front end.
Our only concern is over fuel economy, with our Si4 test car struggling to return more than 25mpg. Load it up with people and gear and we reckon it might dip into the high teens – not ideal for a car that has been designed to excel on long-distance journeys.
However, economy concerns aside, for those who have been waiting for a well-rounded seven-seat petrol SUV, the Discovery should be at the top of your list.