Used Land Rover Discovery for sale: everything you need to know

The Land Rover Discovery isn’t the sales force it once was due to the arrival of the super-stylish new Land Rover Defender. However, it still has a part to play as a family-focused seven-seater with plentiful space for all. When it comes to the best SUVs on sale, the Land Rover Discovery still makes a strong case for itself in the used market.

The Land Rover Discovery is superb off-road – virtually unstoppable no matter what the terrain – and it's one of the best towing vehicles around: it’s rated to haul a full 3.5 tonnes. That’s great news for caravanners looking to haul even the largest dual-axle vans. Add in its more refined, luxurious appearance and it still serves a role as the more understated alternative to the fashionable Land Rover Defender. 

Land Rover Discovery rivals include the BMW X5, the advanced Audi Q7 and the Mercedes-Benz GLE, although none is as capable off-road as the Land Rover.

There is of course its smaller and cheaper to buy counterpart, the Land Rover Discovery Sport. If you’re thinking of buying one of Land Rover’s most well-known SUVs, take a look at a Land Rover Discovery for sale on heycar to discover just what’s on offer.

Should you buy a Land Rover Discovery? 

Perhaps the controversial rear-end styling hasn’t helped, but the fifth-generation Land Rover Discovery seems to have fallen out of favour with used car buyers.

This doesn’t mean the Land Rover Discovery isn’t a good car to buy, though. It’s the most family-friendly Land Rover for starters, with an extremely roomy and practical interior that has up to five Isofix child seat mountings as standard. The flexible boot is practical and higher-grade models get electric-folding rear seats to make things even easier. 

The offset rear number plate remains a divisive design detail, but the hatchback-style tailgate with its fold-down lower section is practical (and provides a handy seat for when you’re taking off muddy boots). 

The Land Rover Discovery is a beautifully refined car to drive. Its height-adjustable air suspension gives a cushioned ride and the six-cylinder engines are all gems – yes, even the diesels are refined. A high-quality interior is Range Rover-like and the Pivi Pro infotainment system is brilliant. 

As it doesn’t offer plug-in hybrid technology, this large and heavy SUV isn't the most fuel-efficient of machines, despite its mild hybrid tech on most versions from the facelift in 2021. But it’s about as economical as you’ll find for a vehicle this capable, which is why those who tow regularly swear by it. The same is true for owners who drive off-road, where the Land Rover Discovery's immense ability (and bespoke Land Rover tech, such as Adaptive Dynamics and Terrain Response) make it virtually unstoppable. 

The Land Rover Discovery is focused on plentiful practicality and convenience for large families, with endless neat touches that show great attention to detail. Get over the oddball rear-end styling and take a second look at the Land Rover Discovery. You might be surprised at what you discover.

A Land Rover Discovery not for you? We've got 1000s of used cars for sale to suit all budgets and needs.

What's the best used Land Rover Discovery model to buy?

Land Rover has chopped and changed the engine range quite a bit in the Discovery's lifespan, so the offering very much depends on your budget and demands.

More recently, the core offering is the Land Rover Discovery D250, a 2.0-litre diesel unit with 249PS, and despite being essentially the entry-level option it's a sounds choice. Unless you plan to do some serious towing, it's plenty quick enough with just enough torque to make for a relaxing drive. 

There's also a Land Rover Discovery D300 3.0-litre diesel option with 300PS and 650Nm of torque, which is perfect for towing and endows the Discovery with a real turn of speed. It's will broadly offer the same fuel consumption as the 2.0-litre diesel.

The Land Rover Discovery P360 petrol is a 2.0-litre turbocharged unit offering 360PS and 500Nm of torque, and although it's quick and powerful it's also thirsty in a car of this size and weight, so it's only really worth consideration if you absolutely can't deal with owning a diesel.

Earlier Discoverys were offered with 2.0-litre petrol or diesel engines, and a 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel. We'd avoid the petrol as it struggles to cope with the car's considerable size, even if it was much lighter than its predecessor. The smaller diesel is fine for most driving duties, but it's the V6 turbodiesel that offers the best performance and refinement, and with little fuel economy difference compared to the 2.0-litre motor.

A 340PS 3.0 V6 petrol is quiet and punchy when it comes to its turn of speed, but 26mpg will rule it out for all but the most dedicated petrol-focused used car buyers.

The S and SE trim grades come with enough luxury kit to be getting on with, but you want a car like the Discovery to feel truly special, and for that you need the creature comforts that HSE trim provides, stuff like upgraded leather upholstery, adaptive cruise control, a hands-free powered tailgate, heated rear seats and a fixed panoramic roof.

Used Land Rover Discovery fuel economy and performance

Land Rover cut back the Discovery engine line-up to just three options in 2021, all with six smooth-running cylinders. They’re all mild-hybrid motors and diesel dominates sales with used buyers, while a high-power petrol gives used buyers another alternative. 

Every Land Rover Discovery has all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission, along with Land Rover’s comprehensive air suspension featuring and Terrain Response tech for superb off-road ability. 

Here are the engine options available twith the Land Rover Discovery. 

• Land Rover Discovery D250 diesel: The entry-level 3.0-litre straight-six turbodiesel does 0-62mph in 8.1 seconds, and even this engine is rated to tow 3.5 tonnes. CO2 emissions start from 219g/km and it officially averages 33.8mpg. 
• Land Rover Discovery D300 diesel: Boosting the 3.0-litre diesel engine to 300PS helps cut 0-62mph acceleration to 6.8 seconds. Yet it’s still economical, averaging 33.4mpg. 
• Land Rover Discovery P360 petrol: The punchy P360 is again a 3.0-litre straight-six turbo engine, this time fuelled by petrol. Zero to 62mph isn’t significantly faster than the diesel, taking 6.5 seconds, and there’s a hit to fuel economy; it averages just 26.5mpg and emits 240g/km CO2. You’d have to really hate diesel to pick it over the D300.

Older Land Rover Discovery models offer a broader range of engines, including the surprisingly effective 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel. But it’s best with a six-cylinder 3.0-litre V6 diesel motor. From later in 2020, these all gained mild hybrid tech to save (a little) fuel in everyday driving. 

What used Land Rover Discovery trim levels are available?

Land Rover has more recently focused the Discovery model range around the stylish R-Dynamic pack these days. It comes as standard on all but the entry-level version, adding around a £3,000 premium that many judge to be well worth it.

Earlier Discovery models were offered in S, SE and HSE trims, with the HSE Luxury topping the lot. These trims closely follow the newer trims.

• The Land Rover Discovery S is the entry-level Land Rover Discovery and the only version not available with the sporty R-Dynamic styling pack. Even this version has a good standard specification. 
• The Land Rover Discovery R-Dynamic S gets the R-Dynamic design pack, which includes a black roof, satin grey alloys, rear privacy glass and darkened rear lights.
• The Land Rover Discovery R-Dynamic SE brings bigger alloys, upgraded LED headlights and an improved sound system. A driver-assist pack boosts active safety. 
• The Land Rover Discovery R-Dynamic HSE is the most well-equipped mainstay Land Rover Discovery. The alloy wheels grow in size again, headlights are improved to Matrix LED units, Windsor leather upholstery features inside, and the Meridian sound system is upgraded to 700W. 
• The Land Rover Discovery Metropolitan is a special edition version with a high spec and some unique styling features outside and in. 
• The Land Rover Discovery Commercial is a two-seat van version of the Land Rover Discovery – although you’d never know it unless you look up-close. It’s also nicely finished inside. Land Rover offers it in SE, R-Dynamic SE and R-Dynamic HSE guises, with spec levels mirroring the passenger car versions. 

Used Land Rover Discovery dimensions and boot size

The Land Rover Discovery’s exterior dimensions are: 

• Length: 4956mm
• Width: 2073mm (with door mirrors folded)
• Height: 1888mm
• Ground clearance: 207mm (up to 283mm in off-road mode)

The Land Rover Discovery’s boot space is:

• 922 litres in five-seat mode (172 litres in seven-seat mode)
• 1997 litres with rear seats folded

Used Land Rover Discovery road tax

Land Rover launched the fifth generation of Discovery right when the change to road tax has since taken effect. As a result, all but a tiny handful of the very earliest Discoverys on the road in the UK will all pay the standard rate of £180 per year for road tax.

Given that small number of early cars will pay more for road tax than those registered from 1 April 2017, it's worth choosing one that was registered after this date to save yourself a few quid for an otherwise identical car.

How much is it to insure a Land Rover Discovery? 

The Land Rover Discovery is likely to prove a fairly expensive vehicle to insure. The entry-level Land Rover Discovery S with the D250 engine has a group 38 (out of 50) insurance rating, which the more stylish R-Dynamic S increases to group 39. The P300 petrol (which is now being phased out) starts from group 39, too. Moving up to a D300 sees insurance ratings start from group 41, the same as the P360, while top-spec Land Rover Discovery models have a group 45 insurance rating.

Earlier models all sit in similar insurance groups depending on the engine and trim level, but reckon groups between 40 and 45 when it comes to your annual premium.

Read our full Land Rover Discovery review