Category Archives: Motor reviews

AWD, Land Rover, Manufacturer, Motor reviews, SUV, SUV/4X4, Vehicle type

Another Landmark for Disco

Leave a comment

Land Rover Discovery

By Bill McCarthy

THIRTY years of producing a model is something of a landmark, so it should come as no surprise that Land Rover’s special edition Discovery is called, you’ve guessed it, the Landmark.

The vehicle has notched up 300 awards since its 1989 introduction and goes from strength to strength.

It’s reputation and capability is legendary, whether posing at the school gates, towing the horsebox to the gymkhana or navigating fast flowing rivers and mud tracks in the the Amazon.

And it looks like a landmark, a huge premium vehicle with a commanding road presence.

It does look good, based on the SE model but with the addition of Dynamic Exterior Pack which includes unique Landmark badging, bumper design, and black mesh grille and vents plus black nameplate lettering on the bonnet and tailgate.

There are also two fixed, front and rear panoramic roofs, with sliding cover, front fog lights  privacy glass and 20-inch gloss black alloy wheels and an upgraded sound system.

Key features include a seven-seat setup, where the rearmost pair fold into the boot floor, clever storage options and its even pet friendly with with special provision to make your canine pal comfortable.

At the touch of a button the rear suspension can be lowered to allow the dog to jump on board via the powered interior tailgate and settle into a prepared comfortable area.

The Discovery name is now in vintage territory, but in desirablity terms, remains as fresh as ever

A visual road presence, but still first among equals in terms of off-road capability as all-wheel drive technology advances at a pace. It also costs a wedge to buy, with this model a cool £57,350 price tag, although with a PCP  deal  it can be available for around £499 per month.

It has proven over the years that it can almost go anywhere and technology includes All Terrain Progress Control, which enables drivers to set and maintain a steady speed in tricky conditions. It is available alongside Terrain Response 2, offering a number of driving modes and class-leading wading depth of 900mm. Add to this a towing capacity of 3.5 tonnes and you have a top notch off roader.

JLR is on the road to electrification, but in the meantime, that has taken a back seat for this model with a choice of two two-litre diesel engine set-ups available in  240bhp SD4 and 306bhp SD6 power units.

The 240bhp ingenium unit in this case offers plenty of pulling power and better economy than the higher spec engine, but loses out with performance. Having said that, it pulls the two tonne-plus beast to 60mph in an impressive 8.3 seconds via a slick eight speed gearbox, with a top speed of 121mph.

On the road, the car is a pleasant place to be with the refined engine, barely audible and extensive soundproofing cutting out exterior noise from road and wind. It is expecially relaxed when cruising on the motorway.

The inside is packed with premium kit, high quality soft touch finish, leather seats, heated this and electrically operated that, plus acres of room.

This version offers a choice of Ebony or Acorn grained leather with  satin brushed centre console and unique aluminium mesh finisher, plus the 380W Meridian Sound System. This is operated via the state-of-the-art 10 inch Touchscreen (InControl Touch Pro) which incorporates  navigation, TV,  Bluetooth connectivity,  DAB radio and connnectivity via  Wi-Fi Hotspot, various apps and smart phone connectivity.

Large glass areas allow plenty of light into the cabin as does the double panoramic roof while head and leg room is plentfiful for all, as you would expect in a vehicle this size.

Boot space with the rearmost seats stowed away is impressive and neat touches are the powered interior and exterior tailgate for ease of loading.Stowage space ranges from  258 litres to a maximum of 2,406.

In vehicle name and model terms, the Discovery name is now in vintage territory, but in desirablity terms, remains as fresh as ever, if you can afford it.

Factfile

Land Rover Discovery SD4 Landmark 240ps

Price: £57,495

Mechanical: 240bhp, 1,998cc, 4cyl diesel engine driving four wheels wheels via 8-speed automatic gearbox

Max speed: 121mph

0-62mph: 8.3. seconds

Combined mpg: 30-33

Insurance group: 18

CO2 emissions: 197g/km

Warranty: 3yrs/100,000 miles

Manufacturer, Motor reviews, SEAT, SUV/4X4

A worthy flagship

Leave a comment

SEAT Tarraco

By Bill McCarthy

SEAT has long been known as the sporty looking arm of the VW family, featuring sharp, angular styling with natty trim flourishes and smartly-designed light clusters and alloy wheels.

So the trick for the Spanish-based firm was to adapt to the rising demand for crossover/SUVs.

With the Arona, then the Ateca and then the flagship Tarraco it has achieved this with practicality and some élan.

The Tarraco, says  the firm, is designed for drivers who need the usefulness of a seven-seater and the practicality of a higher driving position but are conscious of a vehicle’s aesthetics and appreciate the balance between self-confidence, elegance and sportiness. 

The range topper driven here is packed with bells, whistles and gizmos found on motors costing considerably more

Market speak I know, but you can see what they are getting at with sculptured exterior design, high end  interior and impressive selection of power units, this case a lively two litre unit. (There are three petrol and two diesel variants on offer)

The Tarraco – named after the old name for the Spanish port of Tarragona – is a big seven seat motor a flagship in all respects with high quality fixtures and fittings.

 Very importantly it has a huge cargo area, with from 230 litres with seats in situ, to 700 litres with the rearmost folded  and 1,775 with all the seats folded, which makes it hugely practical. There are also plenty of other pockets and cubby holes throughout.

A big car, but not cheap and cheeful as they start at just over £28k with this model nearly £34k. Having said that the range topper driven here is packed with bells, whistles and gizmos found on motors costing considerably more.

It does look good with sporty grille design flanked by angular LED technology headlights, which, says SEAT, retains the company’s triangular signature. Add to this ultra-smart alloy wheels, integrated roof bars and raked bonnet and it is perhaps the sportiest looking SUV to be found.

The interior more than matches the outside with elegance and practicality and a mixture of soft and hard touch plastic trim.

Like many, the traditional dash and dials is more of a 12.8 inch wide ‘cockpit’ , with a  touch screen controlling major functions.

Five are seated comfortably, with adjustable, Alcantara trimmed powered seats at the front on this model.

There is ample head and legroom, but less so for the third row which are cramped.

The connectivity and infotainment system are controlled via a pretty much eye-level ‘floating’ screen. This is the brains controlling navigation system, music and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone and wireless connectivity where fitted.

On the road the 150PS diesel is a refined and impressive performer, meaning the sporty looks are complemented by the sporty performance. Mated to a slick six speed manual box. It hits 60mph in just under seconds. For a more engaging driver, you can select  Normal, Eco, Sport and Individual setting to alter driving dynamics.

There is little evidence of diesel clatter and the cabin is a quite place to be with little wind or road noise. Handling is surprisingly good, dynamic even, for such a big car and feels agile, with sharp, weighted steering and the suspension soaking up the worst our roads have to offer.

Safety kit is comprehensive with stability control and complement of airbags. front assist with bicycle detection, lane assist, tiredness recognition and emergency call as standard throughout the range, while this range topper includes park assist, electric tailgate with virtual pedal and top view camera system.

It’s a worthy flagship with smart looks, huge practicality and, considering the equipment a decent price.

Factfile

SEAT Tarraco XCELLENCE Lux 2.0 TDI 150PS

Price: £33,875

Mechanical: 150ps, 1,968cc, 4cyl diesel engine driving front wheels via 6-speed manual gearbox

Max speed: 126mph

0-62mph: 9.8 seconds

Combined mpg: 47

Insurance group: 25E

CO2 emissions: 129g/km

Warranty: 3yrs/60,000 miles