Category Archives: SUV

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

Another Landmark for Disco

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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

Crossover, Dacia, Manufacturer, SUV, Vehicle type

Duster off a bargain

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Dacia Duster

By Bill McCarthy

The first Duster I drove was back in 2014 and then, as now, was blown away by, in the words of parent firm Renault, how shockingly affordable the SUV was, and still is, priced from £10,995 on-the-road.

Revamped in 2017, not one body panel was carried over, but this has not led to the look of car being changed substantially.

The standard 17-inch wheels with black wing arch trims complement the  distinctive lighting signature, which includes LED daytime running lights, while the windscreen is also steeply raked, which both creates a more dynamic look and let’s more light into the cabin.

Revisions included multi-view camera, power steering, keyless entry and ignition system, climate control and blind spot warning

There are now five trim levels available, Access, Essential, Comfort, Prestige and Techroad across a 16 version line-up, while there is a choice of three TCe engines and one dCi diesel.

All are packed with kit, with this just above mid range model featuring rear parking camera and sensors, electric front and rear windows, heated and electrically adjustable door mirrors and a seven-function on-board computer, all as standard.

As an SUV with either two or four-wheel drive, you might expect that a budget type vehicle would be pretty dull and utilitarian looking , but the Duster more than holds it own in this segment.

It sits high off the ground, with rugged stance featuring wide wheel arches, protective moulding 16-inch alloy wheels.

In addition there are front and rear skid plates, satin chrome door mirrors, side sills and scuff plates front and rear and satin chrome roof bars with Duster inscription

The 130bhp petrol unit driven here in is an impressive performer with excellent economy, aided by ECO mode and stop/start, good pulling power and decent acceleration which feels more rapid than the official 0-60mph figure of 11 seconds.

It is also a refined unit, with good torque that picks up nicely when accelerating on the motorway.

The SUV profile means it won’t be the most slippery through the air, and wind noise does intrude at times as does some road noise. Although Dacia says noise has been halved compared to its predecessor by increasing the percentage of sound-absorbing surfaces in the cabin and engine compartment from 20 to 50 per cent, together with thicker glass for the front windows.

The interior trim is functional rather than luxurious with sturdy plastics rather than the soft-touch variety and hard-wearing upholstery.

It looks to be built to stand up to the strains and stresses of family use with large rotary controls and on this model multi-function steering wheel, as well as some older Renault-looking radio controls.

The brains of the car, however, is very hi-tech with  the seven-inch touchscreen which controls infotainment, navigation and smartphone connectivity via Apple Carplay and Android Auto. Bluetooth is also available

Interior space is impressive with seating for five, while the boot offers up to 445 litres with the rear seats in place increased to 1,623 with them folded. Dont expect fantastic handling, it is and SUV, but it does feel surefooted enough with little wallowing on corners.

Safety kit is pretty comprehensive with blind sport warning, assisted braking, air bags including curtain airbag and alarm.

For those who prefer tackling the rough stuff, the Duster carries over the same off-roading credentials that helped to make the previous model such a success.

Dacia may still be suffering from brand anonymity, but that is changing all the time with superb value for money products. ‘Shockingly affordable’ is about right.

Factfile

Dacia Duster Comfort TCe 130

Price: £14,995

Mechanical: 130bhp, 1,333cc, 4cyl turbo petrol engine driving front wheels via 6-speed  gearbox

Max speed: 118mph

0-62mph: 11.1 seconds

Combined mpg: 39-42mpg

Insurance group: 14e

CO2 emissions: 139g/km

BiK rating: 30%

Warranty: 3 years/60,000 miles