• Land Rover that’s not far off Range Rover luxury
• High-quality interior throughout
• Infotainment system flashy yet logical

How is the quality and layout?

Material quality is about on a par for what you’d expect for the money. There’s plenty of leather and most of the cabin plastics feel luxurious, and although an Audi Q7 feels more tightly built with fractionally better plastics, the Discovery’s layout is easier on the eye and is far classier. The best quality materials are kept higher up on the doors – good for those who are likely to get in and out with muddy boots.

There’s also quite a difference in the quality of the seats between entry-level and high-spec models, with the latter getting Windsor leather upholstery that is far softer and more luxurious in feel.

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The Discovery is also the only new Land Rover which retains physical dials to control the climate control and heated seats – on every other model from the firm they’ve been moved into the touchscreen, making them noticeably more difficult to use on the move. As a result, the Discovery’s interior can feel a bit more old-school next to the interior of the Range Rover Sport, for example, but we don’t think this is a bad thing at all.

Infotainment and tech

The Discovery gets a Land Rover’s most recent Pivi Pro infotainment system, and it’s brilliant. The 11.4-inch curved touchscreen takes pride of place in the centre console, and is both quick and easy to use as well as being good to look at. It features voice control, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Ahead of the driver is a 12.3-inch panel for the electronic instruments, which is available with a head-up display as an option. Other driver aids such as self-parking, adaptive cruise control and ClearSight Rear View are available, taking the strain out of owning such a large car.

The Discovery is near the top of the class for the user friendliness of its infotainment and tech, with only the BMW X7 coming close to it.

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Comfort

• Rough roads are shrugged off with ease
• Quiet, serene
• Rear-seat room impressive

As expected, the Discovery is a supremely comfortable car. You sit up high and can clearly see everything in front of you. The seats are wide, heated and cooled (on top-spec models) and the front pews have a lot of adjustability built in. The front armrests that move up and down are a nice touch too. Just be aware that lower spec versions get far less adjustability than the higher trims, so it’s worth having a sit in different versions to realise the difference and make sure you can get comfortable.

Most road disturbances are dealt with easily, with only smaller, sharper bumps registering any discomfort in the cabin. Noise levels are good if not the best in class as road noise can creep into the cabin, especially at higher speeds. The generous space throughout the Discovery’s interior also makes it a comfortable car for passengers in the second and third rows to travel in. Heated seats are even available as an option for those in the rearmost row.