Best 4x4 Off-roader

Land Rover Discovery

Commended: Mercedes M-Class, BMW X5

July 2007

Land Rover Discovery

Winner: Land Rover Discovery

Off-roaders have been getting a hard time recently, but it’s worth remembering that the best SUVs have abilities that normal cars lack. Whether it’s fording deep water, ploughing through a muddy field, effortless towing or simply carrying the family, accomplished 4x4s should soothe the pains of everyday driving.

And that’s exactly what the Land Rover Discovery does. With a range of talents that sets it apart from class rivals, it’s user-friendly, adaptable and great to live with. For starters, its seven-seat layout is spacious and practical, while the robust cabin can cope with anything life throws at it.

Helped by the easy-to-operate Terrain Response system, the Land Rover’s legendary off-road ability allows it to master the very worst of the rough stuff, with few rivals able to match it for outright mud-plugging. But even if you never leave the tarmac, the Discovery’s lofty seating position and unparalleled refinement ensure it feels equally at home on the road.

Of course, it’s a real heavyweight, which means it’s not the quickest in terms of acceleration. However, with a classless image and strong residuals, for the third year running the Disco is our ultimate multi-tasking off-road vehicle.

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