Skip advert
Advertisement

New Land Rover Discovery Si6 2018 review

We drive the Land Rover Discovery Si6 to see what our reigning Car of the Year is like with supercharged petrol power

Overall Auto Express rating

3.5

How we review cars
Avg. savings
£2,834 off RRP*
Find your Land Rover Discovery
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

There are few reasons for anyone to consider adding this 336bhp petrol V6 to the Land Rover Discovery. Sure, the car is still one of the finest premium SUVs around, but the engine is thirsty, it doesn’t feel as quick as the numbers suggest, and it’s expensive. The pulling power and lower running costs of the four and six-cylinder diesels make them a much better fit.

Advertisement - Article continues below

People who buy a Land Rover Discovery tend to do so because of three things: its off-road ability, its practicality and its classless image. Outright pace isn’t really a huge concern of the core customer. But if you want the fastest Disco in the range, this supercharged V6 petrol model is it.

It’s powered by a version of the Jaguar F-Type’s engine – a 3.0-litre V6 delivering 336bhp and 450Nm of torque, giving a brisk 0-62mph time of 7.1 seconds. That’s a full second faster than the V6 diesel Discovery.

Best 4x4s and SUVs on sale

But while the figures sound strong, the reality is rather different. Accelerate hard and there’s a notable delay between you pushing the throttle and any physical movement from the car.

Once the engine has responded, the Discovery eats up the ground with ease, and the standard eight-speed automatic box slurs between gears effortlessly. The engine’s weak spot is its in-gear acceleration. It lacks the low-down urgency and pulling power you get from the V6 diesel.

You’ll pay a penalty for the petrol engine at the pumps, too, because the best we saw during our time with the Land Rover was 21.7mpg. There’s no financial incentive on purchase price, either; at almost £63,000, our HSE is £1,620 more than the equivalent diesel model.

The rest of the package, however, contains everything that makes the Discovery the reigning Auto Express Car of the Year. Even on enormous 21-inch alloy wheels, the ride is cushioned and smooth. The steering is light and doesn’t have much feel, but adds to the car’s relaxed nature.

Inside, it’s a mix of Range Rover-like luxury and utilitarian design; chunky dials and buttons on the dash give it that tough and rugged look for which the Discovery is famous, but the soft leathers and brushed aluminium add a level of sophistication the SUV has lacked in previous generations.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Land Rover Discovery

Land Rover Discovery

RRP £56,095Avg. savings £2,834 off RRP*Used from £18,500
Audi Q7

Audi Q7

RRP £62,700Avg. savings £7,873 off RRP*Used from £31,787
Land Rover Defender

Land Rover Defender

RRP £52,370Avg. savings £2,982 off RRP*Used from £40,000
Volvo Xc90

Volvo Xc90

RRP £47,465Used from £18,995
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Future of Nissan in the UK: new Gigafactory to power bold EV plans
Future of Nissan in the UK - header with Phil McNamara

Future of Nissan in the UK: new Gigafactory to power bold EV plans

Nissan is about to go from building the Qashqai hybrid to three fresh EVs in the UK over the next three years – all powered by a new gigafactory
Features
19 Apr 2025
New baby Nissan Juke EV on the way to challenge the Dacia Spring
Baby Nissan Juke exclusive image - rear

New baby Nissan Juke EV on the way to challenge the Dacia Spring

Nissan to fast-track development of new battery-powered city car to take on forthcoming Volkswagen ID.1, and our exclusive images preview how it could…
News
18 Apr 2025
Car Deal Alert! Ford Kuga SUV is fun and family-friendly for only £239 a month
Ford Kuga - main image

Car Deal Alert! Ford Kuga SUV is fun and family-friendly for only £239 a month

Ford’s mid-size SUV offers you tons of kit for an affordable monthly payment
News
20 Apr 2025