Land Rover Discovery SD4 HSE 2020 Tow Test

The Land Rover Discovery has long been a great tow vehicle, and the introduction of the larger, lighter and more luxurious Discovery 5 in 2017 did nothing to change that fact.

We had confirmation of this not long after it was launched when a Land Rover Discovery SD6 powered by a 190kW/600Nm 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine made light work of hauling a 2250kg caravan.

At the time we wondered whether the entry-level Discovery with smaller 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine would do a similarly good job, given that the output of the latest Ingenium powerplants is not unlike some earlier six-cylinder versions of the Discovery.

Recently we grabbed a 2020-model Land Rover Discovery SD4 HSE and hitched it up to a caravan weighing 2825kg to find out…

Since launching in 2017, Land Rover Australia has dropped the entry-level Discovery TD4, making the more powerful SD4 four-cylinder version the cheapest entry point to the Discovery range (albeit with a detuned but still decent 177kW/430Nm, down from 177kW/500Nm at launch).

While the four-cylinder has dropped 70Nm in torque, the six cylinder's output has risen significantly – up 100Nm to 700Nm, and 48kW to 225kW, making the $12,000 jump from four to six cylinders more palatable for many Discovery owners.

As a result, the entry point to the Discovery 5 range now starts at $73,221 before on-roads – about $7000 more than when it was launched.

The starting price for the top-spec Discovery SD4 HSE is $100,721 but for that you do get some desirable features like the dual-range transfer case and air suspension, although our test vehicle cost significantly more with around $30,000-worth of options fitted (more on that later).

Like six-cylinder variants, the four-pot Discovery can tow up to 3500kg and carry 350kg on the tow ball. The HSE-grade comes standard with a tow pack including tow hitch receiver with lockable pin, but the Redarc electric brake controller is a dealer-fit option.

Hit the road with caravan in tow and it's quickly clear that the air-suspended four-cylinder Disco 5 is designed for towing big trailers. Despite the Weight Watchers diet – it's around half-a-tonne lighter than the Discovery 4 at 2109kg – the four-cylinder Discovery remains rock-solid when towing, at least up to 100km/h, with no signs of the 'tail wagging the dog'.

The auto-levelling air suspension ensures steering feel and ride comfort is largely unaffected. With little pitching or yawing and only the occasional rattling of the hitch receiver, it was easy at times to forget there was a close to three-tonne van behind.

Strong acceleration from standstill and relatively unfussed hill climbing was enhanced by peak torque achieved at just 1400rpm and swift, seamless changes from the eight-speed auto, as the digital tacho on the five-tonne rig quickly reached highway speeds. At 100 clicks the engine was ticking over around 1800rpm in seventh gear and the only time I really noticed the smaller-capacity engine was up steeper inclines, where both the engine and gearbox worked harder to maintain momentum.

But it never felt flustered or unbearably noisy, and fuel economy was acceptable – from around 9-10L/100km driving solo around town, to between 13-15L/100km when towing, depending on traffic and terrain.

Adding to the impressive towing manners was some decent engine breaking, using the paddle shifters in Sport mode to drop down the gears on steep declines to slow the rig without having to ride the brakes.

Other standard technology making life easier for caravanners and boaties includes Trailer Light Assist, Rear Height Assist and Trailer Stability Assist, which will automatically detect and correct trailer sway. Also handy when hitching up are auto dipping side mirrors when reversing and an excellent rear camera with adaptive gridlines.

However, we struggled to attach our strap-on towing mirrors to the Discovery's stylish but inconveniently curved mirrors, and when we did get them on (as required by law), the straps covered the side mirror cameras which are needed for the optional Advanced Tow Assist feature to work.

It's a shame as we were keen to test out the hi-tech towing aid, which essentially takes care of the tricky counter-steering required to position a trailer accurately when reversing.

It's also an expensive option: Advanced Tow Assist on its own costs $850 but will only work with the optional Advanced Off-Road Capability Pack (which costs another $3270 and includes ATPC crawl mode, Terrain Response 2 and Active Locking Diff), and the optional 360-degree surround camera system ($470), pushing the total ask for 'autonomous' trailer reversing to $4590.

The other catch with Advance Tow Assist is you have to attach a supplied 'target' decal to the front of the trailer, on a flat vertical surface a specific distance from the rear of the car – something that wasn't really possible with the off-road caravan we were towing.

Of course, you don't buy a Land Rover Discovery for its towing capabilities alone and for a big-boned SUV it's hard to beat as a daily commuter. It's certainly a lot more nimble and zippier around town than a Toyota LandCruiser for example. Engine noise is well suppressed, even when revving to the 4200rpm redline; it soaks up the bumps despite the sporty 20-inch alloys and the lack of body roll around corners seems to defy physics.

While the optional third row seating might be cramped for adults, there's plenty of space and comfort inside for large families, and vision all-round is excellent from the 12-way adjustable front pews (although you may not want to expose the 'Ebony' white leather with 'Oyster' blue stitching in our test vehicle to too many dusty Outback trips). A powered tailgate and boot lid – also standard on HSE-spec Discovery – provide easy access to the carpeted cargo area, as well as adding to the upmarket feel.

It's hard to fault the ergonomics from the driver's seat, with screens and buttons all easy to read and reach, including a handy stork for trip computer toggling, user-friendly main touchscreen and pop-up dials for operating the transmission and 4WD Terrain modes.

Storage is also excellent, with big door pockets, twin gloveboxes and large centre bin, and multiple spots to plug in and store your phone.

Not surprisingly, all the electronic driver aids worked well – from the active cruise control in busy traffic, to the vibrating steering wheel when the big beast drifts out of the lane, to the rear traffic alert for dealing with blind spots when backing out of the driveway. The sat-nav and Bluetooth set-up including Apple Carplay are also first rate, as is the crystal clear audio from the Meridian sound system.

The biggest stumbling block for potential buyers of the Discovery 5 is pricing, with the cheapest coil-spring four-cylinder version now starting from $73,221 before on-roads.

Then there's the issue of the many desirable but pricey options available (including $3470 for the third-row seating). The close to $30,000-worth of extras fitted to our test vehicle pushed it well into six figures ($130,291 plus on-road costs).

While third-row seats will be non-negotiable for larger families, items like the twin powered sunroofs ($3550), electric reclining rear seats ($1980) and powered third-row seats ($650), heated steering wheel ($530) and heated washer jets ($320) are nice but hardly essential.

If you want the Discovery for doing a Big Lap or lengthy trip towing a heavy trailer, then we'd still recommend the torquier, $12,000 more six-cylinder version. But for those planning mostly shorter intrastate trips with trailers up to three tonnes, the four-cylinder Discovery is more than capable, with potential savings in fuel as well as initial cost.

Whichever engine you choose, three years after launch few rivals come close to the Land Rover Discovery 5 when it comes to its combination of glamour and grunt.

2020 Land Rover Discovery SD4 HSE pricing and specifications:
Price: $100,721 ($130,291 as tested, plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 177kW/430Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 7.4L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 194g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP