Land Rover’s Discovery D350 HSE, the luxury SUV that proves you can mix muscle, manners, and muddy boots — without losing your British accent.

Let’s get one thing straight — this isn’t some polite suburban crossover pretending it’s an explorer. The Land Rover Discovery Dynamic HSE is the real deal: a 2.5-tonne, six-cylinder diesel steamroller that can climb a mountain, can tow a yacht, and still waft you home in quilted silence.

First Impressions — The Gentleman Adventurer

From behind the wheel, the Discovery has presence — the sort that parts traffic and terrifies shopping trolleys. It’s tall, imposing, and unapologetically square-jawed. You feel every kilo of its mass, yet somehow it wears it with poise.

Inside, it’s like stepping into a boardroom built in a bunker. The cabin is hushed, the diesel hums quietly under thick insulation, and the seats cocoon you in the sort of leather that whispers you’ve made it. Flick the drive mode selector out of Comfort and give it some throttle — the straight-six Ingenium wakes up properly. It’s no shouty hooligan, but there’s a lovely mechanical honesty to it. It’s a diesel with depth — a smooth, muscular surge rather than a manic scream.

Still, the Discovery never quite hides its bulk. You can sense the tonnage moving beneath you — a constant reminder that this is a vehicle built to outlast storms, not chase lap times.

Acceleration & Torque — The Gentle Giant Has Fists

Prod the throttle, and there’s a polite pause — a moment of British diplomacy while the gearbox and engine agree on how best to proceed. Then it lunges forward with authority, that 570 Nm of torque flattening any argument about performance.

Zero to 60 mph? Around six seconds. Which, when you remember you’re piloting something heavier than a hippo in full armour, is faintly ridiculous. This isn’t a sports SUV, and it doesn’t try to be. It’s more muscle-bound expedition leader than track-day poser.

Transmission & Drivetrain — Smooth Operator

The 8-speed automatic is as refined as a valet in a Savile Row suit. In Comfort mode, it shifts discreetly; switch to Dynamic and it lingers on each gear, squeezing out every Newton-metre like the last drop of a good whisky.

AWD is permanent, of course, and it’s backed by Land Rover’s full set of off-road party tricks — rock crawl, sand, mud, you name it. Even in this luxury-trimmed HSE, you can still feel the old Defender DNA simmering under the leather. This isn’t a soft SUV that panics at the sight of a gravel road — it looks at a flooded track and says, “Hold my espresso.”

Steering & Body Control — Beauty and the Bulk

At motorway speeds, the Discovery feels royally composed. It tracks straight, the air suspension irons out the nonsense, and you glide along with the serenity of a bullet train.

But take it down a twisty B-road, and you’ll quickly meet Sir Isaac Newton. The body leans like a tree in a stiff breeze, and the steering — while accurate — has all the communication skills of a dumb waiter. There’s a dead spot around the centre that needs a bit of finessing to keep it tidy. Still, you never feel out of control. The AWD system digs in, the chassis holds firm, and the Discovery somehow manages to keep its dignity intact.

Ride & Suspension — Comfort Is Its Craft

Here’s where the Discovery really flexes. The air suspension is sorcery. On a rough backroad, it doesn’t drive — it glides. On the motorway, it’s a moving meditation. The ride tuning favours comfort, not corner-carving — and that’s precisely why you’ll still be fresh after 800 km.

Practicality & Everyday Brilliance

• Space & Seating: Seven proper seats — not token jump seats. Stadium layout means everyone gets a view, even the in-laws.
• Boot & Access: Air suspension lowers itself politely to make loading easy. There’s even an inner tailgate for the picnic crowd.
• Cabin Tech: The Pivi Pro infotainment is slick and responsive, and the materials feel genuinely premium. Massage seats, four-zone climate, and more USB ports than an airport lounge.
• Refinement: At idle, it’s whisper-quiet; under load, it growls with authority. The Discovery doesn’t shout about its muscle — it murmurs it in bass.

Fuel Economy & Range — Respectable Gluttony

Let’s be real: efficiency is not why you buy one of these. On my 120 km/h highway run, the Discovery averaged 11.5 L/100 km — entirely reasonable for a seven-seat luxury tank with 350 PS and a mountain of torque. This translates to roughly 850–950 km of range from its 90-litre tank, depending on how often you use the loud pedal. You’ll visit the pump a bit more often than the BMW X5 crowd, but remember, they can’t wade through rivers or tow a boat while their cappuccino stays intact.

Verdict — An All-Rounder Who Actually Is

The Discovery Dynamic HSE is a genuine heavyweight in the seven-seat SUV world — cavernous, confident, and capable. It’s the Swiss Army knife of luxury vehicles: equal parts boardroom, family wagon, and expedition truck.

It’s not here to thrill like a sports SUV or dart through corners like a hot hatch — that’s not its mission. The
Discovery knows exactly what it is, and within those limits, it’s nothing short of magnificent. You don’t drive
this vehicle — you command it.

Pilot it for a thousand kilometres, and you’ll stop noticing the compromises. Instead, you’ll admire the way it does everything else — hauling, cruising, climbing, and cosseting — with effortless grace. It’s less a car, and more a continent-crossing companion.

W: JLR

Written by Cindy-Lou Dale for Luxuria Lifestyle International