Land Rover Discovery 3.0 SD V6 HSE

The Land Rover Discovery was originally built to take adventurous families into the wild on Sunday and then to work and school on Monday. Nearly three decades later, the Discovery has traded its boxy look for something a bit more sleek and modern, but its core mission remains the same.

The Land Rover Discovery slots in between the Discovery Sport and the larger Range Rover. It comes standard with room for five, but a third row can be added. There are four trims: SE, a new Landmark Edition, HSE and HSE Luxury. The Discovery can be had with a supercharged 3.0-liter gasoline engine, but my tester has something special: a 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6. Regardless of engine choice, an eight-speed automatic transmission puts the power down to all four wheels.

The diesel engine makes 254 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque, which is enjoyable both on- and off-road. It supposedly boasts fuel economy improvements over the supercharged V6, too: 21 miles per gallon city, 26 mpg highway and 23 mpg combined, compared with 16 mpg, 21 mpg and 18 mpg respectively. That said, after a week of testing I'm only seeing 21.7 mpg, but of course, your mileage may vary. Do note, the diesel engine also costs $2,000 more than the V6, as well.

While the Discovery can tackle some pretty serious dirt, most folks will use this SUV for on-road trips. Here, they won't be disappointed. For a vehicle that weighs nearly 5,000 pounds, it doesn't feel too heavy while cruising along winding roads, and all that low-end torque means it's easy to get up to speed for highway merging. A Sport mode brings out the best in the diesel, with revised throttle mapping and more aggressive shift pattern for livelier acceleration. My tester also has the air suspension, which means the ride is nice and smooth, with no discomfort over pesky sections of broken pavement.

Still, the Discovery isn't what I would call fun to drive on paved roads. The Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class and Porsche Cayenne are definitely better tuned for on-road dynamics, but the Discovery has more available off-road prowess than its competitors. A two-speed transfer case and locking rear differential are both optional, as is the Terrain Response 2 off-road system. I love that I can shift from 4WD High to 4WD Low at speeds up to 37 mph. Most vehicles require a near full stop to make the transition, and oftentimes that loss of momentum is a deal-breaker off the beaten path.