Test Drive Land Rover Discovery LR3 2004 - 2009 SUV

Chustry "Passing"

Land Rover Discovery 3 and Nissan Patrol: both are good and on the asphalt and off-road
 
Today's characters of our heading are not ordinary SUVs, but real off-road legends, received by the glory Camel Trophy and Dakar.
However, to perceive them only as off-road conquerors would be an unforgivable mistake: the new Discovery, and the updated Patrol pleasantly surprise the nature and excellent behavior on the asphalt.
A solid appearance, a high level of comfort in the cabin and the widest cargo-passenger capabilities of both cars make them hardly not ideal means of movement.
 
The dealers appeared at the end of last year the third generation discovery is radically different from the predecessor. The car, originally conceived as a cross between the utilitarian Defender and the luxurious Range Rover, definitely made a giant jerk towards the latter. The current DISCO is almost Range, starting with an expressive faceted appearance and ending with an honorable ride character.
 
Radically updated last year by Patrol, the Japanese also focused on luxury.
 
And if the external changes are almost imperceptible (the car received new bumpers, the design of the falseradiator grille in the style of modern corporate standards Nissan, updated optics), then not to see changes in the cabin is simply impossible. Designers literally overgrown the interior, giving an internal decoration of the SUV a more respectable look. The first thing that rushes into the eye is a two-color front panel, the upper dark section of which, made of a pleasant to the touch slightly rough plastic, shall be laid out the light bottom. The top version of the Patrol with a gasoline engine with a working volume of 4.8 liters received a combination of FINE VISION devices (a black blind panel comes to the rotation of the ignition key). The central console with a dual-channel audio system and the climate control control unit is separated by a tree inserts. Finally, Patrol buyers performed by Elegance get leather interior, front armchairs with electric adjustments and steering wheel with wooden finish.
 
Do not reproach in simplicity and Briton. However, the inner world of Discovery is alien to showing eastern luxury: plastic firewood in the Land Rover salon you will not find. The interior seems to be drawn up using a ruler and circulation - a logical continuation of the exterior: the same mathematically verified conjugation of surfaces. Special - flattering - mention is worthy of front armchairs with developed lateral support, anatomical backs and magnificent long pillows. Search for a comfortable fit behind a plump leather beam adjustable over the angle of inclination and by departure, considerably facilitate seat electric drives. And finding the optimal option, you can score settings into an on-board computer, able to remember the three positions of the chairs and mirrors. In the combination of devices - only the most needed: speedometer, tachometer and pointers of coolant temperature and fuel reserve. There is a large information display on which the trip-computer data and self-diagnostic systems are displayed. Everything is beautiful: and matte metal edging appliances, and branded green backlight, it is a pity that traditionally fine digitization of the scale readable with all the desire you won't call.
 
However, we will return to the driver and its feelings. In the meantime, let's see that our heroes offer passengers. The rear sofa Patrol (in fact it is two plump folding leather chairs) is quite capable of accepting three people, but only two are truly comfortable there. By the way, it is unequivocally indicated by a couple of wide armrests (in folded form, they actually form the back of the third place), in which convenient vykutnye cup holders are hidden. It must be said that the rear armchairs Patrol not only easily fold, opening access to the trunk, like the front, they are equipped with longitudinal adjustment. Its range, however, not very wide - only a few centimeters, but no opportunity to win an extra room for the legs, not disturbed by sitting ahead, there is still.
 
Discovery passengers - them in the second row can also be three - such a possibility is deprived. However, there is a place and so eliminate. Unlike the Japanese in the Land Rover salon, three separate rear seats, and the average passenger is offered an almost full-fledged place, which is only slightly the rest. Well, if the back is traveling only two, the back of the free chairs is easily turning into a wide armrest (yes what the armrest is there - a real table!).
 
At the base of both the SUV Fives, but you can buy and the version with two additional seats (which are and have visited on our test). As a general rule, the third row of seats in such vehicles considered child: climb to adult passengers seriously, and take away, nowhere to put your feet, knees rest against the back of vperedistoyaschego seat, and the air above his head a little. However, in our case it was not so tragic. definitely not enough - (in the knee area freely or rather, for the feet), but the ceiling is no pressure for instance, in the gallery Patrol legroom. But in Discovery is the opposite: the passengers - and even then only tall - Visit except on deficit headroom.
 
The ability to take on board at once and all the children of the household, of course, attractive. One problem - space for luggage in both machines are no longer left: behind the back of the third row of seats fit on the strength of a couple of small suitcases. However, even the sacrifice of the inhabitants of the gallery, the owner of the Patrol has to contend with the fact that the folded and strapped to the sides of the seats will still eat up a part of the useful space. Discovery master such problems are unfamiliar, if additional seats are not used, they simply clean the cellar. Seat arrangement is such that in a folded back to form part of the luggage compartment floor. Moreover, the folded second-row seat, the owner of Land Rover gets a perfectly flat luggage platform (or, if you prefer, bed). All the matter in the interior layout where the seats are located in the ancient amphitheater - each subsequent number is above the previous. In addition to the benefits of transformation, this solution allows passengers to enjoy the scenery without interference. By the way, if we are talking about the contemplation of the picturesque surroundings, there is Discovery offers passengers almost unlimited possibilities. Apart from normal electrified hatch test machine were transparent paste over the second and third rows of seats, to thereby substantially panoramic view. The Patrol roof - just one (albeit a rather large) sunroof, of course, also equipped with an electric drive.
 
However, whom, by and large, interests what passengers will be examined there in the way? The main thing is that from the driver's seat everything is visible. And with this our heroes are all right. The rearview mirrors allow you to perfectly navigate in the stream, practically without leaving dead zones. The steering Discovery can use the salon mirror (though, only with the folded seats of the third row - otherwise everything he seems, these are passenger persons). The Patrol driver in principle is also not deprived of this opportunity, but his look meets an even greater number of obstacles. Not only are the huge vopotoxic head restraints of folding chairs that are specifically designed to limit the review, the cover of the spare wheel also interferes. In addition, in rainy weather, glass double rear doors are instantly covered with a layer of dirt, and the only janitor cleans only a purely symbolic boom.
 
But not trouble: as already mentioned, the outer mirrors are quite enough. And what can be considered a disadvantage in one situation, turns into advantages in another. For example, changing the wheel on the Patrol is much easier than on Discovery, where the reserve is suspended under the bottom.
 
And the swollen gate (one sash is already different) is very convenient on close parking. By the way, the fifth door of the Briton is also doubled and asymmetric, only opens in another plane. Interestingly, the lower part - it is withstanding quite considerable weight - the manufacturer recommends using as an observational platform.
 
However, it is quite walking around and about - it's time to tell, what are our heroes in business, that is, on the roads and directions. Although at first - another small remark explaining the choice of power units of test machines. In principle, both cars are available both with gasoline and diesel engines. (Patrol buyers are offered 3-liter 160-strong turbo diesel engines or 245-strong gasoline rowers with a working volume of 4.8 liters, and Land Rover clients are 2.8-liter 190-strong turbo diesel engines and 4,4-liter V-shaped gasoline Eight, developing 295 hp) However, the solar stamp among most owners of prestigious SUVs are still not in honor, and, obeying the general advantage, we stopped at the most powerful gasoline versions. And such cars are offered only with machine guns.
 
Arriving that the creators of the new Discovery committed the real revolution, the Russian representatives of Land Rover did not sink against the truth: the car is fundamentally different from the predecessor. In the past, there were continuous bridges - now all the wheels have an independent suspension. Ranalled in the summer arm of the dispensing box and manually blocked by the inter-axis differential - electronics controls everything. The Terrain Response system allows you to select one of the five modes of integrated engine settings, transmission and suspension, most accurately responding to what is available under the wheels. In addition, the driver has the ability to change the transmission row (the transition to reduced transmission in the dispensing box is allowed at speeds up to 40 km / h, on an increased - up to 60 km / h) and the magnitude of the clearance (the optional pneumatic suspension allows you to raise or lower the body to 50 mm). In general, with the previous model, the current Disco is related except that the constant four-wheel drive (torque is distributed over the axes in proportion 50:50) and the electronic system of controlled motion under the Hill Descent Control (HDC) slope.
 
Indigenous changes in the design of the chassis, multiplied by new possibilities of the engine (the former eight developed only 185 forces, and the old machine did not differ in the speed of reactions), turned Discovery into the asphalt hero. The car perfectly accelerates, perfectly holds the road at high speeds, willingly overtaken in turns, superbly slows down - shorter, behaves almost in a passenger. The adaptive 6-step automaton made friends with the engine and in general it became much more damping. In addition, the driver had the opportunity to translate the box into a sports mode, which gives the possibility of even more dynamic overclocking, or take control of the transmission on itself (in manual mode, everything without cheating: the automatic allows you to use the engine capabilities and the transfer itself to the limit).
 
However, if Disco pleasantly surprised us, then Patrol - I worked out. The terry undergoing, holy preserved all off-road attributes like a spa frame and continuous bridges, was almost no disquence on the asphalt by the Discovery apostate. It does not matter that the Japanese is noticeably losing in power unable to compete with a British in a dynamic acceleration. He will take his own on the highway. And it's not even not that the passport maximum speed of Patrol is only 5 km / h less than that of Disco (to disappear on all the money in winter we still did not dare). Contrary to expectations, even very fast ride does not turn into a feat. The speedometer arrow crossed the mark 160, and Nissan feathers is far from the perfect coverage of the highway near Moscow as a locomotive on the rails, confidently holding a Land Rover in Kilwater and absolutely not requiring the course correction! Of course, a large SUV is not a sports unit: it rolls in turns, and on a slippery road, it strives for a tails. But even in the absence of an electronic stabilization system to cope with him quite real. From the driver, classic drive handling skills will be required: regular Patrol's leading wheels rear, and the front axle is connected to the arm of the dispensing box at a speed of no more than 40 km / h (instructions for handouts - on the turnover of the sunscreen visor).
 
The tires in the style of Off-Road did not have a rubber in which our heroes were shovel. Therefore, with complete confidence we can approve only one thing: with the city off-road car, joking are coping - borders and hinders are not a hindrance. By the way, we are able to show a report on the autumn test drive Nissan Patrol (Mkmobile, No. 47/2004), which gives an exhaustive idea of \u200b\u200bthe powerful off-road potential of this car.
 
However, the overwhelming majority of the owners of SUV leave asphalt once a year on a promise. In line with this trend, apparently, the creators of the new Discovery moved, put a lot of strength and money (which, by the way, affected the price: Our Disco cost $ 81,200, and the predecessor in a similar configuration accounted for about $ 30,000 cheaper) to improve the road characteristics car. It is possible that the same way will also go the developers of the next generation Patrol. And what good, deprive the humanity of one of the last off-road heroes.
 
Text: Andrei Tsybulsky
 

A source: Magazine Mkmobile