Test drive Land Rover Discovery LR3 2004 - 2009 SUV

Nimble "rogues"

Land Rover Discovery 3 and Nissan Patrol: both are good both on asphalt and off -road
 
Today's heroes of our heading are not ordinary SUVs, but real off -road legends, covered in the glory of Camel Trophy and Dakar.
However, to perceive them only as obedients of the off -road would be an unforgivable mistake: both the new Discovery and the updated Patrol pleasantly surprise the abstraction of character and excellent behavior on the asphalt.
And a solid appearance, a high level of comfort in the salon and the broadest cargo -passenger capabilities of both machines make them almost ideal means of movement.
 
The third -generation Discovery, which appeared at the end of last year, 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 facet of appearance and ending with a honed sled character.
 
By radically updating the worker Patrol last year, the Japanese also focused on luxury.
 
And if external changes are almost invisible (the car received new bumpers, the design of a false radiator lattice in the style of modern Nissan corporate standards, updated optics), then it is simply impossible not to see changes in the cabin. Designers literally shook the interior, giving the interior of the SUV a more respectable look. The first thing that catches the eye is a two -color front panel, the upper dark section of which, made of a slightly rough plastic, is a bright lower part of a pleasant to the touch. The top version of the Patrol with a gasoline engine with a working volume of 4.8 liters received a combination of the Fine Vision device (a black blind panel comes to life with turning the ignition key). The central console with a two-dine audio system and the climate control unit is trimmed with inserts under the tree. Finally, Patrol buyers performed by Elegance get a leather interior, front chairs with electric adjustments and a steering wheel with wooden decoration.
 
You will not reproach with simplicity and the British. However, the inner world of Discovery is alien to the ostentatious oriental luxury: you will not find plastic firewood in the Land Rover salon. The interior, as if drawn with a ruler and a compass, is a logical continuation of the exterior: the same mathematically verified mating surfaces. Special - flattering - mentions are worthy of front chairs with developed lateral support, anatomical backs and magnificent long pillows. The search for convenient planting behind a chubby leather steering wheel adjustable in the angle of inclination and departure is greatly facilitated by the seats. And having found the best option, you can score the settings into the on -board computer that can remember three positions of seats and mirrors. In the combination of devices - only the most necessary: \u200b\u200ba speedometer, a tachometer and indicators of the temperature of the coolant and the supply of fuel. There is also a large information display, which display the data of the triple-computer and self-diagnosis systems. Everything is beautiful: both the matte metal edging of the devices, and the proprietary green backlight, is only a pity that traditionally small digitization shit the readable with all the desire.
 
However, we will return to the driver and his feelings. In the meantime, we will see what our heroes offer passengers. The rear sofa Patrol (in fact these are two chubby folding leather chairs) is quite capable of taking three people, but only two can truly comfortably accommodate there. By the way, a couple of wide armrests unequivocally indicates this (in folded form, they, in fact, form the back of the third place), in which comfortable stroke cup holders are hidden. I must say that the rear chairs Patrol not only easily folded, opening access to the trunk - like the front ones, they are equipped with longitudinal adjustment. Its range, however, is not very wide - just a few centimeters, but there is still some opportunity to win additional legs space without disturbing those sitting ahead.
 
Discovery passengers - there may also be three of them in the second row - they are deprived of such an opportunity. However, there are more than enough space. Unlike the Japanese in the Land Rover salon, three separate rear seats, and the middle passenger offers an almost full -fledged place, which is only slightly the rest. Well, if only two travel from behind, the back of a free chair easily turns into a wide armrest (but what is the armrest - a real table!).
 
In the base, both SUVs are five -seater, however, you can also purchase a version with two additional seats (it was precisely these who visited our test). As a rule, the third row of seats in such cars is considered childish: it is difficult to climb there for adult passengers, and having climbed, there’s nowhere to put their feet, their knees rest in the back of the seats, and there is not enough air above their heads. True, in our case, everything was not so tragic. Say, on the gallery Patrol, the legs for the legs (more precisely, for the feet - in the knee area freely) is definitely not enough, but the ceiling does not press. But in Discovery, the opposite is true: passengers - and even tall - will only visit the deficiency of space above their heads.
 
Of course, it attracts the opportunity to take all children and households at once. One trouble - there will be no place for baggage in both cars: behind the backs of the third row of seats will fit from the strength of a couple of small suitcases. However, even sacrificing the inhabitants of the gallery, the owner of Patrol is forced to put up with the fact that the seats folded and trunk to the sides still eat part of the useful space. The owner of Discovery is unfamiliar: if additional places are not used, they are simply cleaned in the underput. The design of the seats is such that in a folded back form part of the floor of the luggage compartment. Moreover, having folded the second -row chairs, the owner of Land Rover receives a perfectly even luggage platform (or, if you like, a berth). It's all about the component of the salon, where the seats are located in the ancient amphitheater - each subsequent row is higher than the previous one. In addition to the advantages in transformation, this solution allows passengers to enjoy the landscape without interference. By the way, if we are talking about the contemplation of picturesque surroundings, then here Discovery offers passengers almost unlimited opportunities. In addition to the usual electrified hatch in the test machine, there were transparent inserts above the second and third rows of seats, which provided an almost panoramic review. In the roof of Patrol - only one (though quite large) hatch, of course, also equipped with an electric drive.
 
However, who, by and large, is interested in what passengers will see along the way? The main thing is that everything is visible from the driver's seat. And with this, our heroes are all right. The rear -view mirrors allow you to perfectly navigate in the stream, practically without leaving dead zones. The steering Discovery can also use the salon mirror (though only with the seats of the third row folded - otherwise everything that he will see is the faces of the passengers). The driver of Patrol, in principle, is also not devoid of this opportunity, but his eyes are met by an even greater number of obstacles. Not only that, the huge shovel -shaped head restraints of the folding armchairs seem to be specially designed to limit the view, the casing of the spare wheel also interferes. In addition, in inclement weather, the glass of the double -leaf rear door instantly is covered with a layer of dirt, and the only janitor cleanses only a purely symbolic loophole.
 
But it doesn’t matter: as already said, there are enough external mirrors. And what can be considered a disadvantage in one situation, turns into advantages in another. For example, changing the wheel on Patrol is much easier than on Discovery, where the reserve is suspended under the bottom.
 
And the swing gate (one sash is half the other) is very convenient in close parking. By the way, the fifth door of the British is also double and asymmetric, only opens in another plane. It is interesting that the lower part - it withstands a fairly significant weight - the manufacturer recommends using it as an observation platform.
 
However, it’s enough to walk around the bush - it's time to tell you what our heroes are 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 with both gasoline and diesel engines. (Patrol buyers are offered 3-liter 160-horsepower turbodieseli or 245-horsepower inherent gears with a working volume of 4.8 liters, and Land Rover customers-2.8-liter 190-horsepower V6 turbodiesels and 4.4-liter V-shaped gasoline gasoline gasoline Eights developing 295 hp) however, the diesel fuel is still not in honor of the most possessors of prestigious SUVs, and, obeying the general mood, we settled on the most powerful gasoline versions. And such cars are offered only with machine guns.
 
Affirming that the creators of the new Discovery committed a real revolution, Russian representatives of Land Rover did not sin against the truth in any iot: the car is radically different from the predecessor. In the past there were underdeveloped bridges - now all the wheels have an independent suspension. The lever of the distribution box and manually, the intends differential, is controlled in the fly, is controlled by electronics. The Terrain Response system allows you to choose one of the five modes of complex engine settings, transmission and suspension, most accurately responsible for what is available under the wheels. In addition, the driver has the opportunity to change the gear row (the transition to a reduced gear in the handout is allowed at speeds up to 40 km/h, up to 60 km/h) and the clearance size (optional pneumatic suspension allows you to raise or lower the body by 50 mm). In general, with the previous model, the current DISCO is only a constant four -wheel drive (torque is distributed through the axes in a ratio of 50:50) and the electronic system of controlled movement under the slope of the Hill Descent Control (HDC).
 
The fundamental changes in the design of the chassis multiplied by the new capabilities of the engine (the former eight developed only 185 forces, and the old machine gun did not differ in the speed of reactions), turned Discovery into a hero of asphalt. The car accelerates perfectly, holds the road perfectly at high speeds, willingly dies in turns, perfectly slows down - in short, behaves almost lightly. The adaptive 6-speed machine made friends with the engine and generally became much more quick. In addition, the driver had the opportunity to convert the box into a sports regime, which makes it possible to even more dynamic acceleration, or take control of the transmission (in manual mode everything without deception: the machine allows the limit to use the engine capabilities and does not switch upwards itself).
 
However, if Disco pleasantly surprised us, then Patrol - defeated on the spot. The terry rogue, who sacredly retained all off -road attributes like the Lonheron Rama and Unexpected Bridges, was almost not inferior to Discovery's retirement on the asphalt. It doesn’t matter that the Japanese is not able to, significantly losing in power, is unable to compete with the British in dynamic acceleration. He will take his own on the highway. And the point is not even that the passport maximum speed of Patrol is only 5 km/h less than that of Disco (we still did not dare to tear ourselves up for all money in winter). Contrary to expectations, even a very fast riding does not turn into a feat. The speedometer arrow crossed the mark of 160, and Nissan Pen, on the far from perfect covering of the highway near Moscow, as a steam locomotive, confidently holding in the wake of the Land Rover and absolutely not requiring the correction of the course! Of course, a large SUV is not a sportkup: heels in corners, and on a slippery road strives to put his tail. But even in the absence of an electronic stabilization system, it is quite possible to cope with it. The driver will require the skills of handling a classic drive: the standard drive wheels Patrol are the rear, and the front bridge is connected, if necessary, it is connected by a lever of the handout at a speed of not more than 40 km/h (instructions for handling the handout - on the back of the sunscreen).
 
Off-Road did not have the rubber in which our heroes were shod to escapades in the Off-Road style. Therefore, with complete confidence, we can only say one thing: jokes do not interfere with the city off -road vehicles. By the way, we refer to the Nissan Patrol autumn test drive (Mkobil, No. 47/2004), which gives an exhaustive idea of \u200b\u200bthe powerful off-road potential of this car.
 
However, the vast majority of owners of SUVs leave asphalt once a year according to the promise. In line with this trend, apparently, the creators of the new Discovery moved, which laid a lot of effort and means (which, incidentally, affected the price: our Disco cost $ 81,200, and the predecessor in similar configuration cost about $ 30,000 cheaper) to improve precisely road characteristics car. It is possible that the developers of the next generation Patrol will go the same way. And, which is good, they will deprive humanity of one of the last off -road heroes.
 
Text: Andrey Tsybulsky
 

Source: Mkobil magazine