2021 Land Rover Discovery: Refreshed, Hybrid, Price

Land Rover’s fancy, seven-seater Discovery SUV is readying the mid-cycle update for the 2021 model year. The fifth-generation Disco arrived for 2017 and after several years on the roads, the 2021 Land Rover Discovery comes in the refreshed form to keep the pace with the recently updated Volvo XC90 and Audi Q7.

As evidenced by the fresh spy photos, there shouldn’t be significant staying updates but the next Discovery should come with the updated in-cab tech and expanded availability of driver-assist systems. However, the focus should be on the inclusion of the mild-hybrid tech and improved fuel efficiency. The plug-in hybrid version is also in the pipeline but it will reach the market in the coming model years.

The updated Land Rover Discovery will return with the five- and seven-seat configurations and a well-trimmed cabin. The mode will again offer a diesel and petrol power options. The Discovery SUV is capable of above-average off-roading while has smooth on-road manners.

2021 Land Rover Discovery

2021 Land Rover Discovery: Design

The current generation Land Rover Discovery is designed around the aluminum-intensive D7u platform.

The same architecture is also used by the outgoing Land Rover Range Rover and Range Rover Sport. The next-generation Range Rover will be based on the brand’s Modular Longitudinal Architecture which allows the adoption of the battery-electric powertrain. The next-generation Land Rover Discovery will also switch to this architecture.

The upcoming 2021 Land Rover Discovery stays on the same platform and judging by the spy photos there won’t be major styling updates either. The model will return with the same body shape and sleek contours. It’s hard to detect any changes in the bumpers as well as headlights. The grille wears thicker camouflage which should mean a slightly tweaked styling.

The prototype version seems also to have a near-identical rear-end styling and there would likely be just minor changes.

Interior, Equipment:

Unlike the exterior, the next Discovery should come with more upgrades inside the cabin. The next version is expected to get an upgraded infotainment system addressing the current slow and difficult to operate system. The 2021 Land Rover Discovery should also bring upgraded and more accessible driver-assist systems.

The Land Rover Discovery delivers good comfort in the first two rows while the third row is adequate for the kids. Its highly functional cabin offers also up to 83 cubic feet for the cargo.

The Discovery SUV comes also with premium comfort and tech features from the base variant. The model starts with the leather upholstery, keyless entry and ignition, dual-zone automatic climate control, Apple Car Play and Android Auto, etc. It will also be available with driver assist systems such as forward collision warning, parking cameras, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, etc.

The upper grades will up the ante with larger wheels, upgraded upholstery, four-zone climate control, heated features, massaging function, surround-view cameras, premium sound system and more.  

2021 Land Rover Discovery

2021 Land Rover Discovery: Powertrains

It’s not known yet what exact upgrades the upcoming 2021 Land Rover Discovery will receive in the powertrain department but the focus should be on the addition of the mild-hybrid technology while the plug-in hybrid setup will appear beyond the 2021 model year.

The current Land Rover Discovery operates with the two V-6 engines in the US while the Euro-spec version can be had with the 2.0-liter Ingenium four-cylinder petrol and diesel units. The US-spec Discovery gets 340 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque from the 3.0-liter supercharged V-6 petrol engine. A 3.0-liter turbodiesel makes 254 hp and torque of 443 lb-ft. Both engines are mixed with the 8-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.

The brand has a 48-Volt mild-hybrid system used with the new 3.0-liter Ingenium inline-6 petrol engine fitted in some models but it’s not in the inventory of the current Discovery. It’s not known yet whether this combination will be used in the refreshed Discovery. 

We will see what impact the adoption of the mild-hybrid system will have on the model’s performance and efficiency. The current US-spec Discovery manages up to 18 mph combined with the base, supercharged petrol engine. A turbodiesel setup delivers up to 23 mph combined.

2021 Land Rover Discovery: Release, Price

The updated 2021 Land Rover Discovery should debut by the year’s end with minimal price corrections.

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