If Land Rover puts everything you want in one car, you'll get a car like the new Discovery.
Seven seats, very good off-road capabilities, every luxurious detail you could think of,
enormous levels of comfort, and a big 6-cylinder diesel.
Audi can pull the same trick, resulting in the Q7.
That might be not as capable off road, but it's still very luxurious,
it still has seven seats, it's still very comfortable,
and it's got a big 6-cylinder diesel in the front as well.
Since the Freelander has been succeeded by the Discovery Sport, Land Rover can put a little extra on the normal Discovery.
And that's something you notice when you're next to it. It's pretty big, enormous really.
The rear is asymmetrical, something which only occurs rarely in wondrous world of cars.
But if you look at this, you can only conclude it has to be ridiculously spacious, right?
And you're right. It's even more spacious than a Ford Galaxy on the third row,
and that's one of the biggest MPV's available today.
This is a Land Rover Discovery 'First Edition', which is equipped with literally everything.
That means you can fold down the seats electrically, and you can get them back up electrically as well.
The middle row is electrically controlled as well, so you move them like this when you want to get in...
The last bit you have to do by hand, but that's the only thing you have to do by hand as well.
It goes to show how much of a MPV is hiding in a SUV.
It's something isn't it? Everytime I'm driving a Land Rover or a Range Rover,
you get that typical "King of the Road"-feeling.
But you also get the feeling people aren't bothered by it, and that quite a different story than when you're driving a German counterpart.
People tend to think you're a bit of a yobbo.
People don't get that impression with this car however.
The seating position is very good, just like the ergonomics in these cars. They never disappoint.
The steering column is adjustable, almost up to your chest,
the steering wheel is of a good size. It's fitted with the right buttons as well.
Something I always have to get used to, is how to operate electric windows.
The buttons are on top of the door, instead of on the side.
That's something you'll get used to pretty quickly though, so the ergonomics are still very good.
The Land Rover Discovery is quite high, and so is the seating position.
You've got a powerful feeling.
The only thing I'm wondering however... Right now I'm driving the TD6,
the biggest diesel and only 6-cylinder engine available, producing 258 horsepower.
What's it going to be like if you drive it with a 4-cylinder diesel, producing only 180 horsepower?
The TD4. Or if you drive the SD4, producing 240 horsepower.
When it comes to power, it isn't a groundbreaking difference between the SD4 and the TD6,
because it only differs 18 horsepower. The only thing is,
this one has got 600 Nm of torque, and the most powerful 4-cylinder 'only' produces 500 Nm.
Nevertheless, this engine really sounds good,
and that contributes to the nice, powerful feeling this car gives you.
It's connected to an 8-speed automatic gearbox, and the ZF-gearbox has been praised a lot already.
It chooses the right moments to change gear, and it utilizes the torques the engine produces.
Nothing wrong with that.
Land Rover's have had this big button in the middle for years now, or at least since the previous Discovery.
The button controls the All Terrain Response System. That way, you can adjust the drivetrain according to the surface you're driving on.
In the front, you find the big knob which controls the automatic gearbox.
Something Jaguar has used for years already, but it isn't always as quick as it could be.
If you want to switch from "D", to "N", to "R", it might take a while sometimes.
On the other hand, it also has a "S"-mode.
For that, you'll have to turn the knob fully to the right.
You can leave the "S"-mode for what it is though, It works pretty well in "D".
The steering is quite good. It involves the driver more when driving than the Audi Q7.
The steering is quite direct, and what stands out in this Discovery as well,
is that it's a lot more dynamic than its predecessor. That one was a lot more floaty.
This one is equipped with air suspension, but it still feels quite sharp.
There isn't too much roll in the chassis, and to be completely honest,
I think it's quite nimble when compared to the old Discovery. And that's a strange thing to say about a car which weighs 2230 kg.
Nevertheless, it's lighter.
The first thing that stands out when you get into the Q7, is the seating position, which is much lower.
You don't really get the feeling you're in a SUV.
And that's something we've noticed in a few other Audi Q's as well.
Take the Q2 for example. If you're in that,
you almost think you're in an A1 or A3.
It's the same story with this Q7. Is this car even a SUV?
Or is it more like a MPV? I think it's a crossover between a MPV and a SUV.
Right, the engines then. The Audi isn't available with 4-cylinders at all.
Even the e-Tron TDI, the plug-in hybrid, has a 6-cylinder.
This is the base engine, a 3.0-litre V6 TDI,
a little down on power: only 218 horsepower and 500 Nm, but that isn't a bad case really.
It's still pretty quick. In fact, it's quicker to 100 km/h than the Land Rover,
which has more horsepower. But is that what it's about?
Is it about sprints? Tenths of seconds when it comes to acceleration times?
No of course not.
The drivetrain is very good. Sufficient amount of power for the Netherlands.
218 horsepower and 500 Nm. The 8-speed automatic gearbox is sublime.
Again, a ZF-product, just like the Land Rover.
The software is determined by manufacturers themselves, but there's nothing to complain about here.
Right now we're driving a car with air suspension, and it's very comfortable.
It constantly feels like it's going to heave, but it's still very sharp.
You can encounter speed bumps pretty fast as well.
The air suspension is optional in this trim however, but it does give a very special feeling to a car like this.
If you have the €2600 to spend on air suspension, always go for it in cars like this.
I mean if you're already spending this money, the air suspension is a very good option.
When it comes to driving the Q7, it's more distant than the Land Rover.
Especially the steering, and that's a common Audi-thing.
The Audi doesn't involve you as much in the driving as the Land Rover.
The steering is a little bit more vague. Of course, that isn't as important in cars like this as in hot hatches or anything.
So it isn't too annoying.
The nice Audi-interiors always distinguish themselves from other interiors.
The Q7 is no exception. I can sort the instruments in front of me any way I like,
you can enlarge the satnav whilst minimizing the speedometer, you can get information about the journey you're on...
Just name it, and it's possible.
And that's very neat. I really think that's quite cool.
It's too bad Land Rover didn't fit something similar in the Discovery.
It's not like the concern doesn't offer anything like that, Jaguar offers it in their XF for example.
But that isn't the case in a Discovery.
But what does it miss when compared to the Land Rover then?
Of course, when it comes to off-road capability, this will come short when compared to the Land Rover.
Sure, it's a Quattro, it's got air suspension which rises,
and it's got Hill Descend Control as well. But if you're trying to encounter harsh Scottish terrain in the Highlands,
always go for the Land Rover.
Everything put together however, makes the Q7 a very nice car to drive.
Then, the Audi MMI-system. It's been perfectioned over the years.
It doesn't have a touchscreen, but it does have central controls with buttons in the center console.
It's very quick and you can rush through the menu's if you want. It's nicer to operate than the system in the Land Rover,
which does have a touchscreen.
When we arrive at the third seating row, it gets a little bit cramped.
When it comes to size, the Audi Q7 actually feels like it's inbetween a Range Rover Sport and a Land Rover Discovery.
Then again, Audi only offers one big SUV,
whilst Land Rover Range Rover offers a lot of big SUV's. Each a little bit different.
But when it comes to space in the back, it isn't as good as the Discovery.
The new Land Rover Discovery is a car which is very fun in its segment.
It's almost like it knows emotions.
That makes it a more fun car than the sensible Audi Q7.
The new Land Rover Discovery reminds me most of a Range Rover Sport, which is enlarged a bit.
It's easier to use and it fits seven people. And that's about it.
Anyway, it isn't exactly a cheap car.
The way it sits there, it'll cost you more than €120.000.
On the other hand, the Audi isn't cheap either.
If you look at the price tag of the Audi behind me, you're still looking at €111.000.