Background: The perception Range Rover vehicles generate for the majority of the general population is that of a sport utility traversing Africa during dark-continent safaris. The British-built sport utility also ranks as a posh status symbol of sorts; many Hollywood types and sports celebrities enjoy being spotted cruising in one. Range Rovers first went on sale in the United States for a brief time between 1970 and 1975 and reentered the market in 1987. Land Rover, Range Rover's parent company, introduced the four-door Discovery sport utility in Europe in 1989 and to U.S. markets in 1994. During the last four years, 55,000 Discoverys have been sold throughout the United States. Longer, wider, roomier, next-generation, 1999 Land Rover Discovery Series IIs, with many new updates and improvements, began trickling into area dealers last December. Range Rover plans to import only 22,000 Discovery IIs to the U.S. market in 1999. Approximately 85 percent of parts on Discovers Series II are brand new. Discovery is the best-selling of three vehicles Range Rover sells in North America; the other two being the more pricey Range Rover 4.6 HSE (starting at $66,000) and 4.0 SE (checking in at $58,000.) All vehicles are manufactured in Solihull, England. Chicagoland boasts four stand-alone Land Rover dealers. Land Rover celebrated fifty years of business in 1998.
Trim levels: Range Rover's Discovery Series II is marketed in one trim level, but several option packages are available to dress up the vehicle. First-generation Discoverys featured two trim choices. Discovery is available with five or seven passenger seating.
Safety features: The vehicle comes well equipped with driver and front passenger air bags, four-channel anti-lock brakes, four-wheel electronic traction control, keyless remote entry, engine immobilization security, front and rear side-impact door beams, child rear-door locks and head restrains for all passengers. It's also the only sport utility vehicles with three-point seat belts covering every seating position.
Engine: Discovery II's high torque, 4.0-liter, V-8, electronic fuel-injected, all aluminum engine delivers 188 horsepower. It's mounted to permanent, four-wheel drive, allowing delivery of power to all four wheels all the time without any driver input during on-road traveling; there is never a need to shift in and out of four-wheel drive since it's constantly engaged. A floor-mounted, two-speed (low and high) transfer gearbox readies Discovery II for serious off-road travel.
Price: Our epsom green, test drive Discovery Series II included a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $34,150. Options included a performance package, self-leveling system and leather appearance package. With the $625 destination charge, the bottom line totaled $40,375.
Standard equipment: Floor-mounted, four-speed, electronically-controlled automatic transmission; automatic dual zone climate control with air conditioning; AM/FM/cassette/weather band radio; cruise control; power windows; power windows and locks; front and rear fog lamps and variable-speed intermittent wipers come standard.
Optional equipment: Individually available options include dual power sunroofs ($1,500), rear air conditioning ($750), six-unit compact disc changer ($625) and leather interior trim ($500). Option packages include a cold climate package with heated front seats and windshield ($500), seven seat package ($1,750), performance package with larger, 18-inch tires ($2,900) and interior leather appearance package (1,950). Other notable features including active cornering enhancement (ACE), available as part of the performance package, and self-leveling rear suspension (SLS), included in the seven-seating package. Active cornering enhancement (ACE), unique to Land Rover, utilizes a hydraulic system reducing the vehicles body movement turning hard cornering. Our test-drive Discovery II included ACE and its virtues were quite noticeable as sharp turns were taken with very little body sway. Self-leveling rear suspension automatically monitors vehicle height when sensors detect an uneven ride height if uneven distribution is detected, such as when towing boats or trailers. Valves in air suspension units automatically open or close accordingly until the vehicle achieves a level ride. Another SLS benefit is drivers can raise the rear of the vehicle 1.6 inches with the touch of a dashboard switch during extreme off-road declines.
Interior: Headlights monitor from the turn signal stalk. Front windshield wipers operate from a right-hand-side stalk while the rear wiper swipes after depressing a dashboard button. The steering wheel included secondary radio controls and most cruise control functions. The stereo system, with averaged-sized preset buttons, is found on the dashboard's top center, above the climate controls system utilizing push buttons to monitor fan speed, temperature and direction. A stand-alone digital clock, placed to the right of the sound system, can be easily viewed by front and second-seat riders. The dashboard stretches straight across rather than incorporating a wrap around layout found in some competitors. Dual cup holder racks retract out from the central dashboard. When in use, cans and soft-drink cups block access to some radio functions. Small, interior door handles, placed low and forward on the door panel, can be a bit awkward to find when exiting the vehicle. Remote controls outside mirror controls are found on the dashboard, left of the steering column. The fuel door, hazard light and rear window defogger buttons reside in a cluster right of the steering column. Rather than locate power window buttons on front doors, the Series II places them between the front seats below the storage bin.
Seating comfort: Our test-drive Discovery Series II included the leather seating option with eight power adjustment settings for the driver's bucket seat. Cloth seating comes standard. While headroom is generous, seats seem a bit tight and confining. Second row seats feature a sixty-forty split. Seat backs fold forward, then both backs and seat bottoms fold forward again, opening up more cargo room than offered in the first-generation Discovery. One nice feature of the second row is the fold down arm rest. When retracted up in a stowed position (and opening up room for a third passenger), the rectangular cushion pushes a middle headrest upward for added middle-rider safety. When down and acting as an armrest, dual beverage holders retract forward from the cushion. The back of the front two bucket seats, now concaved inward from top to bottom, provide a bit more leg room this year for back seat riders. Maneuvering into both front and back seats requires a slight step-up motion due to the vehicle's high 8.2-inch ground clearance necessary for serious off-roading experiences. High wheel wells in back and narrow door openings can make climbing into the second row an off-road adventure in itself. With optional seven-passenger seating, two forward-facing jump seats fold down from the sides of the cargo bed. Back rests then fold up and two headrests fold down from the ceiling; cleaver engineering. Although legs rests on the cargo floor, preteen travelers will enjoy these cozy seats and the cargo area's plug-in audio jacks providing private, musical enjoyments via headphones. Seven-seat Discovery II's also include a hydraulic foot stool under the rear bumper for easier entry from the rear hatch door area.
Exterior: Discovery II's exterior leaves little for interpretive expression; customers either love it or hate it. It's very high roof line and upright posture create an almost retro feel. The large 8.2-inch ground clearance(distance between frame and ground) prepares the vehicle for serious off-road adventures. The entire vehicle measures 6.5 inches longer and 3.8 inches wider than the model it replaces The rear hatch door, hinged on the right side, swings out side-to-side when opened via a left-side handle. The full-size spare tire stows on the door's right side, but has been lowered one inch, opening up more rear window space and improving rearview mirror visibility. Rear light clutters, now raised by 12 inches, can now be more easily seen by other drivers. Sixteen inch tires come standard; 18-varieties cost extra. The front windshield is now 1.2 inches taller than the previous generation Discovery. All four door handles, updated this year, now feature black, strap-like designs that pull out when opening. The square, locking fuel tank door with tethered cap is found on the right (driver's side). Discovery Series II offers a choice of eleven exterior colors.
Fuel economy: Since Discovery II boasts permanent four-wheel drive, which devours fuel for breakfast, lunch and dinner, mileage estimates are marginal at best. Discovery II averages 13 miles per gallon in city driving and 16 m.p.g. on the highway. Premium unleaded fuel is recommended when filling the 24.1 gallon tank.
Final thoughts: When Range Rover became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Germany's BMW Group in 1994, the German company made a consorted effort to improve quality control at the British company. Range Rovers own management concedes while Range Rover appealed to an affluent clientele, consumer opinion surveys placed Range Rover at the bottom half of many satisfaction surveys earlier this decade. Recent J.D. Power and Associates consumer opinion surveys indicate Land Rover efforts have addressed many quality concerns. One way Range Rover has improved customer relations is through company sponsored, regional off-roading "Wheels" events three or four times a year. These events serve instructional purposes as well as a chance for other owners and Range Rover personnel to meet and mix with cache clientele. Discovery Series II is built for serious off-road adventures and is one of the most capable on the market. However, interior comfort and ergonomic nuances are at times compromised in favor of off-roading necessities. High ground clearance creates step-up movements when entering through narrow door openings. Low, awkwardly placed interior door handles need to be relocated closer to occupants. Currently, Land Rover boasts 118 dealerships nationwide; 75 of these represent stand-alone Range Rover dealers while remaining dual dealers share rent with another manufacturer. Many stand-alone Range Rover facilities, including four area locations, resemble vacation lodges from the outside but include such creature comforts as tile floors inside. |
