1999 Land Rover Discovery Review

1999 Land Rover Discovery

Far superior.

by: Dan Jedlicka

And the British Land Rover Discovery has been replaced by the 1999 Land Rover Discovery II, which is about 85 percent new and is far superior to its predecessor.

How many bought the original Land Rover Discovery sport-utility largely because of its high snob appeal? It looked odd and reliability wasn't very good. It also handled poorly on pavement. This sport-ute even looked prone to tipping.

That costly Discovery, which debuted for 1994, also wasn't very fast because its rather small 4-liter V-8--based on a 1960s Buick V-8--didn't have enough punch to propel the heavy vehicle with aplomb.

The $34,150 Discovery II hasn't lost weight. It's an inch lower, 3.8 inches wider and fully 6.5 inches longer, with more distance between wheels on each axle for a wider stance. It also has a redesigned suspension for better on-road handling. A big plus is a new $2,900 Performance Package with an Active Cornering Enhancement system that keeps the body even flatter during emergency maneuvers and spirited cornering. Goat-like off-road prowess is retained.

Other key--and pricey--options are a sumptuous $1,950 leather interior and $1,500 dual power sunroofs, which seem rather quirky.

The 188-horsepower pushrod V-8 has added six horspower and more torque. Acceleration to 60 m.p.h. is lively. But the V-8 feels old, compared to engines in rivals like the Lexus RX 300, and 65-75 m.p.h. passing times are slow. No wonder--the Discovery II weighs a staggering 4,575-4,840 pounds, depending on equipment. Economy is awful: an estimated 13 m.p.g. in the city and 16 on the highway.

The new model looks familiar and still has a raised rear roof. But styling is smoother and sportier. There's decent room up front in the quiet interior for two adults, although the big console consumes too much space. Rear legroom is good behind the front passenger, but tight behind the driver for a tall person. The rear seat isn't wide enough to comfortably seat three adults, and narrow back-door openings make it hard to get in and out.

The high front seats provide good side grip and allow a great view of the road, but need considerably more under-thigh support. Power driver seat controls are awkwardly put between the right side of the seat and console. And why the old-fashioned hood prop on such an costly vehicle?

The large cargo area has a rear seat that easily can be folded forward to increase cargo space. But the tailgate swings toward the curb, which can make curbside loading difficult. And the Discovery II still is too high for many private and public garages.

The power steering feels reassuring and is accurate, and the firm-but-supple ride is comfortable. The brake pedal is easily modulated.

The solidly built Discovery II has a last-forever feel. But will an owner want to keep this vehicle a long time after driving more modern competitors such as the RX 300 or Jeep Grand Cherokee?

Dan Jedlicka

Dan Jedlicka joined the Chicago Sun-Times in February 1968 as a business news reporter and was named auto editor later that year. He has reviewed more than 4,000 new vehicles for the Sun-Times--far more than any newspaper auto writer in the country. Jedlicka also reviewed vehicles for Microsoft Corp.'s MSN Autos Internet site from January, 1996, to June, 2008.

Jedlicka remained auto editor at the Sun-Times until October, 2008, and continued writing for the newspaper's AutoTimes section, which he started in 1992, until February, 2009. While continuing his auto writings at the Sun-Times, he served as assistant financial editor of that newspaper from 1970 to 1973, when he began his automotive column.

He has appeared on numerous radio and television shows, including NBC's "Today," ABC's "20/20" and "The CBS Evening News." He was a host, consultant and writer for Fox-TV Channel 32's 1991 New Car Preview show and that Chicago-based station's 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995 Chicago Auto Show Previews.

Jedlicka's auto articles have been printed in national magazines, including Esquire and Harper's. His auto columns have been reprinted in U.S. government publications and economic textbooks and he is profiled in the "World's Greatest Auto Show" history book about the Chicago Auto Show. In late 1975, Jedlicka was host and technical advisor for three one-hour television specials, "Auto Test 76," which aired nationally on PBS and were the first nationally televised auto road test shows.

In 1995, Jedlicka was the recipient of the Better Business Bureau of Chicago and Northern Illinois Inc.'s Consumer Education Award, given annually to a person who has gained distinction in the field of consumer education. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award in the Media category and inducted into the Legends of Motorsports Guild at the Carquest World of wheels custom car show in Chicago in January, 2006.

Jedlicka was a member of the North American Car and Truck of the Year jury, composed of a select number of auto journalists from throughout the country, from 1995 until 2009. From 2010 to 2012, he was a member of Consumer Digest magazine's auto experts panel that gave Best Buy new vehicle recommendations.

He is a 1987 graduate of the Bob Bondurant Race Drivers School and later of the BMW "M" and Skip Barber Advanced Driving schools. He was a member of the U.S. team that participated in the 1987 1,000-mile Mille Miglia race/rally in Italy and has been a race winner at the Chicago area's Santa Fe Speedway.

Jedlicka has owned 25 classic cars, including 1950s and 1960s Ferraris and 1950s and 1960s Porsches, a 1965 Corvette, a 1967 Maserati and a 1957 Studebaker supercharged Golden Hawk. Jedlicka resides with his wife, Suzanne, in the Frank Lloyd Wright historic district of Oak Park. They have two children, James and Michele.

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