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We review the Land Rover Discovery Commercial Dynamic HSE
Thanks to Stuart Kennedy at Jaguar Land Rover's dedicated Scottish business centre in Hillington, Glasgow, at Lookers, one of our latest Industry Supplier Members, we had the privilege of test-driving the brand-new Land Rover Discovery Commercial Dynamic HSE.
The Discovery Commercial is not just any 4x4, it is arguably the most premium van on the market. For those in the plant sector, it represents a significant upgrade from the typical double-cab pickup, offering a blend of luxury and rugged utility that is hard to beat.
Journey highlights
Our first journey in the Discovery took us on a 500-mile round trip from the SPOA offices in Stirling to the Hillhead Quarry Exhibition, a test of the vehicle’s comfort and fuel efficiency, despite being under the constraints of van speed limits.
The driving experience was exceptional. Under the bonnet, our vehicle boasted Land Rover’s latest 3.0-litre, 6-cylinder engine, delivering 350hp and 700Nm of torque. Motorway miles were devoured with ease, thanks in part to the vehicle’s air suspension system, which ensures a ride quality that’s more akin to a luxury SUV than a commercial van.
Inside you forget you’re in a van. The Discovery Commercial’s interior is second to none in the commercial vehicle segment. With leather upholstery throughout and electrically adjustable seats, the cabin is both well-appointed and supremely comfortable. The high driving position offers excellent forward visibility, although the blacked-out rear windows may take some getting used to, particularly for those coming from pickups or traditional cars.
The Discovery’s infotainment and HVAC controls are managed through Land Rover’s latest Pivi Pro system. While the interface is intuitive, like many touchscreen systems, it can be challenging to operate while driving. Fortunately, the lengthy queue into Hillhead gave us ample time to master its features.
In the rear, the transformation from a passenger vehicle to a commercial workhorse is evident. The second-row seats have been replaced with a flat load area and a steel bulkhead, split solid at the bottom and mesh at the top. Beneath the load floor, where the second row footwells would normally be, are two useful cubby boxes, perfect for storing PPE and work boots. The load floor height is higher than average, but the rear air suspension can be lowered at the touch of a button, making loading and unloading much easier. We were tempted to test the limits by loading a final drive for a 30t excavator into the back, but ultimately decided against it - faith in forklift driver precision only goes so far!
On the return journey to Stirling, we took the opportunity to hook up our Tenstar simulator trailer for an event nearby. The Discovery Commercial is rated to tow up to 3,500kg, making it ideal for those in the plant sector who need to transport heavy equipment. Pulling our big Ifor Williams Transporta trailer was a breeze. The only other commercial vehicles that come anywhere close to this level of towing prowess are the V6-engined pickups. Towing a Bomag 120 roller or a Kubota U27 mini-excavator is something the Discovery Commercial will handle with ease.
Commercial benefits
Since the Land Rover Discovery Commercial is classified as a van, it benefits from the same tax advantages as any other van.
Benefit in Kind Tax – As a ‘van’ BIK is fixed at £3,500, 20% taxpayers will pay £700 a year, 40% taxpayers pay £1,400.
Vehicle Excise Duty is £275.
Compare this with the same taxes and benefit charges for a regular Discovery and, suddenly, you’ll realise why the commercial version is so popular. Essentially, if you’re a worker with a company car budget or a business owner looking to make the most out of your vehicle spending, you’ll get far more for your money with a Land Rover Discovery Commercial, simply because you’ll save hundreds a month thanks to its status as a van. It’ll look just as great parked on site as it does at the company car park or when visiting clients and best of all, it’s more practical.
While it’s true that the Discovery Commercial is not the cheapest van on the market, it is aimed squarely at those who value premium specifications and unparalleled capability.
This very vehicle is available for demonstration at Scotland’s Jaguar Land Rover business centre. SPOA members can contact Stuart Kennedy directly for exclusive member-only deals and availability on current stock.
Contact information:
Stuart Kennedy
Jaguar Land Rover, 2 Mossland Drive, Hillington Park, Glasgow
StuartKennedy@lookers.co.uk | 0141 332 7777 | 07580 998 008