Higher Base Price, Cheaper Diesel Coming to 2018 Land Rover Discovery

Steph Willems
by Steph Willems

Newly restyled for its 2017 debut, the fifth-generation Land Rover Discovery rock crawls into 2018 much the same, save for pricing, new standard and available content, and the wider availability of a powerplant with a bad global reputation.

Not to say that Jaguar Land Rover’s 3.0-liter diesel V6 is a bad motor — rather, that all oil-burning engines have taken an image hit since Volkswagen’s recent naughtiness. Still, Jaguar Land Rover is enjoying surprising success with its diesels in the United States, so it’s not entirely surprising to see a powerplant known for stump-pulling torque setting up shop in another off-road focused model.

For 2018, the price of an entry-level Discovery SE rises from $50,985 (USD) after delivery to $53,085, an increase of $2,100. However, if you’re a diesel lover who doesn’t want to shell out for a higher-trim model, you’re in luck. The 3.0-liter diesel — which, like last year, adds $2,000 to the window sticker — is now available on the SE, HSE, and HSE Luxury, rather than just the latter two.

That pushes the entry price of a diesel Discovery down from $59,945 after delivery to $55,085. The Td6 engine, which promises five extra miles per gallon on the EPA combined cycle, offers up 254 horsepower and 443 lb-ft of torque, mated to a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission. Gas-powered variants pair that tranny with a 340 hp, 332 lb-ft 3.0-liter V6.

Moving up the trim ladder will cost a bit more for 2018, with the (gas-powered) HSE rising from $57,945 to $59,485. An HSE Luxury now costs $66,485, up from last year’s $64,945.

For the new price, all buyers receive a 10-inch multimedia touchscreen (even lowly SE patrons), with a 12.3-inch instrument cluster display now standard on HSE and HSE Luxury. Those upper-crust trims also see a second-generation Head-Up Display, now with piles more space to flash information relating to vehicle speed, traffic sign recognition, Adaptive Cruise Control, gear selection, and driver assist features.

Aiding our connection to the modern world, 4G Wi-Fi joins the across-the-board standard features list. Perhaps more important, at least for the safety conscious, is the 2018 Discovery’s standard automatic emergency braking with pedestrian recognition.

What you won’t get for 2018, however, is the old LR4 back. JLR has admitted the new model’s soft appearance leaves some Discovery purists wishing for more.

[Image: Jaguar Land Rover]

Steph Willems
Steph Willems

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 4 comments
  • Sckid213 Sckid213 on Nov 09, 2017

    I've only seen two of these so far in the LA area (which is Range Rover central). The styling is somehow goofy and oafish, like an inbred cousin to the rest of the...range. I also see very few Discovery Sports, which really don't look premium at all. If they keep this up, I could imagine LR discontinuing the Land Rover line and just focusing on Range Rover. Their modern day target audience wouldn't even notice.

    • See 1 previous
    • Ajla Ajla on Nov 09, 2017

      "Goofy and oafish" is a perfect description of the entire current Land Rover lineup. Even the Range Rover looks like a school bus chop on a Yukon. I expect the next Defender will look like a 120% scale Renegade.

  • PrincipalDan PrincipalDan on Nov 09, 2017

    That rear 3/4 shot makes it look like the designers were working off of a carbon copy of the current Durango.

  • TCowner We've had a 64.5 Mustang in the family for the past 40 years. It is all original, Rangoon Red coupe with 289 (one of the first instead of the 260), Rally Pac, 4-speed, factory air, every option. Always gets smiles and thumbs ups.
  • ToolGuy This might be a good option for my spouse when it becomes available -- thought about reserving one but the $500 deposit is a little too serious. Oh sorry, that was the Volvo EX30, not the Mustang. Is Volvo part of Ford? Is the Mustang an EV? I'm so confused.
  • Mikey My late wife loved Mustangs ..We alway rented one while travelling . GM blood vetoed me purchasing one . 3 years after retirement bought an 08 rag top, followed by a 15 EB Hard top, In 18 i bought a low low mileage 05 GT rag with a stick.. The car had not been properly stored. That led to rodent issues !! Electrical nightmare. Lots of bucks !! The stick wasn't kind to my aging knees.. The 05 went to a long term dedicated Mustang guy. He loves it .. Today my garage tenant is a sweet 19 Camaro RS rag 6yl Auto. I just might take it out of hibernation this weekend. The Mustang will always hold a place in my heart.. Kudos to Ford for keeping it alive . I refuse to refer to the fake one by that storied name .
  • Ajla On the Mach-E, I still don't like it but my understanding is that it helps allow Ford to continue offering a V8 in the Mustang and F-150. Considering Dodge and Ram jumped off a cliff into 6-cylinder land there's probably some credibility to that story.
  • Ajla If I was Ford I would just troll Stellantis at all times.
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