There was stiff competition for the 2018 Auto Express Large Premium SUV of the Year award. But once again, Discovery’s family-friendly features and go-anywhere abilities put it leagues ahead of the opposition for the second successive year.
Last year’s overall Car of the Year holds on to its category win this year in the face of stiff opposition. Yet it’s the Discovery’s family-friendly features and go-anywhere ability that triumph once again.
The Auto Express judges commented that the Discovery glides through miles with ease, combining quiet relaxation with a ride that smothers the worst that Britain’s roads have to offer. It rivals the best luxury cars for a sense of serenity, and it’s on mucky, hilly dirt tracks, when wading through seriously deep water or tackling a tricky steep slope, that there’s the odd juxtaposition of impressive luxury with the wilds outside the window.
The front seats are set high for a good view across traffic or terrain, in a beautifully trimmed and comfortable leather chair with air-con gently calming the cabin’s temperature and, if you want it, soothing music playing through the excellent Meridian audio.
The Discovery is family friendly, fitting you and up to six others easily with five seats at the back, yet there is still plenty of space once they’re on board. The thoughtful touches are equally impressive: cup-holders, storage space and charging points for all, and seats that are easy to put up and down – electrically in many cases.