FACTS AT A GLANCE
Model: Land Rover Discovery 3.0 SDV6 HSE priced from £53,750.
Engine: 3.0-litre diesel V6 unit developing 252bhp.
Transmission: 8-speed automatic transmission driving all four wheels.
Performance: Maximum speed 112mph, 0-60mph 8.8 seconds.
Economy: 35.3mpg.
CO2 Rating: 213g/km.

WITH the continual pressure on makers of large SUVs to clean up their acts, this latest update from Land Rover of its Discovery 4 should silence the critics.

While the car looks largely the same as before, changes to the sole diesel engine option have resulted in a meaningful reduction in emissions and fuel consumption.

For UK buyers the engine of choice is Land Rover’s familiar 3.0-litre diesel unit complete with the now expected stop-start technology. All in all, the changes see the car drop a tax band, which should please business users.

Contributing to this cleaner performance is the car’s eight-speed auto gearbox, which combined with the already comprehensive off-road technology allows drivers to pilot the Discovery with confidence over the toughest terrain you can find.

On the looks front the purists can breathe easy – the basic shape remains the same – although Land Rover’s designers have tinkered around the edges. Subtle changes to the car’s headlights, bonnet and bumpers prove the Discovery’s bold looks continue to age well.

However, nothing stands still in the technology environment, and the 2014 Discovery has been given a welcome boost in the shape of blind spot monitoring, a handy wading depth sensor array to warn you of exceeding the car’s maximum operating depth and cameras that can help enhance your vision at T-junctions.

As for the rest of the Discovery experience it’s business as usual. The car’s plush cabin, complete with minimalist, fuss-free fascia delivers a premium ambience to rival that of conventional executive saloons.

As a family wagon the Discovery isn’t short of space or seats, while the tailgate opens wide to reveal a flat, wide expanse of space capable of swallowing all manner of kit for an active lifestyle.

On road the car displays a level of poise and refinement that’s rare in something this tall and weighty. The lofty driving position gives you an incredible view of the road ahead, allowing you to look over parked cars or hedges.

It goes without saying the Discovery is untouchable off-road. Possibly the most rounded of all Land Rover’s products, the combination of a powerful diesel engine, an intelligent transmission and a suite of electronic aids designed to help even the most experienced driver, combine to make light work of the toughest of hazards.

Add its towing abilities and you’ve got a car capable of around town and able to transport you safely across inhospitable terrain.