Discovery 5. The one or the wrong? Diesel or gasoline!?

Let's start according to the good tradition with a little personal background. In one of the previous articles dedicated to the younger brother “Disco” with the prefix “sport” I already said that I have never been a fan or even a fan of this brand. Although rather reservedly perceived all the jokes and anecdotes about the reliability of the LR. Moreover, Range Rover has always been nice to me. Although there were always others who seemed more interesting.

Specifically, I never liked Discovery of previous generations. And I did not understand the enthusiastic exclamations of the fans of this brand. But I was hooked by a TV commercial where the role of the owner of Disco, it seems to be the third generation, was played by a certain photographer. Traveling in his car to different places, in search of beautiful views for his landscapes. Philosophy and idea already at that time was not only clear to me, but also close. However, the car itself in that version of it did not become “cuter” from this…
And so the British decided to radically change the face of the new Disco. Which, as is often the case, caused a storm of indignation. Both from the owners of Discovery of previous versions, and those who “watched from the sidelines.” “Discovery is not the same” – the softest thing that could be heard. With such “infonoise” I took this car in the petrol version and the HSE Luxury configuration with a 3 liter engine with 340 hp. with.

The car did not appear on the market yesterday, and anyone who is interested must have looked or read more than one review. I see no reason to repeat in terms of the main technical characteristics. And since this blog is more devoted to fishing, then we'll talk from this point of view.
The main claim to the updated version concerns its external data. In my opinion, the discussion of this topic is not a thankful task. You either like the car or you don't. Along with its former angularity, Disco lost a piece of its brutality. But only at first glance. As for me, from a hefty village man, he turned into a “corrugated jock” from the gym. How does it relate to this? Everyone's business. Personally, the car seems to me moderately attractive, but most importantly – in the spirit of the times. Everything else is a matter of taste!

The interior and driving comfort is consistent with the status of this car. A bunch of goodies, comfortable and informative steering wheel, control clarity. The concept of dynamics is a relative thing. But the car can be called harsh. Especially at the start. Sometimes you want more smoothness. The menu is informative and convenient, good enough music, a variety of seat adjustments, including a massager. A good thing, by the way, at long distances. A separate line can be noted and the cruise control system. There is nothing more revolutionary in it. But it works great, allowing you not to think about the high-speed mode. By setting the desired value. Of course, the system is also endowed with the ability to recognize the car ahead, signal that it is approaching the object too quickly, slow down on its own and “chase” the car in front. All this greatly facilitates the task at long distances and the movement of a convoy. Discovery is a travel car. The question is which roads?

Of course, in the minds of the majority – an SUV should do an excellent job off-road. The question is what is considered off-road? Broken mud road or open virgin soil? The second involves special preparation of the machine. Where the ability to make your way through the impassable “jungle” is a set of solutions for the preparation of the car and the qualifications of the driver. Disco is endowed with the necessary set of initial parameters, but still this is clearly not his element.
But broken forest paths, steppe roads, entrances to the reservoir… all this is quite available in stock. Moreover, the work of the suspension on such impassability deserves special praise. In my opinion, this balance is one of the best in the class. When the car remains stiff enough on the track, but also does not give blows in the ass with every bump.

Not to mention the spacious trunk. This is what is most important for us – lovers of fishing trips. When things are always a lot. A set of PVC boat + motor + all equipment will not fit in it if you do not expand at least half of the back row. But if you decompose, then you won't have to play Tetris! For family weekend trips. For a picnic on the lake or a weekend at the recreation center – the regular volume is more than enough. What I was convinced more than once, traveling with my family to various interesting places.

But back to the engine. Whenever I touch on the topic of choosing between gasoline and diesel, there are certainly a couple or two “wise men” in the comments who consider it their duty to “discover the truth”: there are 6 million for a car, there are also some for gasoline. I won't stop repeating. The question is not so much in spending, but in the very psychology of the process. When you can overcome the required distance on one tank without disturbing the rhythm of movement or when you need to make forced stops. And it's good if there are these gas stations on the route. But that's if we talk about traveling around lately. Many travel to Europe. And I am one of them. Where already the financial side of the issue acquires completely different features.
Disco with a gasoline engine is voracious. I would say very voracious, for my generation. Moreover, it is also very dependent on the regime. It is worth adding revolutions, as the speed of lowering the gas tank increases along with the speed. Those. it is quite difficult to calculate how much fuel is required for a long stretch. A couple of trips along the Moscow-Peter route along the M11 highway and it became a little sad.

Discovery with diesel.
Six months after the “parting” with the gasoline Disco, I finally got behind the wheel of this car, but with a diesel engine. The volume is the same 3 liters, but the power is already 249 hp. In the same configuration, but with a bright interior. The difference became noticeable on the very first trip from Moscow to St. Petersburg. When instead of two tanks on a benzo, I drove on one. Yes, diesel is inferior in dynamics, but all this is not so serious. I am generally amused by those who seriously talk about these topics. Saying: yes, the diesel does not go… pfft. The feeling that smart people drive exclusively on the race track. Where, yes, it will be tangible and noticeable. On the highway, the difference is almost imperceptible. And, if by default we are talking about the fact that you should drive within the limits of traffic rules and even more so! If not, then I have a question. Tell, Is it really important for you to accelerate your car to 200 km / h in 20 seconds or 30? For me, it is much more important whether he can stop quickly enough from the regular 130…

In a word, diesel is much more economical and, more importantly, smoother in this indicator. Those. data on average consumption and the rate of decrease in fuel in the tank will be even over a long period. Unfortunately, the data on the official website have little to do with reality. The average consumption for a gasoline engine is 12-14 l / 100 with average data and a smooth driving mode. Heaping on the limit, you can easily see 18-20. For a diesel, I have not seen the promised 7.5 l / 100, but more than 9.5 is also rare. However, these are just computer numbers. My “measured mile” – the distance from home in St. Petersburg to home in Moscow – shows that the difference is slightly less than twice. And this is serious!

Summarize.
So anyway. That or not that new Disco? As for me, quite the same, but for the new generation. For those who are accustomed to the old angular forms and that “brutality”, of course it is difficult to accept the sleek forms of the new body. However, the main charm of the car is still inside. Driving comfort and the comfort of being in the cabin on any of the seats. Which justifies the name. Yes, the new Disco is no longer an SUV in the usual old-school way. But on the other hand, it allows you to very comfortably rush to the right place. Be it a recreation center in Karelia or some Scandinavian lodge.
Diesel or gasoline? For me it's not a question at all. Definitely diesel. I don't want to make unnecessary stops on the track, I don't want to monitor the level. I want to fill up the tank and go! Not thinking that the high speed will make me look for a gas station faster than I planned. Of course, from the point of view of towing a trailer with a boat, diesel will be preferable. But this is solely my opinion.

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