Reliability, safety, running costs and what to check before you buy.
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With 278,714 currently licensed in the UK, the Land Rover Discovery is one of Britain's most popular cars.
Euro NCAP awarded the Discovery 5 stars in 2017, with 91% adult occupant and 88% child protection scores.
It has a 69.5% first-time MOT pass rate — below the UK national average of 72%. Common MOT failure areas include suspension, brakes, oil leaks.
Annual running costs are estimated at £4,105 for a typical 5-year-old example, breaking down to £342/month or 51p/mile.
Theft risk is rated high at 12.9 per 1,000 registered vehicles.
NCAP Safety
2017
MOT Pass Rate
69.5%
35,000 tests
Monthly Cost
£342
est. annual total
New From
£45,000
Euro NCAP tested the Discovery in 2017 and awarded it 5 out of 5 stars.
Adult Occupant
91%
Child Occupant
88%
Pedestrian
71%
Safety Assist
76%
There are 74 known DVSA recalls affecting the Land Rover Discovery. Enter a registration number to check whether a specific vehicle is affected.
R/2025/436
On Affected vehicles it is possible that moisture has entered the Gear Shift Module (GSM) during the assembly process. Under certain conditions there is a risk that this moisture could result in non-illumination of the Light Emitting Diode (LED) indicating the selected gear. Non-illumination of the LED gear indicator adjacent to the shifter would not conform to regulated requirements for automatic transmission control position indicator illumination.
Build dates: 2025-08-27 to 2025-08-28
R/2025/280
On affected vehicles due to a software issue in the Electric Power Inverter Converter B (EPICB) it is possible that as the high voltage battery depletes during driving in EV mode the engine may not restart when the state of charge reduces and the vehicle will therefore lose power. There will not be an associated warning to the driver.
Build dates: 2021-10-27 to 2025-07-17
R/2024/326
The manufacturer has determined that in affected vehicles the instructions provided on the method of use of detachable tow balls does not adequately warn of a non-obvious risk which could lead to a failure of the tow ball mechanism causing in-use detachment of the tow ball and trailer detachment.
Build dates: 2004-05-28 to 2016-09-16
R/2025/178
On affected vehicles the turbocharger oil feed pipe clamp may have been installed in the incorrect orientation. Incorrectly installed pipe clamp will not provide sufficient clamp load and therefore risk an oil leak.
Build dates: 2024-01-31 to 2024-05-15
R/2025/149
Jaguar Land Rover in conjunction with law enforcement and insurance bodies is aware of the increase in thefts of vehicles in specific geographical locations within the United Kingdom. there is no fault with Jaguar Land Rover's security systems and they continue to meet stringent automotive legislation. Jaguar Land Rover is offering owners guidance on how to maximise vehicle security and protect against theft.
Build dates: 2013-06-14 to 2015-05-17
+ 69 more recalls. Check a specific vehicle to see the full list.
Based on 35,000 MOT tests, the Discovery has a first-time pass rate of 69.5% — below the UK national average of 72%.
This is slightly below average, which may mean the Discovery needs more careful attention at MOT time. Checking a specific vehicle's MOT history can reveal whether it has a clean record.
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old Land Rover Discovery are estimated at around £4,105 per year, or £342 per month.
Fuel
£1,437
/year
Road Tax
£195
/year
Depreciation
£1,818
/year
MOT
£55
/year
Estimated annual running costs based on available data. Excludes insurance, parking, and finance costs. Actual costs depend on your driving habits and circumstances.
The Discovery achieves a combined fuel economy of around 36.7 mpg (33.2 mpg urban, 39.8 mpg extra-urban).
| Variant | Fuel | Combined | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|
| DISCOVERY 16MY | DIESEL | 36.7 mpg | 3.0L |
| DISCOVERY 16MY | PETROL | 24.6 mpg | 3.0L |
| DISCOVERY 3 | DIESEL | 30.7 mpg | 2.7L |
| DISCOVERY 3 | PETROL | 15 mpg | 4.4L |
| DISCOVERY 3 MODEL YEAR 2009 | DIESEL | 30.7 mpg | 2.7L |
| DISCOVERY 3 MODEL YEAR 2009 | PETROL | 15 mpg | 4.4L |
| DISCOVERY 4 | DIESEL | 32.1 mpg | 3.0L |
| DISCOVERY 4 | PETROL | 20 mpg | 5.0L |
Starting from £45,000 new, a Land Rover Discovery typically retains about 56% after 3 years and 46% after 5 years.
| Age | Retained | Est. Value | Lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | 75% | £33,750 | −£11,250 |
| 2 years | 64% | £28,700 | −£16,300 |
| 3 years | 56% | £25,250 | −£19,750 |
| 4 years | 50% | £22,700 | −£22,300 |
| 5 years | 46% | £20,900 | −£24,100 |
| 6 years | 43% | £19,450 | −£25,550 |
| 7 years | 41% | £18,250 | −£26,750 |
| 8 years | 39% | £17,350 | −£27,650 |
| 9 years | 37% | £16,500 | −£28,500 |
| 10 years | 35% | £15,650 | −£29,350 |
The Discovery has a theft rate of 12.9 per 1,000 registered vehicles, rated high compared to the national average of 5.5 per 1,000. Consider additional security measures such as a steering lock or tracking device.
There are currently 278,714 licensed and 65,872 SORN Discoverys in the UK (344,586 total). This makes it a very common vehicle on UK roads.
The Discovery has a 69.5% first-time MOT pass rate based on 35,000 tests — below the UK national average of 72%. Some models may need more attention at MOT time.
Euro NCAP awarded the Discovery 5 out of 5 stars when tested in 2017. It scored 91% for adult occupant protection, 88% for child occupant protection, 71% for vulnerable road users, and 76% for safety assist features.
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old Discovery are estimated at around £4,105 per year (£342/month). This includes fuel, road tax, depreciation, and MOT fees — but excludes insurance, servicing, and repairs.
There are 74 known safety recalls affecting the Discovery. These are issued by the DVSA when a safety defect is found. You can check if a specific vehicle is affected by entering its registration number.
The Discovery has a theft rate of 12.9 per 1,000 registered vehicles, which is rated high compared to the national average of 5.5 per 1,000. Extra security measures like tracking devices and steering locks are recommended.
A new Discovery starts from around £45,000. After 5 years, a typical example retains about 46% of its original value.
Enter the registration to check its full MOT history, tax status, mileage, recalls and estimated value — all free.
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Get a free email reminder 28 days and 7 days before your MOT expires.
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Free Plate Check may earn a small commission from partner links, at no cost to you.
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