Land Rover has given the Discovery a fairly thorough refresh for 2021 that includes two new turbocharged engines—a 296-hp four-cylinder and a 355-hp six-cylinder—as well as a new Pivi Pro infotainment system with an 11.4-inch display. A new grille, tweaked exterior lighting elements, and new wheel designs give the Disco a visual update, and a new R-Dynamic model—complete with glossy black exterior accents—joins the lineup. Land Rover has improved rear-seat comfort by adding additional padding to the second-row chairs. There's a new 12.3-inch digital gauge display and a full-color head-up display for the driver; a toggle-style gear selector is also new and all Discovery models now come standard with an adjustable air suspension.
PROS Legitimate off-road capability, stylish exterior, modern technology comes standard.
CONS Clumsy handling, cargo space suffers with third row in use, adults won't fit comfortably in the rearmost seats.
“A heroically talented go-anywhere, do-anything family SUV. Just be sure you *need* this much space and ability ”
PROS Unstoppable off-road, superb motorway manners, vast cabin space, improved interior tech
CONS Too damn big for the UK. Perhaps a little over-endowed for most of us. And now the Defender’s here, wouldn’t you sooner have that?
For 2021 Refreshed exterior styling,New infotainment system,New four- and six-cylinder gasoline engines; the diesel is discontinued.
PROS Smooth on-road driving manners Above-average capabilities off-road Luxurious interior with excellent materials Clever features in terms of utility and technology
CONS Infotainment system can be difficult to operate
Former T8 plug-in hybrid is now called Recharge.Adaptive headlights, hands-free liftgate and rear USB-C ports added as standard.
Pros Elegant interior design Spacious second-row seating Many standard safety tech features Available as a plug-in hybrid
Cons Not as fun to drive as most competitors Too many controls tied to frustrating touchscreen interface Ride is a little busier than you might expect from a luxury crossover
The XC60 receives several new standard features for 2021, including blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, LED headlights, a wireless smartphone charging pad, and front parking sensors, as well as a new 19-inch wheel design and power-folding exterior mirrors with an auto-dimming function. Volvo has eliminated AM radio on the XC60, but fans of the format will still be able to listen via a provided app, TuneIn, through the infotainment system.
Pros Handsomely designed inside and out, good fuel economy from all three powertrains, plenty of standard safety tech.
Cons Infotainment system response lags at startup, hybrid powertrain needs refinement, dinky interior storage bins.
The 2019 Volvo XC60 is the full picture: advanced powertrains, gorgeous interior, subtle exterior.
Pros New, affordable front-wheel drive offering Gorgeous interior Competent powertrains Standard advanced safety features Logical and sharp touchscreen
Cons Can get pricey quickly Not especially fuel efficient without a plug Requires premium fuel It’s not in our driveway now
