The Land Rover Finding 3 – you will probably love or hate this big of a 4×4 tow car. I consider so where my passion lies….
I have big begun a fan of Land Rover without regard to various of the issues that besieg these company vehicles. I have ran a show of Land Rover Defenders where really are the workhorse of the 4×4 world and several years ago, I briefly owned a Land Rover Advancement as I fancied a little luxury. That experience put me off Land Rover Discoveries, I thought, forever. It was one of the most harmful cars I had ever operated, it leaked, it rolled all over the road and went rusty at an alarming rate. No matter this, you could see the potential in this vehicle if only Land Rover could have fashioned them clearly and chosen a modicum of class control. I sold the Land Rover Discovery after nine months of property after a hair-raising ride to decrease one night with my eldest son.
The last of the Land Rover Discovery Television series 2 models had immense improvements with extra roll consistency and the benefits of the TD5 engine, bear in mind, less than the skin was the old Disco and there was no escaping the difficulties that the later models had inherited. There soon came the launch of the Land Rover Advancement 3 with rave reviews from the driving press and several awards. The shape was bold and decisive and the new Discovery looked every ounce a mighty 4×4 off-roader. What was different this time was that Land Rover had created a vehicle that was unbeatable off-road however had lots and lots of on-road refinement. I was seriously convinced by this new leviathan and no matter my better judgement took the plunge into Land Rover ownership once more. I needed a vehicle that will easily tow a 1.7 tonne twin axle caravan and could get me around in the depths of a Northern Scottish winter. After surveying the opponent: Mercedes M Class, BMW X5 and VW Toureg, I purchased a new silver Land Rover Advancement SE TD6 2.7 diesel.
To say that this is a downright different vehicle doesn’t do the Innovation 3 justice. This really is a re-engineered car from top to bottom however in essence it’s all the same a Land Rover and that’s no bad thing. As I said, you decide either to love or hate this car, there seems to be no between. From the front it is all Arnie Schwarzenegger, brutal and imposing with a rather Germanic stance. From the side it looks like a van! There is no obtaining away from the fact that it is very slab sided however unusually aesthetic in its plainess. The rear end of the vehicle is useful and pleasing, with a split upper and lower door a la Range Rover. The old Disco had very low boot space, but now this has simply changed and the boot is large and useful. It also hides two extra seats on all but then the budget model. This makes the Land Rover Finding 3 a true seven seater and the seats are not just for the kids as begin to browse is handy for adults and kids alike. The whole seating association is very comfortable and Land Rover have given the Disco “stadium seating” importance that each rear end row of seats is slightly higher than that in front. This gives back seat drivers a major view of the road ahead and must be good for car sick prone children (not that you normally would let them in your new baby!). The controls feel of a high nature but then the fascia etc. continue to has a workman like appearance. Whether this was deliberate or not, I don’t know; perhaps Land Rover didn’t want their “soft-roader” too soft – remember those Arnie looks.
So, the car looks handy, has plenty of useful new features but then how does it drive compared to previous editions? This is a big car. When I say big, I mean BIG. It is quite intimidating up close and you will think that a car of this size and load (2.7 tonnes of Arnie muscle) normally would be a brute to drive. Well, I’m pleased to report that the Advancement 3 is an absolute pleasure on all of Britain’s excellent roads. Once in the taking seat, the overall vastness of this car is not readily apparent. The Disco handles with elegant ease and has none of the gut wrenching, road rolling characteristics of its predecessors. The ride is firm yet has a big, luxury car feel to it, being unhurried and majestic. It’s not a sports car and never will be. The diesel version sounds like a tractor from the outside but then once in the roomy and airy cabin there is barely anything to hint that this is a diesel. The sound proofing is nothing short of amazing and combined with the six speed automatic gearbox, progress is a pleasure. The auto can be shifted into manual mode but I have only found it of use when overtaking, along with the “sport” mode. In town, the width of the car has to be taken into account and I have on occasions used the power folding mirrors as a pre-emptive strike along the narrow lanes of Devon and Dorset. Parking is helped by front and rear sensors and the mirrors can be made to automatically dip in reverse to help you find the kerb.
For towing I in actuality couldn’t find fault with this car. The torque from the Land Rover TD V6 is more than sufficient and combined with the vehicle’s weight makes towing even the essential trailer a walk in the park. I have to remind myself on occasion that the caravan is continue to behind me, and overtaking other outfits up long inclines is as close to macho as it gets! The nose load limit of 150kg is major to have when the wife and children start packing the caravan and I have never had any trustworthiness difficulties. I have the Land Rover detachable tow bar fitted what kind of is quite low. This can cause struggles unhitching on bumpy ground when you can’t retract the jockey wheel far enough. This is easily solved using the air suspension and a quick blip of the switch raises the car to off-road height and hitching and unhitching becomes a breeze. All of the towing electrics are hidden behind a detachable panel when not in use and come as standard from Land Rover. For braked trailers the best permissible towing mass is 3500kg so no caravan is fairly going to step this vehicle.
Economy. I knew you were going to ask me. Lets just say that it is not the most fuel efficient vehicle on the road. It’s not the most harmful by a very long shot either. Okay, you want figures, well around town don’t expect more than 28mpg. On a motorway run I have seen 34mpg and towing 1700kg of caravan with probably a similar amount in the car (!) I get about 21mpg. Now these figures may put you off but always remember this car weighs 2.7 tonnes and 45mpg is just not ever going to happen even with a following wind. Once you have driven this car, you won’t worry about the economy. Plant a tree every 1000 miles, don’t buy anything from China and switch your computer off when you have read this, and you will be as carbon neutral as the Mayor of London. Don’t move to Richmond probably unless you are loaded.
The Advancement 3 has renewed my faith in Land Rover and every time I drive this car it puts a grin on my face. I haven’t even been seriously off-road with it as it nevertheless quite shiny however those that have are fully paid up customers of the perma-grin club. It has had its teething problems, mainly because this computer controlled car is so bloomin’ complicated but I haven’t experienced very of the horror stories that were floating about a year or two back. Anyway, that has always been awfully in a advantage of Land Rover property! As very long as the eco warriors allow us to keep this vehicle on and off the road, I will be firm fan of what is Solihull’s finest product to date.
