THE much-lauded Land Rover Discovery 4 has emerged triumphant once again after being awarded the title of ‘4×4 of the Year’ for an astounding seventh year in a row, further cementing Land Rover’s reputation as the world’s leading manufacturer of luxury SUVs.

The Discovery 4, also known as LR4, was awarded top spot by leading car buying guide and motoring authority What Car? beating off stiff competition with its extensive range of class leading features and “bragging rights”.

The award is the latest in a long list of accolades for the Discovery 4, bringing the total medal count to almost 150 since its launch, leaving competitors such as the Toyota Prado, Mitsubishi Pajero, BMW X5 and Mercedes M-Class eating dust.

“Nothing can beat its 4×4 capabilities combined with executive car quality and family-friendly features — it’s a real iconic car,” noted Steve Fowler, editor-in-chief of What Car? “When you consider that the Discovery is so many great cars in one, it’s a bargain,”he added.

Boasting 443 lbs/ft of torque — a 36 per cent increase on the previous model — the Discovery 4 is wowing motorists around the world with its powerful 3.0 V6 twin-turbo diesel engine, height-adjustable air suspension and four piston brake system previously developed for the sports car style of SUVs such as the Range Rover Sport.

David Hastings, senior sales consultant for Land Rover at local dealers ATL Britannia, concurred with Fowler.

“The Discovery 4 follows Land Rover’s separation from the Range Rover flag and as such reaches new heights alongside the Range Rover with its class leading features for prices starting at J$10.22 million,” he said.

“On paper, one might suggest that it competes with Toyota Prado and the BMW X5 but side-by-side they’re simply not in the same league as the Discovery 4 and all cost a similar price.

In fact, one could go as far as to say the nearest competitor is a fully loaded Land Cruiser Cygnus, which could cost a whopping J$8 million more. If a motorist is looking for a full-sized luxury SUV, they would be hard-pressed to find a better vehicle than this,” Hastings added.

What Car? wasn’t the only car magazine singing praises for the Discovery with Australia’s Overlander Magazine claiming the Discovery 4 “feels twice the vehicle the other two are”, when recently compared with the Prado and Pajero whilst underlining the “huge gap in technology between the Discovery 4 and the other two.”

Road Test Reports, saying the Discovery 4 offered “far better refinement and long-distance comfort” placed it ahead of the BMW X5.

According to Hastings, off-road, “the BMW can forget it, as the Discovery is simply unbeatable, even on terrain where you think a car should never venture”.

“When you’re buying a Land Rover in Jamaica, you’re buying more than a vehicle. You’re buying the pinnacle of service standards, not just in this country, but the world over,” added Hastings. “What’s more, our Land Rover master technician is the best in the business and trained to the very highest standards.

This after-sales service coupled with an unmatched bumper-to-bumper three-year/100k km warranty provides the ultimate peace of mind,” said Hastings.