The 2018 Land Rover Discovery scores 6.3/10 at Carivo, ranking #2435 of 2454 suvs, with 4 NHTSA recalls on record and an estimated $3,750/year fuel cost.
Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov & manufacturer data. Figures reflect base trim; actual specs vary by trim level.
About the 2018 Land Rover Discovery
The 2018 Land Rover Discovery is a suv that earns a Carivo score of 6.3/10 — rated Fair. Its strongest dimension is Safety at 8.4/10, while Reliability at 4.6/10 is where it trails the competition most noticeably. Buyers should review the score breakdown carefully and consider higher-rated alternatives before committing.
Reliability and safety are the two dimensions that matter most for long-term ownership costs. At 4.6/10 for reliability, this suv trails its segment. That doesn't rule it out, but go in with eyes open on running costs. Safety lands at 8.4/10 — solid, though some rivals offer more advanced driver-assist features as standard. Confirm official results for your trim at nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Performance at 6.8/10 is a genuine liability and a score that should factor heavily into any buying decision. The powertrain and chassis dynamics trail class rivals by a meaningful margin — don't overlook it. At 7.3/10 for technology, the infotainment and driver-assist package does its job without setting benchmarks — check which features cost extra on lower trims.
Priced from $50,881–$60,336, 14 MPG, seating 7, the Land Rover Discovery sits in the premium tier of the suv category. The value score of 5.0/10 is a red flag — comparable alternatives offer meaningfully more for the same outlay. Shop the segment before deciding. At 8 years old, resale value, parts availability, and whether a successor model has improved on its weak points are all worth investigating before committing.
Verdict: Based on our scoring, the 2018 Land Rover Discovery underperforms its segment peers across multiple dimensions. Unless there's a specific reason it fits your situation — price, a particular trim's features, or availability — there are better-scored alternatives at similar price points worth considering first.
Carivo scores are our own editorial assessment, informed by NHTSA safety and recall records, EPA fuel-economy figures, and manufacturer-published specifications. Scores are reviewed periodically and updated when new data becomes available. See our full methodology →
How It Ranks Among SUVs
The 2018 Land Rover Discovery ranks #2435 of 2454 suvs in the Carivo database — better than 1% of the segment. Its 6.3/10 overall score is 1.1 points below the segment average of 7.4/10. Its $50,881 starting price is about 41% above the segment's median of $36,079.
$0 — 4 campaigns on record; recall work is always free at franchised dealers
Insurance
Varies widely by driver and state — always quote the exact trim before buying
We only print costs we can compute from sourced data (EPA fuel economy, NHTSA recalls). We don't estimate maintenance or depreciation — anyone who gives you one number for those is guessing.
Which Discovery Year Should You Buy?
Smart-money pick: the 2015 Land Rover Discovery scores 6.2/10 — within striking distance of the 2018's 6.3 — and starts roughly $5,500 lower. If you don't need the newest model year, that's money better spent on a higher trim or kept in your pocket.
Strong safety ratings from NHTSA and independent testers
Versatile body style handles daily commuting and weekend adventures equally well
✗ Where it falls short
Below-average reliability data — factor in potential repair and maintenance costs
Value-for-money is a weak point; comparable alternatives offer more for the price
Driving dynamics are adequate but uninspiring; not the choice for enthusiast drivers
Tech suite is functional but lags behind segment-best options; some features cost extra
Fuel economy at 14 MPG is low — running costs will add up quickly
NHTSA Recalls — 2018 Land Rover Discovery (4 on record)
The following recall campaigns have been filed with NHTSA for this model and year. Recall repairs are performed free of charge by franchised dealers; check your specific vehicle with our free VIN recall checker.
Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2018 Land Rover Range Rover, Land Rover Range Rover Sport and Land Rover Discovery vehicles. The Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) system may be disabled without warning the driver…
Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC. (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, Discovery, and Range Rover Velar vehicles. The Auto High Beam (AHB) system does not indicate through the instrument cluster when the high…
Exterior lighting 12/03/2020 · 20V143000
Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Discovery vehicles equipped with low line headlight assemblies. When towing a trailer with the trailer lights connected to the trailer socket and the vehicle's Daytime…
Electrical system / instrument cluster/panel 01/06/2023 · 23V393000
Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2017-2020 Land Rover Discovery vehicles. The UniLatch Keyless Vehicle (KV) entry function may fail to properly latch the rear passenger doors, which can result in the doors opening…
Source: NHTSA recall database, fetched at page build time.
Own a 2018 Land Rover Discovery that's been repaired repeatedly for the same problem? It may qualify under your state's lemon law — run the free lemon law check →
Common Questions — 2018 Land Rover Discovery
Is the 2018 Land Rover Discovery reliable?
We rate the 2018 Land Rover Discovery's reliability 4.6/10 — below the segment average, so budget for higher maintenance. It has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns on record for this model year (details in the recalls section above — repairs are free at dealers).
How many recalls does the 2018 Land Rover Discovery have?
4 NHTSA recall campaigns matched this model and year as of our latest check. Verify your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Is the 2018 Land Rover Discovery worth buying?
It scores 6.3/10 overall, ranking #2435 of 2454 suvs in our database (better than 1% of the segment). Stronger-scoring alternatives exist at similar prices — use our compare tool before committing.
How much does the 2018 Land Rover Discovery cost?
The 2018 Land Rover Discovery starts at $50,881 and ranges up to $60,336 across trims (MSRP when new). At 14 MPG, expect roughly $3,750/year in fuel at 15,000 miles/year.
Which Discovery years should you avoid?
Based on our year-by-year scoring, the weakest Discovery years we've rated are 2016 (6.2/10), 2015 (6.2/10) — each at least half a point below the nameplate's best (6.7/10). See the full year table above before deciding.
What problems does the 2018 Land Rover Discovery have?
The documented issues for the 2018 Land Rover Discovery are its NHTSA recall campaigns, which involve: Forward collision avoidance, Exterior lighting, Electrical system (details in the recalls section above; repairs are free at dealers). For wear-and-tear patterns beyond recalls, owner forums are the best source — we only report what federal data documents.
Owner Essentials — Land Rover Discovery
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