Thinking of trading up from a 2015 D4 to a D5

[Barraman]

I currently have a 2015 D4 TD6 which I love.

Thinking of moving to a new D5. The D5 has been around for a few years now.

What's the verdict? How does the D5 compared with the D4?

I often tow a 6.7M boat, which the D4 does effortlessly.

Don't think I can wait for LR to put a TD6 in the new Defender.

[SimmAus]

I will watch this thread carefully...I currently have a 2016 D4 SDV6 and absolutely love it.
I’m currently thinking of holding it for a few more years to see how the D5 evolves and new Defender handles in the real world...
Curious to hear from current D5 users as to their transition from the D4...
Cheers

[EastFreo]

There is a really great Discovery 5 Facebook page. Worth joining the group.

[EastFreo]

There is a really great Discovery 5 Facebook page. Worth joining the group.

[Tombie]

Give an unbiased owner a call - Ring Ben from APT....

[DazzaTD5]

IMHO...
*As the V6 in the D5 is the same engine family as your current D4, as in a problematic Ford engine plus the D5 suffers oil dilution issues.
*A D4 really is just about trouble free (cough, apart from engines) as in its the last generation of the D3 and really is a good vehicle in many ways.
*Unfortunately Jaguar Land Rover continue to build vehicles that are plagued with poor build quality and poor reliability.
*To me this is a case of the devil you know.

[IndusD4]

... plus the D5 suffers oil dilution issues.

There's not been any evidence of actual fuel in oil dilution (see various oil test results on this forum and others) , instead LR refer to them as early service warnings. Early models suffered from having to go for an oil change every 3 months (as did mine) but a software update has resolved those issues and my service intervals are now what they should be. These additional oil changes were done under warranty.

I feel we can put this myth to rest.

Ron

[trout1105]

The fuel dilution problem in the D5's is Not a "Myth" at all, It is a KNOWN problem and even JLR admits there is a problem.

As far as "Trading UP" to a D5 goes I personally believe that trading a Good D4 in for a newer D5 is a retrogressive move.

[DazzaTD5]

*it's no myth, Land Rovers are still having engine failures, even the new ingenium engines have had failures.
*I also remember seeing a JLR service bulletin with regards to oil dilution along the lines of it being more than just a software update.
*More BS from Jaguar Land Rover, "no no its a software issue, it's all fixed" A bit like "no no we have updated crankshafts etc etc on the V6 diesel" and "it's only a X% percentage of engines that fail" yet engine failures continue to happen.
*At this stage Jaguar Land Rover simply can't be trusted to get it right.

[WhiteD3]

Been there done that.

Is the D5 better than the D4? The D5 rides better, has far more safety and tech features, is far cheaper to run and service. It's also bloody expensive, ugly as and ergonomically challenged (compared to the D4). I do think the SD6 SE would be a great vehicle to have (especially at the mo as LR are doing deals) and really it has no peer (large 4WD tourer) in the market at this time. "Maybe" when the next gen LC, Jeep GC or the diesel Patrol come along there'll be alternatives.

For similar money you could go an MB GLE if there's no off road travel. If there is go a V6 Amarok and save yourself 30-50K.

[rar110]

Amarok has its own DPF problems.

[Barraman]

"Is the D5 better than the D4? The D5 rides better, has far more safety and tech features, is far cheaper to run and service. It's also bloody expensive, ugly as and ergonomically challenged (compared to the D4). I do think the SD6 SE would be a great vehicle to have (especially at the mo as LR are doing deals) and really it has no peer (large 4WD tourer) in the market at this time."

Pretty much sums up my thoughts at this time!If a D5 rides better than a D4, it must be one hell of a ride - because I think the D4 is pretty damn good!

I think I am sticking with the D4 at least until the next iteration of the D5 comes out - when some of the known bugs should be fixed.

[Arapiles]

The D4 and D5 are quite different vehicles and a lot of the good points of the D4 simply aren't present in the D5: for example, in the D5, unlike the D4, third row passengers get less legroom and tiny, high porthole windows - but if you're not using the third row much that won't be a concern.

[wayneD]

I traded my D3 in 18 months ago on a D5. I used the D3 offroad quite a lot but apart from a couple of stints on the beach and a trip into the local state forest the D5 has not really had any serious off road trips, but that will change shortly.

I have towed my camper trailer with the D5 down to Vic (we are in the Northern Rivers area of NSW) and up as far as Townsville and back through central Queensland and it has performed faultlessly. I am about to clock 50,000 klm's and have not had had a problem (am I tempting fate here?). The D3 was costing me a lot to keep it on the road and I had lost confidence in its ability to get me around. I loved the shape of the D3 and the ride but the D5 is a great vehicle to drive and the 3ltr engine pulls the van along effortlessly. My wife would not drive the D3 when towing but is happy to get behind the wheel of the D5.

Must admit Im happy with my upgrade. I looked at other vehicles Toyota and Ford but came back to LR.

[akovach]

I think those that say that going to a D5 from a D4 is a retrograde step are delusional. The D5 is in every aspect better. Better off-road, better on-road, safer, more responsive, more frugal, etc. The question is, is the D5 $40,000 plus better?

[Barraman]

Thanks for all the responses.

ATM my thinking on the D5 is: its capable, ugly (in the eyes of this beholder) and questionably reliable.

I won't be rushing out to order one, but will stick with my D4 for a while longer.



The apparent capability of the D5 comes as a bit of a surprise to me.
The ugly I can live with.
Perhaps the bugs will be ironed out with the next iteration!

[PeterC]

There is not the range of touring accessories available for the D5 yet compared to the D3/4 I think. ECB have a bull bar but I would like a long range tank.

[Arapiles]

I think those that say that going to a D5 from a D4 is a retrograde step are delusional. The D5 is in every aspect better. Better off-road, better on-road, safer, more responsive, more frugal, etc. The question is, is the D5 $40,000 plus better?

Well, it is a retrograde step if you're in the third row and want to see out. Or want any head or leg room back there. Or want to fold the central middle row seat down. Or want to see where the front corners are.

No doubt the D5 has its own strengths, but my point - and plenty of others have made the same observation - is that the D5 really isn't the successor to the D4 or D3, because it doesn't incorporate the distinct features of those vehicles.

[DiscoTom]

Hi Barraman,
i'm onto my second D5. traded the 2017 HSE TD6 to a 2019 MY20 HSE SDV6. great vehicles. very happy with these D5's.
love the electronics have not yet tested the 4WD capabilities. once this beer virus is over will give it a try.

also would point out that my D5 speedo is out 6km as well. When towing the caravan it is out 9KM. suspect it is because I now have AT tyres on. ????

[Lukeis]

Hi Barraman,
i'm onto my second D5. traded the 2017 HSE TD6 to a 2019 MY20 HSE SDV6. great vehicles. very happy with these D5's.
love the electronics have not yet tested the 4WD capabilities. once this beer virus is over will give it a try.

also would point out that my D5 speedo is out 6km as well. When towing the caravan it is out 9KM. suspect it is because I now have AT tyres on. ????

Jeezus, you burn through cars!

Ps I love the D4, but in my experience the running costs and depreciation of this car is about the same as the depreciation of a brand or one year old car with warranty.

My car D4 is in getting an 8k new gearbox at only 160k so your beloved D4 might be solid now but for how much longer?

I’ll go a year old D5 soon and collect some warranty, or you could go one with the new five year warranty, sounds great but I don’t have the extra money

[brumby]

We swapped our much loved Discovery 3 HSE when it got to 250,000km for a late 2017 Discovery 5 HSE. I originally set out to buy a low km Disco 4 but could not find one and settled on the Disco 5. At first I missed the airy cabin of the 3 and found the 5 to be a bit 'closed in" but we have got used to that.

The Disco 5 feels like it has much more power due to the lighter body, is incredibly economical and much quieter inside (although we thought the Disco 3 was very quiet back in the day). We have clocked up 55000km in the 5 without a single reliability issue including trips to Fraser Island towing our camper, Western NSW and Victoria.

Adding the Ad Blue every few months is a bit of a pain but I have got the hang of it now.

Our Discovery 5 has proved to be a well equipped, fuel efficient, fast a reliable vehicle which we will probably keep a long time.

Paul160256

[Tins]

the D5 really isn't the successor to the D4 or D3, because it doesn't incorporate the distinct features of those vehicles.

I have always believed that that is the role of the L663 Defender. That car is far more Disco than Deefer.

[chuck]

I currently have a 2019 SDV6 HSE D5 which I am very happy with.

Power is great, fuel economy is good currently averaging 7.6 litres per 100km with big tyres.

Love all the features especially since I do a lot on the highway.

It is a big car.

It is very capable off road and will go more places than I care to take it.

Tows beautifully - had 3.5 tonne on the back last weekend and hardly knew it was there.

Great car

I have had 2 x D4's, 1 D3, 1 D2 & 1 D1 so know a bit about Discoveries, they only one that did anything better than the D5 was the D2 and that was off road & that was a pretty well sorted for hard off road trips with D2au.

My only regret is lack of bull bars as I live in Kangaroo Country & would also like to fit a winch as back up when in SA or in the high country in Vic

[Arapiles]

I have always believed that that is the role of the L663 Defender. That car is far more Disco than Deefer.

Richard Hammond agrees with you:

Richard Hammond takes his dog for a walk in the new Defender - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUlHV6FbXm8)

See his comments at 7:53

"It's the best Discovery you ever built"