Reply With QuoteThanks Arapiles, how about real world fuel consumption? Any D5 owners with figures to compare with D4?Originally Posted by Arapiles
ChatterBox
SubscriberWhich is why, having sat in both the D4 and the D5 at the same dealers, I bought the low-K, second-hand D4. And even the dealers told me that the D5 has less leg room, so I suspect that LR is getting some fairly blunt feedback from their dealers.I had my first look at a D5 yesterday, The outside was as seen in the adverts and there have been enough comments about the look.What truely disappointed me was the interior. Don't get me wrong sitting in the drivers seat was pure luxury. But the headroom in the middle row of seats was abysmal. The roof brace on the D3 & D4 is behind the passengers head, in the D5 it is in front of the passengers head. This makes it feel like the roof is much lower that it is, and the roof is quite low above the passenger head. I have more headroom in our Micro and Mirage than in the D5.Moving to the rear set of seats was even worse, the whole car pulls in from the middle row of seats. Everything apart from the floor gets narrower the further back you go. This makes you feel like you are being crammed into a small space, tucked away in a little pocket, or put in a cupboard for punishment.Now to the windows. I understand that with cameras all around driver vision is not such a big deal, but small cars have small windows. Cheep cars also have small windows. The D5 has small windows.With the small windows, low roof, tight feeling space in the rear, I did not feel like I was in a luxury car. I would like to see a D4 & D5 side by side to see the difference in roof hight and passenger space.My thoughts were that it did not feel like an SUV, just a big car. Sure it has all the tech and suspension to get you places, but as a passenger I would not want to go to those places sitting in those seat.
By the way, the D5's CD is 0.33 vs 0.40 for the D4, but the frontal area of the D5 could actually be larger than the D4's.
Wizard
Thanks Arapiles, how about real world fuel consumption? Any D5 owners with figures to compare with D4?
Wizard
Haha its supposed to look like a bigger disco sport. And similar to a range rover. Thats the whole point of their similar exterior design
Anyways. I can't afford one anyway. I agree with you on the D3 looking good though. I just washed mine and after 2 years of ownership i still look back at it when walking away
Master
The most important facet of a vehicle for aerodynamics is the rear, thats why the patrol and many newer cars are rounded there. The D5 takes it a step further with that taper.
However, when loading a Perentie to cross the Simpson Desert, we put a hungry board behind the rear seat and loaded it to the ceiling, and the square rear was perfect for swallowing a heap of stuff.
The only way to have space and aerodynamics is to have a bigger vehicle.
Master
Since fuel economy is affected by a multitude of factors, such as engine efficiency, aerodynamics, rolling resistance, drivetrain friction, etc, no one factor can create a quantum leap. But they seem to be tackling it on numerous fronts.
Wizard
Yes but I'm trying to get to the bottom of whether all the reasons for the D5's new shape (other than aesthetic) are actually making any difference? Otherwise it's just spin and the new shape is all about attracting a different market segment from that of the D4 IMO.
ChatterBox
SubscriberExactly right, we were driving behind a D5 in the city last week and my wife commented on how inwards-tapered the rear of the D5 is.
ChatterBox
SubscriberI'll see if I can track down the CdA (which is CD times frontal area).
Real world consumption should be better, you'd hope ....
ChatterBox
SubscriberI'm not entirely sure what I'm trying to convince you of, but here's a little light reading on the subject of pedestrian safety:
Taking the Hit: How Pedestrian-Protection Regs Make Cars Fatter - Feature - Car and Driver
European Pedestrian Crash Standards Will Make Global Changes in Car Design Inevitable | Safety Research & Strategies, Inc.
If you want some heavy reading, here's the legislation:
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-conte...LEX:32009R0078
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-conte...LEX:32009R0631
The legislation basically only applies to light vehicles, both passenger and cargo. The 70 series cruisers are no longer sold in Europe and the G Wagon has been modified to meet the legislation.
The styling has been changed for a whole range of reasons, pedestrian safety, aerodynamics, weight saving, fuel economy and to bring it in to line with their current corporate style.
I'd suggest it's not so much about attracting a different market segment as narrowing that segment down. It's not all that long ago that Land Rover only had 3 models and Discovery had to fill the very large gap between Defender and Range Rover. Now with the increasing model range it can be more closely targeted to a market segment.
Where Discovery has previously sat in relation to most of our expectations will be filled with the new Defender range - and yes it is coming. I also doubt this will be the last model we see with a Discovery badge on it, so there may well be another Discovery that is more aligned to our expectations as well.
Cheers,
Jon
ChatterBox
SubscriberBeats me what they're up to as with so many similar looking cars now all looking the same. The new RR Velar for example, what's that do different?
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