In spite of its refined roadworthiness, the Discovery Series II has not lost Land Rover's renowned off-road capability. It still features lots of suspension travel to climb over rocky terrain. Permanent four-wheel drive means there's nothing the driver needs to do before plunging off road. Discovery comes standard with a four-speed ZF automatic transmission. A transfer case provides a low range for extremely steep or slippery terrain.

It's in extreme conditions that the Discovery really shines. We drove one through deep, unplowed snow, over icy roads and on treacherous primitive paths around the world and the Discovery never hesitated. It always went places where other 4WD vehicles could not go. Exceptional wheel travel with excellent articulation means that when the left front wheel drops into a big hole, the right rear wheel is less likely to lift off the ground. A high ground clearance, generous angles of approach and departure and the capability of wading through 20 inches of water mean few obstacles will stop a Discovery.

Land Rover's sophisticated traction control system detects wheel slippage and automatically applies brake pressure to the spinning wheel, thereby directing torque to the wheels with the best traction.

Hill Descent Control maintains a controllable vehicle speed during steep off-road descents: The system works in low range below 34 mph. Simply press a button and keep your feet off the pedals. Hill Descent Control automatically applies brake pressure and uses engine braking, so the Discovery confidently creeps down terrifyingly steep grades.

Electronic Brake Distribution takes the anti-lock brake system well beyond standard ABS. Electronic Brake Distribution provides quicker, safer stops by transferring braking force front to rear to ensure optimum balance and stability.

The Series II long-travel, live-axle suspension is light years better than the old Discovery's and shares much in common with the $59,000 Range Rover. Discovery's wider track and new steering geometry provide more stable highway manners. The Discovery uses a strong body-on-frame design. It is a superb design for off-road driving. Side-impact beams are designed into all four doors, rather than just the front doors, as is the case for many SUVs.

So much for standard equipment. Active Cornering Enhancement or ACE, which comes with the optional Performance Package, reduces body lean in turns. It uses hydraulic actuators, sort of like an active anti-roll bar. Anyone who spends most of their time on the road will benefit and appreciate this package. But it isn't necessary to enjoying the Discovery. And at nearly $3,000, it can be difficult to justify. So, if you don't care about charging around on-ramps or down country roads at high rates of speed, then you should feel fine passing on this option.

The optional Self-Leveling Suspension (SLS) keeps the Discovery level when carrying heavy cargo and can be used to manually raise or lower the vehicle for off-road situations or for attaching a trailer. This may be another place to save a few bucks.