2025 Land Rover Discovery: 7-Seat Safety for Victoria's Mountain Roads

Driving the Malahat Highway with a full family load demands more than just capability—it demands confidence. The 2025 Land Rover Discovery delivers exactly that, combining three rows of seating with advanced safety technology designed for British Columbia's challenging terrain. From adaptive cruise control that maintains safe distances on winding grades to surround cameras that eliminate blind spots in tight parking situations, this SUV transforms the school run into a stress-free routine.

For families in Victoria navigating everything from downtown traffic to weekend trips up-Island, the Discovery offers a rare combination: genuine seven-passenger capacity without sacrificing the visibility and driver assistance features that matter most on demanding roads. Every seat is designed for real people, not just occasional use, while Land Rover's suite of safety systems works continuously to keep everyone protected.

Three Rows That Actually Work

The 2025 Discovery's seating layout prioritizes accessibility and comfort across all three rows. Second-row seats slide and recline independently, creating flexible space for car seats or growing teenagers. The third row folds flat when not needed, but when deployed, it provides legitimate seating for adults on longer journeys—not just emergency perches for short trips.

Stadium-style seating positions each row slightly higher than the one ahead, giving every passenger clear sightlines out the windscreen. The stepped roofline creates a distinctive silhouette while leaving plenty of headroom for seven adults to travel in comfort. This design also benefits the driver, who gains excellent forward and peripheral visibility crucial for spotting cyclists, pedestrians, and merging traffic on Victoria's busy corridors.

The Discovery provides five LATCH points across the second and third rows for securing child seats, along with eight airbags for occupant protection. The Pivi Pro infotainment system allows you to reconfigure your seven-seat setup with just a few taps on the 11.4-inch touchscreen. Climate controls are accessible to rear passengers through the available four-zone climate control system on Gemini and Tempest trims.

Visibility Engineered for Real-World Driving

Large greenhouse glass and slim A-pillars give the Discovery commanding sightlines in every direction. The elevated seating position—a Land Rover trademark—allows drivers to see over traffic and anticipate road conditions ahead, particularly valuable on the Malahat's curves where visibility around corners determines safe passing decisions.

ClearSight interior rear-view mirror technology replaces the traditional mirror with a high-definition video feed from a roof-mounted camera. This eliminates blind spots created by rear passengers or cargo, providing an unobstructed view behind the vehicle regardless of what's loaded inside. The system proves especially useful when all seven seats are occupied and the traditional mirror would show only the back of the third row.

ClearSight Ground View takes visibility further by displaying a camera feed from underneath the hood, letting you see what lies directly ahead when navigating obstacles or tight spaces. The 3D Surround Camera offers a 360-degree overhead view of the Discovery's perimeter, displayed on the central touchscreen. This feature simplifies parking in tight Victoria spaces and helps navigate narrow trails or campground approaches where precise wheel placement prevents damage to wheels or undercarriage.

Active Safety Systems That Anticipate Risk

Adaptive Cruise Control maintains preset following distances on highway stretches, automatically adjusting speed to match traffic flow. On the Malahat's long climbs and descents, the system reduces driver fatigue while maintaining safe gaps from vehicles ahead. It integrates with the Discovery's terrain management to provide smooth, controlled deceleration on downhill grades.

Emergency Braking monitors the road ahead, detecting potential collisions with vehicles, pedestrians, or cyclists. If the driver doesn't react in time, the system applies braking force automatically. In Victoria's urban core, where pedestrians cross mid-block and cyclists share narrow lanes, this technology provides critical backup protection.

Lane Keep Assist uses cameras to monitor road markings, gently steering the Discovery back into its lane if the vehicle begins to drift. The system proves particularly valuable during long highway drives when momentary distraction or fatigue could lead to unintentional lane departure. Drivers can override the system at any time with deliberate steering input. Driver Assistance Mode brings together various driving features and can be accessed directly through the steering wheel for simpler and smoother journeys.

Additional standard driver assistance features include Blind Spot Assist with visual alerts in door mirrors, Rear Traffic Monitor when reversing from parking spaces, Traffic Sign Recognition displaying current speed limits with Adaptive Speed Limiter, and Driver Condition Monitor detecting signs of drowsiness.

Terrain Response 2 for Island Conditions

While safety systems protect occupants in traffic, Land Rover's Terrain Response 2 automatically optimizes the Discovery's settings for the trail ahead. The system adjusts throttle response, traction control, and differential settings to match conditions, whether you're driving on grass, gravel, snow, mud, or sand.

Winter mode optimizes the Discovery's all-wheel-drive system for snow and ice, conditions frequently encountered on the Malahat between November and March. The system reduces throttle sensitivity to prevent wheel spin and modulates braking to maintain stability on slippery surfaces. Ground clearance and approach angles allow the Discovery to push through deep snow accumulation without becoming stuck.

All Terrain Progress Control functions as a low-speed cruise control for off-pavement driving, keeping you moving on any surface while the driver steers. The system manages acceleration and braking automatically, useful for navigating washed-out logging roads or beach access points around Greater Victoria. Hill Descent Control, Hill Launch Assist, Gradient Release Control, and Launch Traction Control ensure the Discovery can rise to every occasion.

Practical Cargo for Family Life

Big adventures call for big cargo space. With an expansive luggage area of up to 2,391 litres, the Discovery creates more room when you need it. The 60:40 electric folding rear seats reconfigure quickly, and on Tempest models, Intelligent Seat Fold simplifies the process further.

The powered tailgate opens to reveal a square, accessible cargo area with minimal load lip. Tie-down points and hooks help organize loose items and prevent shifting during transit. The optional powered inner tailgate creates a sheltered seat for three adults—perfect for impromptu gatherings at the trailhead or beach.

For families who tow, the Discovery handles everything from horse boxes to trailers with a towing capacity of 3,500 kg (7,716 lbs) and a range of towing aids including Advanced Tow Assist. Trailer Stability Assist comes standard across all trims.

Comparing 2025 Discovery Trims

The 2025 Discovery lineup for Canada offers three configurations:

Discovery Dynamic SE serves as the entry point with two available powertrains: a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged engine producing 300 horsepower, or a 3.0-litre 6-cylinder turbocharged mild hybrid (MHEV) delivering 360 horsepower. Standard equipment includes 21-inch Gloss Black wheels, black contrast roof, darkened LED tail lights, Meridian Sound System, sliding front sunroof with fixed rear panoramic roof, 18-way electric driver memory seat with captain's armrest, DuoLeather seats, three-zone climate control, and the full suite of driver assistance features.

Discovery Gemini builds on the Dynamic SE with the 3.0-litre 360 HP MHEV powertrain, adding 21-inch Diamond Turned Gloss Light Silver wheels, black roof rails, powered gesture tailgate, front centre console refrigerator compartment, Click and Go integrated base unit, metal front treadplates, and four-zone climate control. Available in six colours including Sedona Red—a Discovery first—with Narvik Black contrast roof and accents.

Discovery Tempest represents the range-topping trim with exclusive styling including 22-inch Diamond Turned Gloss Black wheels with Copper Tinted lacquer, Petra Copper contrast roof, Matte Protective Film, and metal front treadplates with Tempest script. Interior upgrades include Head-up Display, Extended Windsor leather seats, Meridian Surround Sound System, Configurable Cabin Lighting, Cabin Air Purification Plus, Intelligent Seat Fold, electric third row seats, and heated and cooled front seats with heated and cooled second-row seats and heated third-row seats.

All trims feature Electronic Air Suspension, Adaptive Dynamics, Wade Sensing, and the complete driver assistance package including Emergency Braking, Blind Spot Assist, 3D Surround Camera, and Adaptive Cruise Control.

Your New Discovery Awaits at Land Rover Victoria

The 2025 Discovery proves that seven-seat capability doesn't require compromising on the safety technology and visibility that matter most to families navigating British Columbia's diverse roads. From the Malahat's mountain grades to downtown Victoria's tight intersections, this SUV provides the tools drivers need to protect what matters most.

Experience the Discovery's commanding visibility and advanced safety systems firsthand. Contact Land Rover Victoria to arrange your test drive and discover how this SUV transforms family transport on Vancouver Island's challenging terrain.