LFAV | Group: R6 LFAV
Last updated: Sept 2026 | Reviewed by the Hertz Iceland Fleet Team
The Land Rover Discovery is a full-size luxury AWD automatic SUV — 300 PS petrol, Terrain Response 2, air suspension, and 1,137 litres of boot space in its 5-seat configuration. Not permitted on F-roads or Highland tracks despite its AWD and Land Rover heritage. Minimum age 25. Two credit cards required at pickup. Or-similar booking. For a guaranteed Land Rover model, see the Discovery Sport PHEV.
The Land Rover Discovery is the largest and most premium AWD SUV in the Hertz Iceland or-similar category — a full-size Land Rover with Terrain Response 2, air suspension, 300 PS petrol, and 1,137 litres of boot space in its 5-seat configuration. For families, groups, and premium travellers who want the commanding presence and interior quality of a full-size Land Rover on Iceland’s paved main roads, the Discovery is the natural choice at this price tier.
Important upfront: despite its AWD system, Terrain Response, and Land Rover heritage, the Discovery is not permitted on F-roads or Highland tracks in Iceland. It is a full-size luxury road SUV — the engineering is capable, but this vehicle is not approved for highland use in our fleet. For F-road access in a Land Rover, see the Land Rover Defender 110 or Defender PHEV.
For a guaranteed Land Rover model without the two-credit-card requirement, the Land Rover Discovery Sport PHEV is available as a smaller, guaranteed alternative.
| Feature | Specification |
| Drive System | Full-time AWD (Terrain Response 2) |
| Transmission | Automatic (8-speed ZF) |
| Fuel Type | Petrol |
| Engine | 3.0L inline-6 P300, 300 PS / 400 Nm |
| Seats | 5 (5-seat configuration) |
| Luggage Capacity | 4–5 large suitcases (1,137 litres) |
| Air Suspension | Standard — adjustable ride height |
| Best For | Ring Road, South Coast, Golden Circle, family luxury travel |
| Allowed Road Types | Paved Roads & Standard Gravel. NO F-Roads. |
| Credit Cards | Two credit cards required at pickup |
| Model | Or Similar — comparable full-size AWD luxury SUV if unavailable |
| Also Consider | Discovery Sport PHEV (smaller, guaranteed model) |
| Roadside Assistance | Available at pickup desk, from 990 ISK/day with MAX Coverage |
Yes — for Iceland’s paved main roads, the Discovery’s combination of full-size luxury, 1,137L boot, and AWD confidence makes it one of the most practically capable premium SUVs in the fleet.
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Step inside the Discovery and the cabin’s ambition is immediately clear — this is not a crossover SUV with premium trim levels applied. It’s a full-size Land Rover designed to carry five adults across serious distances in genuine comfort, with the kind of material quality and spatial organisation that makes long driving days feel shorter than they are.
The 11.4-inch Pivi Pro touchscreen manages Terrain Response settings, navigation, air suspension height, and climate from a single interface that responds in real time. The 3D Surround Camera displays the vehicle’s position and terrain around it in a 360° view — useful in the tighter car parks at Iceland’s busier attractions, and for reading gravel surface approaches before you commit. ClearSight Ground View displays the terrain directly beneath the front of the vehicle — a feature that earns its place on gravel approaches even when F-roads are not in the plan.
Five adults sit in genuine comfort — the rear seats have enough legroom for tall adults on full-day driving itineraries, and the wide rear doors open flat enough to make boarding straightforward even at uneven guesthouse car parks. The 1,137-litre boot at the back loads in a way that makes packing feel like planning rather than problem-solving — four large suitcases with room for camera equipment, cold-weather gear, and day bags on top.
The air suspension’s ability to raise the vehicle before a gravel approach and lower it for motorway efficiency happens at the touch of a button. On Iceland’s Ring Road, where the surface transitions from smooth tarmac to rougher gravel access tracks to smooth tarmac again within a single day’s driving, this adjustability is practical rather than merely impressive.
| Specification | Detail |
| Car Class | Full-Size Luxury AWD SUV |
| Generation | L462 (5th generation) |
| Number of Doors | 5 |
| Number of Seats | 5 (5-seat fleet configuration) |
| Transmission | Automatic (8-speed ZF) |
| Fuel Type | Petrol |
| Engine | 3.0L inline-6 P300 |
| Engine Output | 300 PS / 400 Nm |
| Drive System | Full-time AWD, Terrain Response 2, All-Terrain Progress Control |
| Air Suspension | Standard — adjustable ride height |
| Wading Depth | 900mm |
| Boot Space (5-seat) | 1,137 litres |
| Luggage Capacity | 4–5 large suitcases |
| Infotainment | 11.4″ Pivi Pro, 3D Surround Camera, ClearSight Ground View |
| Safety | Emergency Braking, Lane Keep, Blind Spot, Rear Traffic Monitor, ClearSight Mirror |
The Discovery’s 1,137-litre boot in the 5-seat configuration comfortably fits 4–5 large hard-shell suitcases with all five seats in use. The flat load floor and wide tailgate opening make loading practical at any stop on a multi-day Ring Road itinerary.
The Land Rover Discovery was launched in 1989 as a more family-focused, more affordable alternative to the Range Rover — designed to bring Land Rover’s AWD engineering to a wider market without sacrificing genuine off-road capability. The original Discovery became iconic for its distinctive stepped roofline, its three-row seating, and its reputation for reliability in demanding conditions.
The fifth generation (L462), launched in 2017, represents a significant modernisation — an aluminium-intensive monoBody construction replaced the traditional body-on-frame, reducing weight by over 480 kg while improving torsional rigidity. Terrain Response 2, air suspension, and ClearSight technology bring the Discovery’s technology suite to the level of the Range Rover family. The result is a vehicle that retains the Discovery’s family-first practicality — now with the ride quality, cabin technology, and refinement of a genuinely premium SUV.
In Iceland, the Discovery’s combination of full-size cabin, massive boot, and full-time AWD makes it the natural choice for families who want genuine Land Rover engineering on the island’s paved road network — without the F-road complexity of the Defender or the guaranteed-model premium of the Land Cruiser 250.
| Feature | Land Rover Discovery (Gas) | Discovery Sport PHEV |
| Size | Full-size SUV | Compact SUV |
| Engine | 3.0L petrol, 300 PS | P270e PHEV, 249 PS |
| EV Range | None | ~45 km real-world |
| Charging Required | No | Yes — add cable at booking |
| Boot Space | 1,137 litres (5-seat) | Slightly reduced (PHEV battery) |
| Luggage | 4–5 large suitcases | 2–3 large suitcases |
| F-Road Access | Not permitted | Not permitted |
| AWD | Full-time Terrain Response 2 | Terrain Response 2 |
| Air Suspension | Standard | Not standard |
| Credit Cards | 2 required | 2 required |
| Min Age | 25 | 25 |
| Model Type | Or similar | Guaranteed model |
| Best For | Max luggage, full-size cabin | Guaranteed model, PHEV efficiency |
| Link | This page | Discovery Sport PHEV |
The Land Rover Discovery is available at the following Hertz Iceland locations:
Located directly inside the KEF arrivals hall after customs — no shuttle bus required.
Located at Flugvellir 11, ideal for picking up closer to local hotels away from airport crowds.
Convenient city center desk at Flugvallarvegi 5, perfect if starting your road trip after exploring the capital.
Serviced via our Reykjavík Downtown office for travellers arriving on domestic flights from Akureyri or Egilsstaðir.
⚠️ Charging cable not included — add at booking via hertz.is.
⚠️ Two credit cards required at pickup
As of January 1, 2026, the Icelandic government requires a mandatory Kilometer Tax on this vehicle type. This replaces traditional fuel taxes with a usage-based fee.
✔ Transparent Pay-Per-Km Pricing
*Approx. 0.056 USD/km (Gov) + 0.011 USD/km (Service). Charged based on actual distance driven at the end of your rental.
Questions? For inquiries regarding the Icelandic Road Tax or billing specifics, please contact our dedicated support team at: roadtax@hertz.is
Help when you need it most — for common situations on the road.
Roadside Assistance provides professional on-site support to resolve vehicle issues wherever you are in Iceland. Whenever an incident occurs, our team evaluates the situation on a case-by-case basis to determine the fastest, most effective solution to get you back on the road safely without unnecessary delays.
| Stand-alone Roadside Assistance | 1,990 kr./day |
| With Max Cover Roadside Assistance | 990 kr./day |
Travel with peace of mind. We offer a Newer, Reliable Fleet (under 2 years old), a Prime Location (inside Keflavik Airport (KEF) arrival hall), and comprehensive, cross-country Nationwide Support with premium customer service—just a phone call away.
Full-size AWD, 1,137L boot, air suspension — the Discovery earns its place on Iceland’s longest and most scenic paved-road itineraries where size, luggage capacity, and premium comfort all matter.
Iceland’s most iconic paved-road driving route in its most family-capable vehicle. The South Coast to Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon covers approximately 600 km return from Reykjavík — best planned as a 3-day itinerary with overnight stops at Vík and Höfn. The Discovery’s 1,137-litre boot handles a family of five’s full luggage without rear-seat compromise, and the air suspension keeps the cabin composed on Iceland’s varied road surfaces — smooth tarmac on Route 1, the occasional gravel approach to viewpoints, and the car park surfaces at Reynisfjara and Jökulsárlón. Terrain Response 2 Auto manages surface transitions automatically. At the glacier lagoon, the Discovery’s 3D Surround Camera and commanding seating position give a genuinely impressive arrival perspective.
The full Ring Road in a Land Rover Discovery is the most practically capable non-guaranteed-model paved-road Ring Road option in the Hertz Iceland fleet — 1,137 litres of boot space handles a family’s full 10-day luggage without using rear seat space, full-time AWD covers year-round conditions with equal confidence, and the Discovery’s premium cabin reduces the fatigue of multi-hour daily driving stages that the Ring Road demands. The air suspension’s motorway setting keeps the ride quiet and composed on the longer straight sections between the East Fjords and Akureyri. All four pickup locations — KEF, Keflavík Downtown, Reykjavík Downtown, and Reykjavík Domestic Airport — cover the Ring Road’s western start and finish points.
Often called “Iceland in miniature,” the Snæfellsnes Peninsula packs glacier, lava fields, fishing villages, and dramatic coastal cliffs into a single manageable loop from Reykjavík — approximately 350 km return, entirely on paved roads. The Discovery’s air suspension handles the occasional gravel approach near Snæfellsjökull National Park without any adjustment needed from the driver, and the panoramic sunroof makes the glacier views and the coastline between Grundarfjörður and Stykkishólmur noticeably more immersive from the cabin. The Discovery’s boot carries full luggage for a family overnight in Grundarfjörður without negotiation. A morning light stop at Kirkjufell mountain before the day visitors arrive is straightforward when you’ve stayed in the peninsula overnight rather than driving back to Reykjavík.
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