If the old Discovery was good at anything, aside from off-roading, it was coddling its occupants. Once you clambered aboard the high-riding Disco through it’s narrow doors, the seats were almost heavenly. Fortunately, Land Rover has seen to it that the new LR3 duplicates this trait.

Tall, firm, supportive front seats feature soft, supple leather, with height adjustable inboard armrests and wide, softly padded windowsills to rest arms upon. The standard air suspension lowers the LR3 to make entry and exit easier – there’s no climbing involved, and if you’re six-feet tall you can just slide right in with just a little bit of squeezing under the steering wheel. Speaking of which, the steering wheel features a thick rim that’s nice to grip. Literally, when it comes to front seat comfort, we have no complaints.

Ditto the back seat, where passengers will find tons of foot space and a high, firm, supportive cushion covered in the same soft leather as the front chairs. Rear seat heaters, rear audio controls and jacks, a rear sunroof panel, and rear air conditioning vents make riding in back even more pleasing. Granted, legroom is a little snug. Taller folks might find their knees and shins right up against the soft front seatbacks, though not uncomfortably so. Getting in and out of the rear seat, like with most vehicles, isn’t as easy as it is up front. Rear door foot clearance is tight, and more so in a parking lot, where the molded-in door panel cupholder serves to block easy exit even for children. Our test vehicle did not come with optional third-row seats, so we cannot comment on how comfortable they are or how easy it is to use them.

Interior noise is dramatically reduced over the Discovery, with most interior noise coming from the various creaks of interior parts. Above 75 mph, wind noise is evident but not bothersome. The engine and tires are silent when cruising, unless the side windows are open to let tire whir into the cabin.