I’ve dragged this thing 1,000miles so far. At 65mph I average 12mpg. I still don’t know why the diesel has a lower toe rating than the gas. Even the markings on the hitch show over 8k.

7,800-8000lbs here. So incredibly impressed with how well it pulls. Today even parked it on a steeper grassy bank when washing it so the bilge pumps could get all the water out. Thought it might have issues getting up the embankment. Didn’t even spin a tire. Amazing vehicle.

 

I’m wondering if the lower tow rating on the diesel is due to it being a heavier engine by a couple of hundred pounds and they just subtracted that off the “train” weight?

 

I’m not sure but when you pop the hood it amazes me how small the engine is and how much room there is.

 

The mpg is very impressive towing such a large boat, it looks like it will have a lot of aero drag at 65mph.

Agree, it is the weight of the TD engine. What is strange is the gas Si6 engine actually sits in a V8 block and 90 degree. It is pretty large with the SC, especially compared to the 60 degree TD engine.

For towing large items like that the TD is definitely the way to go, as the Si6 has lots of get up and go, but not the low down oomph of the TD.

 

I have the SC Gas and the farthest I currently tow my 7000 lb boat is 200 miles, a couple times a year. I’ve owned a Chevy Silverado, a Tahoe and a 5.7 L hemi Jeep and none tow as well as this LR. Even in the Gas version it is sure footed, has more usable power and doesn’t sway at all. Very impressed with its capability and its ability to keep up with traffic. easily stays at 70 to 75 mph in the sport mode without excessive downshifting. My next one will be a diesel but I cant Say the gas bothers me at all for the limited towing I do. I do about 50/50 highway and city and average about 18MPG with the gas.
I’ve read that the only reason the diesel tow rating is rated lower than the gas motor is that it wont meet emissions standards under the max load. Same Problem VW had with its diesels in America. They all meet emissions 80% or 90% of the time, its that last little bit that fails them when they are run under significant load. None of these diesel producing manufacturers are willing to take the chance of getting sued into bankruptcy so its easier just to give them a tow rating that they will still pass.

 

I spend about 80% in the city, Houston, and after 12,000 miles (I drive pretty hard) I average 23.7 mpg. I love it.

 

Towing to an extreme . . . with my Cayenne TDI but I made 10 trips getting 2 yards of dirt each trip. Pretty positive at least a couple trips were up close to 3 yds. Oh I knew it was back there but these diesels are amazing for towing. Needless to say, I got some strange looks . . . just like up at Imogene Pass in CO with the Club Touareg folks. Still have yet to tow with our Disco or do any serious offroading. Oh, I climbed a pretty good hill out at the cabin in early October but that's about it.

 

I’ve never even sat in one of those. What do you think about it? Is it built solid or a light weight? Could I tow a boat and off-road or nah?

 

I've been towing quite a bit lately and can't believe how well I can tow up these steep Appalachian hills. Over 8k miles city, highway, towing and averaging 27.9mpg.

 

I think I drive a lot harder than you then lol. I’m at 23.7mpg but I am in either Houston traffic or 85mph on the highway heading to the home town.