Land Rover Discovery Sport

It’s a fine looking machine this, the new Land Rover Discovery Sport. It’s a car that has all of the good looks of its big brothers, (the Range Rover and Discovery) but brings the brand firmly into the mid-SUV market with a serious contender, whilst ditching the problematic and ultimately, ill-fated Freelander.

Our version of this new car is the manual, HSE ‘e-Capability’ in Firenze Red. Complete with Ebony Windsor Leather Interior, Cirrus Headlining and 18” Alloy Aero wheels.

First impressions are that, as with many of the mid-sized SUVs out there, the interior doesn’t really feel much larger than a regular estate car; higher from the road, but essentially (and importantly for the target market), impressive looking, with a stature that’s noticeable and suitably slick. The Discovery Sport though, offers a good amount of space in the rear seats and boot, like its bigger relatives, whilst the front cabin feels more compact and in line with a saloon. Not unlike the XE, in fact.

More than 50,000 Discovery Sports have been sold worldwide over the last year and it’s no secret that Land Rover have spent the last few years becoming a major force in the motoring world, showing other manufacturers how to produce a range of box-ticking products that not only serve most customers, but do it whilst offering quality and style to boot. The Discovery Sport is based largely on the Range Rover Evoque; borrowing its chassis and a great deal of its switchgear, also adding space to the package to offer a mid-sized SUV that is better value for money.

When the new model launched in 2015, the engine onboard was a 2.2-litre turbo-diesel. However, that’s now been replaced by Jaguar Land Rover’s new 2.0-litre Ingenium version. The newer 2.0-litre engine is lighter, quieter, more efficient and more refined than the 2.2. It’s available in two states of tune; 148bhp and 178bhp. It’s an engine that matches the previous 2.2-litre engine for pace but crucially the 2.0-litre is miles ahead in terms of average fuel economy and its emission rating.

This new Discovery Sport, is a car that delivers on many levels. It’s great looking, carries a good deal of prestige, entirely banishes the demons that lurked in the in the shadow of the Freelander, and whilst not an overly exciting drive, it’s very comfortable and a real contender for every day business use; offering around 53mpg.

The demand for this car shows no sign of slowing down as it enters its second year and there are solid reasons for that. If you’re in the market, we’re lucky enough to have a handful of dealers across Sussex, so get a test drive in for yourself.

 

Base Price: £35,395.00

Price As Tested (Inc. Optional Extras): £43,551.00