Land Rover Discovery Sport

The Discovery Sport is Land Rover’s midsize luxury SUV. It’s the most rugged SUV in its category and also has the trump card of being the only one with a third row of seats. The Discovery Sport is available with 2.0-litre petrol and diesel engines.

The Discovery Sport is Land Rover’s midsize luxury SUV. It’s the most rugged SUV in its category and also has the tru...

The Discovery Sport is Land Rover’s midsize luxury SUV. It’s the most rugged SUV in its category and also has the trump card of being the only one with a third row of seats. The Discovery Sport is available with 2.0-litre petrol and diesel engines.

The Land Rover Discovery Sport looks chunky and has an air of solidity about it. It’s much the same on the inside as well where everything feels built-to-last, if a bit plain. The Land Rover Discovery Sport gives the elevated view out you’d want from an SUV, front seat comfort is good and there is loads of space in the middle row. The third row is awkward to access and space is cramped but it also gives a degree of flexibility you don’t get on other SUVs of the price.
The Land Rover Discovery Sport’s 2.0-litre diesel engine in both 150hp (only offered on Pure trim) and 180hp is adequate but unexciting and a bit grumbly in sound too. The 240hp, 2.0-litre turbo-petrol isn’t the quietest of its type either but does offer strong performance, albeit there’s some initial lag, an issue compounded by the fumbling 9-speed automatic transmission. As for ride quality, the Discovery Sport does feel a bit stiff-kneed at low speeds but also becomes unshakeable as you up the pace. As you’d expect, the Discovery Sport is remarkably talented off-road.

The Land Rover Discovery Sport looks chunky and has an air of solidity about it. It’s much the same on the inside as ...

The Land Rover Discovery Sport looks chunky and has an air of solidity about it. It’s much the same on the inside as well where everything feels built-to-last, if a bit plain. The Land Rover Discovery Sport gives the elevated view out you’d want from an SUV, front seat comfort is good and there is loads of space in the middle row. The third row is awkward to access and space is cramped but it also gives a degree of flexibility you don’t get on other SUVs of the price.
The Land Rover Discovery Sport’s 2.0-litre diesel engine in both 150hp (only offered on Pure trim) and 180hp is adequate but unexciting and a bit grumbly in sound too. The 240hp, 2.0-litre turbo-petrol isn’t the quietest of its type either but does offer strong performance, albeit there’s some initial lag, an issue compounded by the fumbling 9-speed automatic transmission. As for ride quality, the Discovery Sport does feel a bit stiff-kneed at low speeds but also becomes unshakeable as you up the pace. As you’d expect, the Discovery Sport is remarkably talented off-road.

Petrol engine-powered Discovery Sports are nicer in most respects but their relatively low fuel economy will be a turn off for many buyers. In effect, it’s the 180hp diesel Discovery Sport that fits the bill for most buyers. The HSE Luxury trim is the most tempting but is too pricey. Discovery Sports in lower HSE trim come across as better value, offering most, if not all, of the goodies you’d want.

Petrol engine-powered Discovery Sports are nicer in most respects but their relatively low fuel economy will be a tur...

Petrol engine-powered Discovery Sports are nicer in most respects but their relatively low fuel economy will be a turn off for many buyers. In effect, it’s the 180hp diesel Discovery Sport that fits the bill for most buyers. The HSE Luxury trim is the most tempting but is too pricey. Discovery Sports in lower HSE trim come across as better value, offering most, if not all, of the goodies you’d want.