A few years ago, shortly after Jaguar and Land Rover escaped the ruthless grip of the Ford Motor Company (fortunately for fans of the British automotive industry), I came across an article revealing the future expansion plans for the Land Rover range. At the time, the British brand offered five models, and the article grandly announced that the number would multiply several times over the following years. It sounded exactly like the wet dream of some German automotive executive — the type who creates a niche within a niche, a coupe version of an SUV version of an estate, and so on. I wondered what exactly Land Rover could possibly come up with, and now, a few years later, the answers are starting to appear both on and off the road.
So I decided to try one of these new models — the Land Rover Discovery Sport. Although the name is entirely new, the car is effectively the successor to the Freelander, albeit with a slightly altered concept. The model also falls under the newly created Discovery sub-brand, much like there is a separate Range Rover family. Generally speaking, Discovery models are aimed at more practical, calculated and rational buyers — mainly people with children and families — while Range Rover models target trendier customers who want a flashier, more “designer” vehicle to attract attention. And perhaps, thanks to it, they may eventually end up with a bigger family and later move on to a Discovery. Philosophising aside, the Discovery Sport is a compact SUV with a spacious interior and seating for seven people — although two of them definitely need to be children. Prices started at just under €35,500 for the 150hp diesel version and reached around €66,000 for a well-equipped petrol model with 240hp.
I happened to drive the Discovery Sport with the most popular engine combination — a 2.0-litre diesel producing 180hp paired with a nine-speed automatic gearbox from ZF Friedrichshafen. The car was in top-spec HSE Luxury trim and featured around €7,500 worth of optional extras.
Design
What is interesting about the Discovery Sport is that its chief designer also led the original Freelander project around 20 years ago, later worked for other companies, and then returned to JLR just in time for the Freelander successor. His name is Gerry McGovern and, as expected from any self-respecting chief designer, he graduated from the Royal College of Art in London… quite a long time ago.
As for his creation, it undeniably carries the presence of a Land Rover, with a clearly noticeable touch of the Range Rover Evoque. Unlike its more fashion-focused sibling, the Discovery Sport has a bulkier and more classic shape. The car looks muscular and solid, yet modern at the same time, thanks to its futuristic rear lights and various smaller details.
It is interesting how dramatically its appearance changes depending on the configuration and colour combination. For example, the red Discovery I saw in London the day before driving the golden one looked quite different. Personally, I like both, but the combination with black wheels and a contrasting roof definitely attracts more attention.
Interior
When I first saw photos of the Discovery Sport interior, it looked to me like a stripped-down version of the Evoque’s cabin. I have to admit that this feeling remained, although less pronounced, once I actually sat inside the car. The design feels overly simple — almost like the luxury version of a Spartan off-roader. Perhaps this is intentional, to show that the Discovery is not just another lifestyle SUV, but I do not particularly like the atmosphere it creates.
This stricter ambience is combined with very pleasant materials and strong attention to detail, which is unquestionably a plus. Speaking of materials, I really only have one criticism — the centre console, specifically the black plastic around the central air vents and audio controls. The issue is not only the plastic itself, but also the design of that part of the dashboard. To me, it looks more retro than it should, despite modern touches such as the displays integrated into the climate control knobs.
I did not notice any other major drawbacks in the interior, and fortunately the advantages dominate. Let’s start with space — both rows of seats are very roomy, with the second row making a particularly strong impression. Knee room is unexpectedly generous and I think this is one of the few cars that can genuinely transport five adults in comfort.
But besides offering plenty of passenger space, there is also an enormous number of storage areas, pockets, compartments and various little places where occupants can keep their belongings. These compartments are among the largest I have seen.
Last but not least, I think this was the car with the highest number of USB ports and power outlets I had ever stepped into — there are 5V and 12V sockets, several at the front, several at the rear and several all the way in the back. Absolutely mad. A guarantee that nobody will complain about not having somewhere to charge their phone.
As for the third row of seats, it is more symbolic than practical — suitable for small children, but it virtually eliminates the luggage space. Considering the car’s length of under 4.6 metres, that is entirely expected.
On the road
Off the road
On the road and beyond
This is a Land Rover after all, so it is impossible not to associate it with off-road capability. It may be true that most vehicles like this will probably never even dirty their tyres, but the Discovery Sport is genuinely prepared for such adventures. Aside from its decent geometric off-road capability, the car can wade through 60cm of water, has hill descent control and also features Terrain Response – a system that optimises the car for mud, sand, snow and rocks. It is definitely not an average family SUV.
At the same time, the Discovery Sport feels completely at home on the road. The seating position feels higher than in most modern SUVs, which not only gives you confidence but also guarantees excellent visibility. And the suspension is one of the great strengths of JLR. It is comfortable enough to glide effortlessly over speed bumps of every possible shape and form — because in Bulgaria they clearly are not built to any standard — yet it still behaves well in corners. Body roll is present, but moderate, and during normal driving the car almost feels like a regular passenger vehicle… except it rides more softly. Once again, I was seriously impressed by the low levels of road noise, even at high speed. Aerodynamic noise is similarly well suppressed, only becoming more noticeable around 130–140km/h, while still remaining relatively subdued.
Against this quiet background, the engine starts to stand out whenever you press the accelerator more firmly, developing a distinctly strained sound. Otherwise, when not under load, it remains quiet. To me, it feels as though the engine struggles slightly with the weight of the Land Rover. There is no noticeable turbo lag, and the brilliant nine-speed gearbox undoubtedly helps the drivetrain work well overall, but the power still feels somewhat insufficient.
That said, I should note that the test car had only covered around 2,000km and seemed electronically restricted — the gearbox refused to enter Sport mode, while even during kickdown it shifted about 500rpm before the redline. In addition, the 0-100km/h acceleration definitely took longer than the official 8.9 seconds, which in itself is perfectly adequate for a family car. Because of this, I suspect the engine would perform well once fully loosened up, although the slightly strained soundtrack would probably remain — that is simply how these small four-cylinder diesels tend to sound.
Fuel consumption varied between 6.5 and 8.5 litres per 100km, which is about what you would expect from a vehicle of this size and power, although it is well above the official combined figure of 5.3l/100km.
Technology
Land Rover finally updated its infotainment system and brought it to the level their cars and customers deserve. The system works quickly and intuitively, while the graphics are pleasant. The controls are a little more old-school compared to the most modern rivals — meaning they rely more on pressing than swiping — but I personally do not mind that. In addition, the physical buttons for the main functions are very well positioned, and thankfully they still exist. I like it. The audio system is also very impressive for a standard setup.
The car also features a pedestrian airbag. After the Volvo V40, this is the first car with such a system that comes to mind. Still, the chances of it ever deploying are relatively limited, because the vehicle also has autonomous emergency braking. Modern times 🙂
Conclusion
The expansion of the Land Rover model range is moving full speed ahead, and the results are very pleasing. I liked the Discovery Sport a great deal and actually find it more appealing than the Range Rover Evoque.
The car is attractive yet practical, and somehow feels honest — interpret that however you wish. What it lacks is a more powerful diesel engine. Something with over 200hp would suit it much better.
The Discovery Sport offers better interior space utilisation than many of its rivals, combined with the prestigious Land Rover badge and the improved quality and reliability the brand has demonstrated in recent years. It is extremely well suited to family duties, but it would also appeal to younger drivers who want generous space and a vehicle capable of carrying sports equipment, for example, to wherever they need to go.
Eng. Tsvetan Iliev
