Disovery Sport levels up!
Labelled as being the versatile compact SUV, the striking new Land Rover Discovery Sport displays this versatility across both its design and functionality. Although it shares the same platform as the Range Rover Evoque, and looks similar to its predecessor, the 2020 version features a new grille design, LED lights front and rear with a new DLR signature, and new bumper designs front and rear with integrated fog lights. It now has a much more premium look and feel compared to previous Discovery Sports.
A variety of trim levels are available from the standard version up to the more premium “black” variant, allowing full customization in this range. The test model featured the R‑DYNAMIC HSE package which comes standard with the more sport-inspired bumpers, body-coloured wheel arch mouldings and side sill panels. A wide variety of wheel options are also available from standard 18-inch to the 21-inch wheels as featured on the test vehicle including a full-sized spare wheel.
The discovery Sport produces 132 kW and 430 Nm from the Ingenium 2.0-litre inline 4 cylinder turbo diesel, mated to a 9-speed automatic gearbox with a claimed consumption of 5.8l per 100km. Max speed is reported to be 209km/h with a 0-100 time of 8.6 seconds.
The Land Rover brand has always been synonymous with off-road vehicles and this newcomer is just as capable as its older siblings, featuring a ground clearance of 212mm, wading capabilities up to 600mm, with four offroad driving modes. The discovery Sport is primarily front-wheel drive during normal driving but features the second generation active driveline system with Terrain Response 2 which can automatically adapt to the situation at hand and send power where it needs.
The cabin gains a 3rd row of seats as an option with the 2nd row able to split 40-20-40 and slide in a 60-40 arrangement allowing for either more legroom in the 3rd row or more boot space. Maximum loadspace is reported as 963 litres (5-seater ) and a claimed 1,574 litres with the rear bench folded down.
Upfront, it features 12 way electronically adjustable seats, a piano black centre console with multifunction dials switching between climate controls and driving modes.
The 10-inch High Definition Touchscreen features JLR’s InControl Touch Pro infotainment system which is Apple Car Play and Android Auto compatible. The Digital driver’s display is fully customizable and the Discovery Sport also features The ClearSight rear-view mirror which displays a wide-angle camera feed from a rear-facing camera mounted on the roof, improving rearward vision even in low light. Something we struggled to get used to but is probably the future whether we like it or not A wireless charging pad can be found in the centre console including a multitude of USB and 12-volt sockets throughout the vehicle to ensure that you’re always connected and charged.
When it comes to luxury Land Rover has brought premium craftmanship to the cabin of this vehicle, soft leather with red stitching and piping can be found throughout the interior making this vehicle comfortable and aesthetically appealing. With a multitude of add ons available such as the waterproof activity key, electric towbar, loadspace partitioning, stowage rails and so much more to mention there is a discovery sport for everyone.
With a price tag starting from R849,100 the discovery sport definitely stands out from its rivals not only for its offroad capabilities but also being the only model in this segment featuring the 5+2 seating option and now that it looks the part, the Discovery Sport can now park proudly next to it’s more pedigreed siblings.
