Neither is the car especially quick to respond to throttle inputs once rolling, although it is unlikely that anybody paying for a family SUV with genuine off-road ability will find progress so lazy as to be frustrating.

With four-wheel drive, never does it struggle for traction, even on damp roads, but against a kerb weight flirting with two tonnes, the D180’s 0-60mph time still slips to the wrong side of the 10-second mark. Only the most wistful thinker would expect the addition of mild-hybrid technology to have a transformative effect on the Ingenium’s performance, and in the world of 2.0-litre turbodiesel premium off-roaders, the Discovery Sport remains the sauntering sort. It gives the car an added layer of versatility, even if it is only children who will find them comfortable over any distance.Īlong with good storage – there are generous door bins and various other cubbies, plus a decently capacious boot – the Discovery Sport feels very much the archetypal multi-tool car, albeit one with no small sense of occasion. Uniquely among the premium cars in this class, a third row of seats is also available on all but the lowliest D150 model. Head room is generous even with the optional panoramic roof, and the second-row bench can slide backwards to create far more leg room than the average passenger would ever need. The Discovery Sport really hits its stride with its practicality. And that’s despite the occasional hard plastic and overall panel fit which is inferior to that of Audi or BMW (but level with Volvo). The cabin feels as hard-wearing as befits the Land Rover badge, but not unduly so. However, the Land Rover hits back with the option of no fewer than six USB-A ports and four 12V outlets. The menu icons are small and can be difficult to use on the move, and there is a degree of latency you’ll not find in rivals, not least the BMW X3, whose iDrive system also benefits from a central rotary controller. However, despite the sleek aesthetic and broad capabilities, this Touch Pro system still falls foul of some familiar usability drawbacks. Land Rover also offers an Online Pack with 4G wi-fi hotspot and a 10-speaker Meridian sound system. On our SE test car, both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring were offered, allowing passengers to use apps such as Spotify and Waze or Google Maps. Jaguar Land Rover’s latest 10in Touch Pro infotainment system is standard across the Discovery Sport line-up and neatly embedded into the sloping dashboard. Higher trim levels, including our SE-spec test car, are fitted with digital instruments in place of old-world dials, and standard across the range is the same 10in infotainment display from the Evoque and Land Rover’s rotary climate controls, which are both sleek and intuitive.

As such, the impressions in this review now best apply to the 201bhp D200, rather than the 177bhp D180 driven here. * Since this review was written, and taking effect on the MY2021 Discovery Sport, Land Rover has lightly revised the engine line-up, slimming down choices and adding the flagship Land Rover Discovery P300e plug-in hybrid – officially the most efficient car in the range. Brake-based torque vectoring at the rear axle should help out in this respect too, while making for tidier handling manners on the road.

Adaptive dampers are available optionally, although our car was supplied without.Īs before, Land Rover’s Terrain Response off-road program focuses on adjusting the Discovery Sport’s electronic stability systems, but being a Land Rover the model should nonetheless be capable of travelling farther off the beaten track than any of its immediate rivals. Suspension is by way of MacPherson struts at the front with a multi-link set-up at the rear, while coil springs make for a fixed ride height. Our microphone tests will no doubt determine how effective these measures have been. Land Rover claims that, along with rigidly mounted subframes, it allows for improvements in noise, vibration and harshness levels. In addition to its ability to house these new powertrain options, the PTA underpinning’s renewed, lightened, mixed-metal construction contributes to an improvement in body rigidity. Our SE-specification test car, meanwhile, makes use of the midrange diesel engine, which develops 177bhp at 4000rpm and 317lb ft between 15rpm.

Landrover discovery se