Why buy the Land Rover Discovery Sport?
If you’re in the market for a family-friendly, practical SUV, the Land Rover Discovery Sport is a great choice. But there’s more to it than its space for people and things. Land Rover has a reputation for building cars that can drive across incredibly tough off-road terrain, which the Discovery Sport more than lives up to. It also looks great inside and out, comes well equipped and has a way of making every journey feel like a bit of an adventure.
Land Rover Discovery Sport range and updates
The seven-seat Discovery Sport has been sold since 2014, when it replaced the Land Rover Freelander. The model was updated in 2019, with slightly different exterior styling, a more stylish and high-tech interior, and updated engines and suspension.
A large selection of petrol and diesel engines is available in the Discovery Sport. Petrol engines have power ranging from 197-286bhp, and diesels have 148-237bhp. The post-2019 version is also available with plug-in hybrid power. Some models have a manual gearbox, but automatics are much more popular. Many – but not all – models have four-wheel drive.
There are three ‘core’ trim levels – S, SE and HSE. They’re all well-equipped, the HSE luxuriously so. You can also get models with the R-Dynamic pack, which includes a sporty-looking bodykit and bigger wheels. There have also been some special edition models with unique equipment and styling packages, including the Landmark Edition and Urban Edition.
Land Rover Discovery Sport tech and features
There are many variations in the tech and features that have been available for the Discovery Sport over the years. Since it went on sale, all versions have come with a touchscreen infotainment system, climate control, cruise control, Bluetooth and DAB radio as standard. Many models also have sat nav, heated leather seats, a panoramic glass roof, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.
Land Rover Discovery Sport running costs and value
Discovery Sport models with a petrol engine can give average fuel economy of up to 30mpg, according to official figures, and diesels can give 38-57mpg, depending on exactly which combination of engine and gearbox is fitted. You can read more about the plug-in hybrid below.
Annual Vehicle Excise Duty (car tax) charges are in the same ballpark as those for similar cars. Bear in mind that cars sold since 2017 incur an extra annual charge if they had cost more than £40,000 when new.
Land Rover Discovery Sport vs rivals
Rivals to the Discovery Sport include the Mercedes-Benz GLB, the Skoda Kodiaq, the Hyundai Santa Fe and the Toyota Highlander. The Land Rover can’t quite match the build quality of the Mercedes, or the space of the other cars. But it’s much more capable off-road, can tow more weight, looks great and has a big feel-good factor.
