Land Rover Discovery Sport review
The Land Rover Discovery Sport is a premium family SUV that offers a desirable badge, impressive practicality with a seven-seat option, and legendary off-road ability.
Author: Charlie Harvey
22nd Dec 2025 – 8 mins read
When the Land Rover Discovery Sport arrived in 2015, it took over from the much-loved Freelander, offering a more affordable and compact way to get into a Discovery. It quickly became a huge hit, giving families a premium SUV that was both stylish and incredibly versatile. Based on the same underpinnings as the first-generation Range Rover Evoque, it was designed to be just as capable off-road as it was on the school run. A major update in 2019 brought the Discovery Sport bang up to date, with refreshed styling, a brand-new platform underneath, and the introduction of efficient mild-hybrid technology. It’s a car that’s great to drive, packed with tech, and offers the clever practicality of seven seats, which is a rare treat in a car of this size. It might not be the cheapest option, but it offers a brilliant blend of luxury, versatility, and all-weather capability that’s hard to beat.
Pros
- Great value for money compared to premium rivals
- Very practical for its size, with an optional seven-seat layout
- Drives well both on the road and off it
Cons
- It can get expensive in the higher trim levels
- The ride can feel a little firm at times
- The trim choice is more limited than on some rivals
Interior
Dashboard & tech
The inside of the Discovery Sport is a smart and premium-feeling place. The design is clean and modern, with high-quality materials that give it a properly upmarket feel. Post-2019 models feature Land Rover’s slick Touch Pro infotainment system, which comes with a crisp 10-inch touchscreen and looks great.
It’s a very comfortable and well-thought-out cabin. The driving position is commanding, giving you a great view of the road, and everything feels solid and built to last. It’s a car that makes you feel safe and secure, wrapped in a layer of understated British luxury.
Comfort
The Discovery Sport is a very comfortable car for the whole family. The seats are supportive, and there’s plenty of space to get settled in, even on the longest of journeys. The cabin is well-insulated from the outside world, making it a quiet and relaxing place to be.
The ride is generally smooth and composed, but it can feel a little firm over sharp bumps, especially on models with larger alloy wheels. It’s a small price to pay for a car that handles so well for an SUV, but it’s something to be aware of if maximum comfort is your absolute top priority.
Quality
Land Rover has worked hard to improve its reputation for reliability, and the Discovery Sport feels like a solid and well-built car. The interior quality is excellent, with premium materials and a robust feel that should stand up well to the challenges of family life.
However, the brand as a whole has had a mixed reputation in driver satisfaction surveys, with some owners reporting faults within the first year of ownership. As with any used premium car, it’s really important to check for a full service history to ensure it has been well looked after.
Practicality & boot space
Interior space
This is where the Discovery Sport really shines. Despite being a relatively compact SUV, it’s incredibly spacious inside. One of its biggest selling points is the option of a ‘5+2’ seating arrangement, giving you a third row of two seats in the boot.
There's plenty of room in the front and middle rows for adults to travel in comfort. The two rearmost seats are best suited for children, but they are perfect for occasional use, like taking your kids' friends to a party. This seven-seat flexibility is a huge advantage over most of its five-seat rivals.
Boot space
In its standard five-seat configuration, the Discovery Sport has a very generous boot. With the third row of seats folded flat, you get a huge 754 litres of space, which is more than enough for luggage, pushchairs, and a big weekly shop.
If you need even more room, you can fold the second row of seats down as well, which creates a massive, van-like load bay of 1,794 litres. It’s an incredibly practical car that’s ready for whatever family life can throw at it.
Driving
Driving experience
The Discovery Sport is a very impressive car to drive. For an SUV, it handles surprisingly well, with accurate steering and good grip that inspires confidence. It might have 'Sport' in its name, but it’s more focused on comfort and capability than outright sporty handling. It feels safe, secure, and composed in all conditions.
Of course, being a Land Rover, it’s also brilliant when the going gets tough. Its off-road ability is legendary and far superior to most of its rivals. Whether you’re dealing with a muddy field or a snowy lane, the Discovery Sport will take it all in its stride.
Performance
The engine lineup consists of a range of 2.0-litre petrol and diesel engines, all badged with a ‘P’ for petrol or a ‘D’ for diesel. The petrols are the P200 (197bhp) and P250 (247bhp). They are smooth and powerful, but can be a little thirsty.
The diesel options are the most popular choice. They come in three power outputs: D150 (148bhp), D180 (178bhp), and D240 (237bhp). The D180 offers the best blend of performance and economy for most people, but the powerful D240 is a great choice if you plan on towing. Most post-2019 models come with mild-hybrid technology to help improve efficiency.
Running costs
Fuel economy & CO2 emissions
For the best fuel economy, you’ll want the entry-level D150 diesel with a manual gearbox and front-wheel drive. This version can officially achieve up to 47.8mpg. Most other models come with four-wheel drive and an automatic gearbox as standard, which means fuel economy is a bit lower. The other diesels will return around 40mpg, while the petrols will be in the low 30s. For a premium SUV of this size and capability, these are competitive running costs.
Value for money
The Discovery Sport is priced very competitively against its premium German rivals like the Audi Q5 and BMW X3. When you consider its practicality and the generous level of standard equipment, it represents great value for money. Higher trim levels can get expensive, but used models offer a fantastic way to get a premium SUV for a much more affordable price.
Reliability & Warranty
The Discovery Sport feels like a well-built, high-quality vehicle. Desirable premium SUVs like this tend to hold their value well, but you can still find great deals on used examples, letting someone else take the biggest hit of depreciation. From new, all Land Rovers come with a three-year, unlimited-mileage warranty.
Safety
Safety features
As you’d expect from a Land Rover, safety is a top priority. The Discovery Sport was awarded the maximum five-star rating when it was crash-tested by the safety experts at Euro NCAP, with very high scores for protecting both adult and child occupants.
All models come with a generous amount of standard safety equipment, including autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, and a driver condition monitor. This focus on safety makes it a very reassuring car for your family.
Trims & Engines
Trim levels
The Discovery Sport range has been simplified in recent years, with two main trim levels to choose from.
Discovery Sport: The entry-level model is anything but basic. It comes with a very generous amount of equipment, including LED headlights, heated front seats, two-zone climate control, and a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system.
R-Dynamic: This popular trim adds a sportier look to the Discovery Sport. It comes with a more aggressive front and rear bumper design, satin dark grey alloy wheels, and unique interior details like black gearshift paddles and branded treadplates.
Engines
All engines are 2.0-litre units, with most paired with an automatic gearbox and four-wheel drive.
D150/D180/D200/D240 Diesel: The diesel engines are the most popular choice, offering a great blend of pulling power and fuel economy. The power output is indicated by the number in the name.P200/P250 Petrol: The petrol engines are smoother and quieter than the diesels, offering strong performance but with higher running costs.P300e Plug-in Hybrid: A plug-in hybrid version is also available. It combines a petrol engine with an electric motor, offering a useful electric-only range for cheap, zero-emission local driving.