Land Rover Discovery Sport

Land Rover Discovery Sport – Overview

The Land Rover Discovery Sport is a combination of attractive luxurious design with robust performance, reliable off-road capability and attractive interior. The second-generation Discovery Sport was produced in 2019 while first debuted in 2015 as a replacement for the Land Rover Freelander in the automakers line up.

The Land Rover Discovery Sport is offered with petrol engine in Malaysia. It is available locally in a total of 4 variants (all R-Dynamic); DISCOVERY SPORT, DISCOVERY SPORT S, DISCOVERY SPORT SE, DISCOVERY SPORT HSE, with a selection of 5-seater and 5+2 seat for high-spec version, priced at RM 370,325 and RM 399,809 (excluding road tax and insurance).

This compact luxury crossover is built on the same platform as the Range Rover Evoque but is marginally longer. Land Rover uses the extra space to cram an available third row into the rear of the Discovery for a distinctive 5+2 seating arrangement.The Land Rover Discovery Sport perfectly combines a handsome design and an opulent interior with commanding performance and authentic off-road capability. 

It is then powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged ‘Ingenium’ petrol engine with 200 PS and 320 Nm of torque, mated to the ZF nine-speed torque converter automatic and standard All-Wheel Drive. It continues to possess the brands "go-anywhere” reputation by offering All Terrain Response and a towing capacity of up to 2000 kg.

Land Rover Discovery Sport - Exterior

The Land Rover Discovery Sport is one of the exceptions to the rule that a car with “Sport” in its name must be a high-performance model – or at least have racy go-faster looks. From some angles, the Land Rover Sport might be mistaken for the bigger Discovery, perhaps even a Range Rover Sport.

It is finely detailed but not as well distinguished as the old Freelander that preceded it. Even with all the angular bends in its body, the bluff front end, and the rectilinear rear, it is still not as memorable as the rest of the Land Rover family. With that being said, the Discovery Sport still has all the advantages you get from less off-road-capable SUVs – such as a raised driving position and a practical interior. 

It is also a smart-looking car and this facelifted model gets a slick new nose, scrolling indicators and a revised rear end to help keep it looking fresh at least from its rival. Styling changes include new front and rear bumpers, an updated grille and full-LED lighting. The Land Rover Discovery Sport is surely possessed a distinct contours, perfectly balanced proportions and characteristic design cues. 

Land Rover Discovery Sport – Interior

Diving into the cabin, the Discovery Sport offers luxurious features to match its off-road utility. Surfaces are rendered in high quality material with suburb finishes, the available heated front and second-row seats are covered with premium leather and Configurable Ambient Lighting enhances the cabin to match your mood. The Discovery Sport also has an optional third row which, something that its compact luxury crossover top competitors simply can’t match.

With a dashboard design that mimics what’s in flashier and pricier Land Rovers, the Discovery Sport maintains the brands upscale image. The cabin now offers sustainable materials and more seat configurations for better versatility. The seats were comfortable enough for several long-haul trips.

Base models come fairly well-equipped with such luxuries as ambient interior lighting, dual-zone automatic climate control, and push-button start. Leather upholstery, 12-way power-adjustable front seats with heat, a pair of third-row jump seats, and a powered liftgate are all optional. The Discovery Sport holds 840 litres maximum with the third row of seats folded, but with all seven seats in place this shrinks to 115 litres. With all the seats folded, the boot space grows to 1,451 litres.

Land Rover Discovery Sport – Features

All Discovery Sport models come with a 10.0-inch infotainment touchscreen featuring Land Rover's latest Pivi Pro interface. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both standard, and other infotainment features such as a 4G LTE mobile hotspot, a head-up display, in-dash navigation, and a wireless smartphone charging pad with a signal booster are optional.

The standard sound system is a 180-watt six-speaker setup, but Land Rover offers two different Meridian stereos as options; the first is a 380-watt 10-speaker arrangement and the second has 14 speakers and 825 watts of power.
The Discovery Sport 2021 receives plenty of technology upgrades such as the new Pivi Pro infotainment system that replaces the much-maligned previous system. 

Pivi Pro promises to be more intuitive, thanks to simplified menus, and much quicker to respond to inputs. It can also receive over-the-air software updates from Land Rover so owners can always have the latest features and enhancements.
The Discovery Sport also gains dual Bluetooth connections (you can have two smartphones connected at once). Other features include a new 3D surround-view camera system to take the stress out of parking in tight spots, rear air-conditioning and a new steering wheel design with capacitive touch buttons.

Though there are no official results for crash-test results for the 2021 Discovery Sport, Land Rover does offer plenty of safety features. These includes everything from advanced camera systems to the usual array of contemporary driver and safety assists. The latter are adaptive cruise control, automated emergency braking with forward-collision detection, lane-keeping assist, and more. Key safety features include:

• Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection

• Standard lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist

• Available adaptive cruise control

A 360-degree view camera equipped with Wade Sensing features, come standard on the Discovery Sport. Automatic high beams, blind-spot and rear cross-traffic monitoring, and traffic sign recognition are available on SE models.
Land Rover also introduce ClearSight Ground View, a world-first technology that provides the driver with a clear virtual view of the ground in assisting drivers to navigate through terrains and tight spots.

Other safety features may include are; Driver Airbag, Passenger Airbag, Side Airbag-Front, Child Safety Locks, Anti-Lock Braking System, Vehicle Stability Control System, Day & Night Rear View Mirror, Rear Camera, Tyre Pressure Monitor, Front Impact Beams, Side Impact Beams, Door Ajar Warning and Traction Control. 

Land Rover Discovery Sport - Powertrain

Under the hood, power is supplied by a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine that makes 200 PS at 320 Nm. The drivetrain then paired with a nine-speed torque converter automatic transmission, and four-wheel drive is standard. The Discovery Sport has off-road capability its competitors simply can’t match, thanks to a lightweight body structure, Torque Vectoring System, and Terrain Response system.

With the driver-selectable traction modes, this compact luxury crossover can alter its transmission shifts and stability control. The Torque Vectoring system also gives drivers extra confidence on tight corners while, Terrain Response gives drivers the capability to drive through the toughest terrains.

Land Rover Discovery Sport - Fuel Economy

Land Rover stated that The Discovery Sport fuel-economy estimates are City 11.4L/100km for city driving, 9.3L/100km for highway driving and 10.5 L/100km combined. Compared with other luxury compact SUVs, the Land Rover can be considered thirsty. That should not be too much of an issue though, because the Discovery Sport promised its smart looks and spacious interior. Thus, owners will likely be happy to put up with its premium build quality rather than poor fuel consumption.

Land Rover Discovery Sport - Driving Performance

Overall, though the Land Rover may seem a bit tight for adults, it might come handy if you ever need to carry a couple of extra kids while doing groceries. The Discovery Sport is a great companion for off-roading and it is more than capable of tackling the rough and tumble of city driving.

Hit the road and you will find the Discovery is a comfortable car to drive. In town, it soaks up bumps well and that raised driving position helps with visibility, while its brilliant nine-speed automatic gearbox and light controls make it an easy car to manoeuvre about. 

On the highway, it cruises comfortably and quietly. Not to mention, the additional equipment such as the Torque Vectoring System, Terrain Response System, and Adaptive Dynamics; which surely helps the Discovery Sport glide over bumpy terrain and weather any storm. 

Land Rover Discovery Sport - Conclusion 

What appears to be the light evolution of Land Rover’s bestseller is actually a bit of a tech revolution, with some properly functioning media systems up front and more forward-thinking architecture beneath. This model for example is the result of it.

The Discovery Sport should meet the needs of small families or other buyers looking for a premium SUV with some off-road capability. The interior is luxurious and well-appointed, with plenty of room for five, making it a car right at the top of the class for its comfort and practicality. Overall, the Discovery Sport should satisfy those who want a small luxury SUV capable of going out and getting dirty.