Land Rover Discovery Sport
Land Rover Discovery Sport
The Land Rover Discovery Sport is marketed as a compact luxury crossover SUV. A departure from the mid-size Discovery SUV. Debuted towards the end of 2014, the Discovery Sport is Land Rovers best-selling model since 2017.
While the Freelander marked Land Rovers first foray into the medium SUV market, the decision to replace the Freelander brand with the Discovery Sport was a strategic one. Issues with reliability of the Freelander had somewhat tainted its reputation. While the Discovery brand was more well known and, in many ways, viewed as more prestigious.
Along with the Discovery 4, the Discovery Sport formed part of a new Discovery ‘sub brand’ and were to be marketed as leisure and family oriented models.
Exterior & Chassis
Designed by British car designer Gerry McGovern (who also designed the Freelander), the Discovery Sport features a steel monocoque, like its predecessors. As well as this, the bonnet, wings, roof and tailgate are all made from aluminium, which makes for a lightweight vehicle.
While the previous larger Discovery models were constructed body-on-frame, the Sport model features a uni-body construction the same the Discovery 5. The advantages of this are that the design is lighter and more rigid as its floor plan and chassis form a single structure.
The Discovery Sport uses the Land Rover LR-MS platform, the same as the Range Rover Evoque. This platform was redesigned by Land Rover to meet very specific requirements, particularly in off road performance. Other similarities to the Evoque include a new compact rear multi-link suspension, which accommodates folding rear seats as well as spare wheel well in the boot space and front suspension which features steel lower and aluminium upper control arms.
In terms of off-road performance, the Discovery Sport is very similar to the Freelander 2 in as much as it features components on the lower section of the bumper which can be removed to improve the approach angel during off-road driving.
The Discovery Sport is rated 5 stars for safety by Euro NCAP as of December 2014. The brakes are servo assisted and an ABS is fitted. There is also an emergency brake force assistance system integrated within the vehicle which has the capacity to reduce stopping distances in emergencies. As well as this, electric power steering also features in the Discovery Sport alongside an automatic parking system.
Mechanics & Engineering
Initially, the Discovery Sport offered a choice of either a transversely mounted Ford EcoBoost four cylinder 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine or the Ford Duratorq four cylinder 2.2-litre turbocharged diesel engine. Following its release, the Ford engines were subsequently replaced with Ingenium engines, a range of which can be configured to deliver different power outputs.
In terms of transmission, the Discovery Sport features either a 9-speed ZF 9-HP automatic gearbox or 6-speed Getrag M66EH50 manual gearbox. As well as this, the Discovery Sport can also feature one of two all-wheel drive systems: the Haldex Traction fifth generation system from BorgWarner or the optional Land Rover Active Driveline system. Further to this, the Discovery Sport is available in a two-wheel drive version which is designed to be the most fuel efficient vehicle in the range.
Interior & Technology
The Discovery Sport is available in five plus two configurations. As a seven-seat vehicle, the third row of seats are suitable for children up to 15 and occasional adult use.
The interior of the Discovery Sport also features a touch screen which is home to the entertainment and navigation systems, known as the ‘infotainment’ system. This screen can also be used to change the vehicle settings, and is the same as the one used in the Jaguar XE.
Second Generation Discovery Sport
The second generation of the Discovery Sport launched in 2019. The newest iteration of the Sport uses the Jaguar Land Rover Premium Transverse Architecture (PTA) platform.
Produced in Liverpool at the Jaguar Land Rover Halewood Body & Assembly facility in Liverpool, the newest Discovery Sport is available with either 2.0 L Ingenium I4 or 1.5 L Ingenium I3 petrol engines, 2.0 L Ingenium I4 diesel engine and an 80kW electric motors.
