Land Rover Discovery Sport unveiled
In many ways, the Discovery Sport is a very different vehicle to the Freelander that it replaces.
The most significant change concerns accommodation. Whereas its predecessor only had space for five people, the newcomer can carry two more passengers courtesy of a 2+3+2 seating configuration. Squeezing in a third row of seats has been possible due to a slight increase in body length from 4,500 mm (14’ 9”) to 4,599 mm (15’ 1”), as well as the use of an innovative space-saving multi-link rear axle.
Styling is another aspect that has clearly evolved. The Discovery Sport has a noticeably less upright stance compared to the Freelander, plus its profile is much sleeker too. Overall, it’s a design which works very well and, thankfully, the fussy details that have marred some recent Land Rover models are absent.
Good looks alone are bound to attract some customers, but decent off-road ability is still needed to safeguard the Land Rover brand’s reputation. So, to ensure that particular facet lives up to expectations, long-travel suspension is fitted along with the Terrain Response driving mode selector. Maximum wade depth is 600 mm (23.6”), while the approach and departure angles are 25° and 31° respectively.
At launch, the only available engine in the UK will be a 2.2 litre, four-cylinder turbo diesel producing 187 bhp (140 kW / 190 PS) with 420 Nm (310 lb/ft) of torque. Mated to a six-speed manual gearbox, it delivers a 0-60 mph (96 km/h) time of 9.8 seconds, a 117 mph (188 km/h) top speed, 46.3 mpg (6.1 l/100km) on the combined cycle and carbon dioxide emissions of 162 g/km.
Opt for a nine-speed automatic transmission instead and the acceleration benchmark is achieved in 8.4 seconds. There’s a small penalty to pay for quicker performance though, as the key efficiency figures worsen to 44.8 mpg (6.3 l/100km) and 166 g/km.
For other markets – including North America – an all-alloy 2.0 litre four-cylinder petrol unit is going to be offered. Also turbocharged, it develops 240 bhp (179 kW / 243 PS) and 340 Nm (250 lb/ft) of peak torque.
The Discovery Sport line-up starts with the SE trim grade, which comes as standard with Bluetooth, an 8” colour touchscreen, part-leather upholstery, cruise control, climate control and a heated windscreen. The SE Tech variants build on that specification with the addition of automatic lights and wipers, satellite navigation, a powered tailgate and front parking sensors.
HSE versions furthermore gain keyless entry, full leather, power-adjustable front seats, a panoramic sunroof, xenon headlights and an upgrade from 18” to 19” wheels. Among the extra features on the range-topping HSE Luxury are heating for the seats and steering wheel, a park assist system and configurable cabin mood lighting.
However, there is some bad news: prices are going up quite considerably. The Freelander is currently listed at between £27,765 and £35,995, but the cheapest Discovery Sport will cost over £32,000.
%2BInterior.jpg "Land Rover Discovery Sport (2015) Interior")
%2BRear%2BSide.jpg "Land Rover Discovery Sport (2015) Rear Side")
%2BSide.jpg "Land Rover Discovery Sport (2015) Side")
%2BRear%2BSeats.jpg "Land Rover Discovery Sport (2015) Rear Seats")
%2BDashboard.jpg "Land Rover Discovery Sport (2015) Dashboard")
%2BFront%2BSide%2B2.jpg "Land Rover Discovery Sport (2015) Front Side")
Related posts:
Range Rover Sport SVR vs. its rivals
Land Rover Discovery updated for 2015
Freelander range refreshed
The most significant change concerns accommodation. Whereas its predecessor only had space for five people, the newcomer can carry two more passengers courtesy of a 2+3+2 seating configuration. Squeezing in a third row of seats has been possible due to a slight increase in body length from 4,500 mm (14’ 9”) to 4,599 mm (15’ 1”), as well as the use of an innovative space-saving multi-link rear axle.
%2BFront%2BSide%2B1.jpg "Land Rover Discovery Sport (2015) Front Side") |
| 2015 Land Rover Discovery Sport. |
| Scroll down for more images. |
Styling is another aspect that has clearly evolved. The Discovery Sport has a noticeably less upright stance compared to the Freelander, plus its profile is much sleeker too. Overall, it’s a design which works very well and, thankfully, the fussy details that have marred some recent Land Rover models are absent.
Good looks alone are bound to attract some customers, but decent off-road ability is still needed to safeguard the Land Rover brand’s reputation. So, to ensure that particular facet lives up to expectations, long-travel suspension is fitted along with the Terrain Response driving mode selector. Maximum wade depth is 600 mm (23.6”), while the approach and departure angles are 25° and 31° respectively.
At launch, the only available engine in the UK will be a 2.2 litre, four-cylinder turbo diesel producing 187 bhp (140 kW / 190 PS) with 420 Nm (310 lb/ft) of torque. Mated to a six-speed manual gearbox, it delivers a 0-60 mph (96 km/h) time of 9.8 seconds, a 117 mph (188 km/h) top speed, 46.3 mpg (6.1 l/100km) on the combined cycle and carbon dioxide emissions of 162 g/km.
Opt for a nine-speed automatic transmission instead and the acceleration benchmark is achieved in 8.4 seconds. There’s a small penalty to pay for quicker performance though, as the key efficiency figures worsen to 44.8 mpg (6.3 l/100km) and 166 g/km.
For other markets – including North America – an all-alloy 2.0 litre four-cylinder petrol unit is going to be offered. Also turbocharged, it develops 240 bhp (179 kW / 243 PS) and 340 Nm (250 lb/ft) of peak torque.
The Discovery Sport line-up starts with the SE trim grade, which comes as standard with Bluetooth, an 8” colour touchscreen, part-leather upholstery, cruise control, climate control and a heated windscreen. The SE Tech variants build on that specification with the addition of automatic lights and wipers, satellite navigation, a powered tailgate and front parking sensors.
HSE versions furthermore gain keyless entry, full leather, power-adjustable front seats, a panoramic sunroof, xenon headlights and an upgrade from 18” to 19” wheels. Among the extra features on the range-topping HSE Luxury are heating for the seats and steering wheel, a park assist system and configurable cabin mood lighting.
However, there is some bad news: prices are going up quite considerably. The Freelander is currently listed at between £27,765 and £35,995, but the cheapest Discovery Sport will cost over £32,000.
| 2015 Land Rover Discovery Sport - UK OTR Prices | |
|---|---|
| SE Diesel Manual | £32,395 |
| SE Diesel Automatic | £34,195 |
| SE Tech Diesel Manual | £33,895 |
| SE Tech Diesel Automatic | £35,695 |
| HSE Diesel Manual | £37,595 |
| HSE Diesel Automatic | £39,395 |
| HSE Luxury Diesel Manual | £41,195 |
| HSE Luxury Diesel Automatic | £42,995 |
Related posts:
Range Rover Sport SVR vs. its rivals
Land Rover Discovery updated for 2015
Freelander range refreshed
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