Shining our hubcaps
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Land Rover launched the Discovery Sport in 2014 as a replacement for the popular Freelander, and it’s still going strong today. Alongside the more style-focused Range Rover Evoque it’s the most affordable model in the Land Rover Range, but still has all the traditional Land Rover strengths, from genuine off-road ability, to an image that more road-biased SUVs can’t quite match.
The range is broad, spanning everything from a simple front-wheel drive diesel with a manual gearbox, to high-spec, all-wheel drive plug-in hybrids with brisk performance and enough electric range for the average commute. It’s not as sporty as the name suggests and some other brands promise better long-term reliability, but buy a good Discovery Sport and you’ll wonder how you lived without one.
The Land Rover Discovery Sport has now been around for a decade, having launched in 2014. While Land Rover has made small changes during that time, it hasn’t messed with the basic formula: it’s still a practical SUV, mostly supplied with four-wheel drive (and the ability to really use it), and a badge on the front and the back that still still appeals to thousands of customers.
‘Sport’ is a bit of a misnomer as there’s very little sporty about the smaller Discovery model in the Land Rover range. It certainly doesn’t drive badly, with well-weighted steering that works as well on-road as it does off it, only modest body lean, and a ride quality that does a good job of dealing with poor road surfaces, at least above town speeds. But if you want an SUV that feels sporty, you’ll still need to send your money BMW or Audi’s way.
The Discovery Sport has Land Rover’s traditional raised seating position (it’s higher than a lot of other SUVs, even), and the interior is spacious and practical. There’s even a seven-seat option, though this is no MPV - the rearmost row is more for occasional use. Land Rover’s infotainment is better in later models than it was in earlier ones, and the engines are more refined in later cars too.
There is no shortage of alternatives for the Discovery Sport - rivals include the Audi Q5, BMW X3, Mercedes-Benz GLB, Volvo XC60 and Lexus NX, while for value something like the Skoda Kodiaq is hard to beat. Several are more economical too and their more road-biased handling leaves them feeling nimbler, but there’s still a lot to be said for the Land Rover image and off-road prowess.
If the look, driving experience, practicality and badge appeal of the Discovery Sport are your main goals and you’re unlikely to ever test Land Rover’s off-road prowess, then there’s an argument to be made for the entry-level front-wheel drive cars. They’re the most frugal (plug-in hybrids aside) yet lack nothing in terms of space, and the lower equipment levels still pack plenty of kit too so living with one is little hardship. Most Discovery Sports do come with four-wheel drive though and the extra poor-weather security (and yes, off-road ability) are nice to have. If you’re looking for a seven-seater, bear in mind that like a lot of seven-seat SUVs, the rearmost row is somewhat ‘occasional’ in nature.
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As the Discovery Sport has been around since 2014 and has been updated a couple of times since that launch, equipment levels have improved over time, and the car has been offered in a few different trim levels. The three trims detailed below apply to the most recent cars but are by no means comprehensive. However, the walk up from S to SE and HSE has remained fairly constant, so use that as a guide to the likely equipment levels of a given model. Many cars will have been embellished with options too, including seven seats in some versions.
The Land Rover Discovery Sport’s dimensions are:
The Land Rover Discovery Sport’s boot size is:
The Discovery Sport’s relatively high list prices mean all recent cars attract a higher rate of VED or ‘road tax’, thanks to them costing more than £40,000 brand new. As such, used buyers will pay a hefty sum each year to tax them - £600 per year from the second to sixth years of registration for regular petrol and diesels, and £10 less for hybrids. This drops to a lower rate from years seven, while Discovery Sports registered prior to April 2017 are charged based on CO2 emissions instead.
You’ll find the current Discovery Sport range between insurance groups 39-41, out of the maximum group 50, though some earlier cars are a little less - a front-wheel drive D150 in standard trim drops as low as group 27. This is a little more than some rivals - the seven-seat Mercedes GLB goes from group 24 to 35.
£30,895
£42,750
£45,708
£36,839
£31,450
£38,795
£29,775
£15,500
£44,000
£38,525
£1,112 off£45,000
£35,482
£43,350
£41,235
£1,015 off£40,650
£43,350
£40,646
£1,064 off£44,239
What is the most popular colour for Land Rover Discovery Sport ?
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What is the average mileage for Land Rover Discovery Sport ?
17859
How many Land Rover Discovery Sport cars are available for sale?
297
