2017 Land Rover Discovery Sport: a Capable SUV with an Edge

A couple of years ago, the Land Rover Discovery Sport replaced the aging, but capable LR2 model as the company’s answer for regular people wanting luxury combined with off-road prowess. I characterise the LR2 as “aging” because it was a design which first debuted way back in 2006, and was badly in need of a change. Despite that, sales remained consistent until the end, which meant Land Rover had a successful formula with this vehicle.

The Discovery Sport shouldn’t be confused with the Land Rover Discovery—a larger SUV which recently replaced the LR4. I truly dislike the strategy of using Sport and non-Sport monikers for completely different cars. Land Rover also does this with the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport models, and just makes it more difficult for the owners of the non-Sport models to differentiate themselves in a conversation.

• Also: 2017 Land Rover Discovery: So Long, LR4
• Also: A New, More Refined Land Rover Discovery in Paris

The Discovery Sport (or Disco Sport as we like to call it) is a compact SUV designed to compete with the likes of the BMW X3, Audi Q5 and Mercedes-Benz GLC, among many others. The Discovery Sport actually offers a three-row seating option unlike the others just mentioned. It’s tight as heck for adults, but great for the children.

The first impression of the interior design is that it’s a straight arrow designed only for functionality. The vertical centre stack is quite plain; however, the red highlights on the test vehicle combined with the red-stitched leather on the seating surfaces were a welcome addition. The rotary dial shift knob is never something I thought I would have liked, but after the first day it grew on me quite a bit. When the car shuts off the dial glides seamlessly into the console which is a nice touch.

Land Rover has a new and improved infotainment system controlled by a 10-inch touchscreen. It’s fairly easy to use and I had no issues with it. In fact, the Bluetooth connectivity was solid and didn’t give me any problems, unlike some other manufacturers where connectivity to audio streaming can be difficult to regain after a call or even just by turning the vehicle off. The start button is small and hiding up behind the steering wheel which I find to be an odd location. Other than that, I found the interior to be quite pampering with a quality build to it reminiscent of more expensive models.

The second row offers sliding and reclining seats which is always a nice feature to have. There are air vents at face level for every section of the vehicle as well as USB charging ports. The second and third seats can be folded down (albeit not completely flat for the 2nd row) for enough added cargo space to satisfy anyone.

Powering the 2017 Land Rover Discovery Sport is a turbocharged, 2.0-litre, 240-horsepower four cylinder mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission. This engine powers the Disco Sport smoothly and confidently up to highway speed in no time. Whereas one might expect a Land Rover to be a little rough on pavement, it drives just like any other car-based SUV for those urban outings. The 251 pound-feet of torque is reached at 1750 rpm and towing capacity is rated at 5500 lbs. Fuel consumption of 12.2 L/100km was about what I expected and even better than the Toyota Highlander I tested the week prior.

Should you decide to venture a little off the beat and path, Discovery Sport has you covered with a Haldex all-wheel drive system that can vary torque between the front and rear wheels. Land Rover’s Terrain Response system has a mode for normal driving in addition to grass/gravel/snow, mud and sand modes. Changing modes alters a variety of vehicle systems including throttle response, transmission operation, differential behaviour, stability systems and steering response. True to its name, this Land Rover is fully capable of prodding in the back country with ease.

The Discovery Sport looks light-years better than the model it replaced. From the front, it has the overall look of an expensive Range Rover with many cues taken from its older siblings. The rear is also unmistakably Land Rover, but instead of the usual box-on-wheels design, we have a friendlier SUV look.

Available in SE, HSE, and HSE Luxury trim levels, the 2017 Land Rover Discovery Sport starts at $42,790 before freight and delivery charges. The HSE Luxury test vehicle was fully optioned out with features such as Windsor leather, Meridian sound system, a power tailgate operable via foot gesture, illuminated tread plates and numerous other things. Still, at $53,712 for a well-equipped Land Rover, it’s a must-test for anyone looking to buy in this segment.

Being a reasonably priced option in its segment while still offering an edge is a win for me. The Discovery Sport taps into the rich off-road heritage of the brand and also the high-end nature of its siblings to offer a very enticing package that checks all of the boxes and spares no attention to detail.