NEW FOR 2015:
– All-new model.
Land Rover revives the classic Discovery nameplate for 2015 with a new entry-level model that picks up where the LR2 leaves off.
Although it’s only slightly larger than the vehicle it replaces, Land Rover’s engineers have managed to squeeze in a third row of seats that fold flat into the floor of the trunk. This sets it apart from its posh competition – the Audi Q5, BMW X3, and Benz GLK – which only offers seating for five.
Another key difference is the Discovery Sport’s off-roading prowess. Sure it may not make it as far off the beaten path as a Range Rover, but it comes standard with Land Rover’s effective Terrain Response system, 8.3 inches of ground clearance, and the ability to ford water nearly two feet deep. And while most buyers won’t ever put these claims to the test, it’s nice to know that Land Rover has – the Discovery Sport won’t freak out should you, say, ask it to traverse a rocky stream.
All Discovery Sports come with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged motor that’s shared in common with the Evoque and the outgoing LR2. It’s paired to a ZF-sourced nine-speed automatic, and all-wheel drive. Interestingly, Land Rover has opted to use the gearbox’s first speed as an ultra-low “rock crawler” ratio.
The Discovery Sport is available in SE, HSE, and HSE Luxury trims.
SE includes partial leather upholstery, eight-way power driver’s and passenger’s seat, 60/40 split folding second row seat with slide and recline adjustments, dual-zone climate control, second-row climate vents, privacy glass, halogen headlamps, automatic lights, rain-sensing wipers, 18-inch wheels, interior ambient lighting, leather-wrapped steering wheel, alarm, push-button start, cruise control, 10-speaker 190-watt audio system, three USB ports, Bluetooth, and an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system.
There are numerous option packages available for the SE trim level. The Black Design Pack adds black contrast roof and 19-inch wheels, with gloss black finish. The 5+2 Seating Pack includes third-row seating, third-row vents, and an additional USB port. The Vision Assist Pack adds front fog lights, xenon headlamps with LED accents, rear park assist with rear-view camera (not available with 5+2 Seating Pack). The Cold Climate Pack adds heated front seats, heated steering wheel, and a heated windscreen. The Convenience Pack adds power tailgate, proximity key, integrated garage door opener, and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror.
Standalone options include panoramic roof, contrast roof colour, solar glass, cargo cover, upgrade audio system with 11 speakers and 250-watt amplifier, InControl Wi-Fi and Apps, additional USB port in dashboard, cargo bay storage rails, and 19- and 20-inch wheels. Also available are Adaptive Dynamics with Dynamic mode (magnetic suspension) and active driveline (driving modes) – but only for five-seat models.
HSE builds on SE and adds panoramic sunroof, heated windscreen, 19-inch wheels, HID headlamps with LED signature, fog lights, full leather upholstery, 10-way power adjustable front seats with memory function and memory-linked side-view mirrors, heated leather-wrapped steering wheel, front and rear park assist, and a reverse camera.
Option packages for the HSE trim include: Black Design Pack with black contrast roof and gloss black finish wheels in either 19-inch or 20-inch; 5+2 Seating Pack with third-row seating, third-row vents, and an additional USB port; Vision Assist Pack with adaptive xenon headlamps with LED accents, surround-view camera, and automatic high-beam assist (not available with 5+2 Seating Pack). The Convenience Pack adds power tailgate, proximity key access, integrated garage door opener, and auto-dimming rear-view mirror; the Driver Technology Pack includes auto-brake, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, and traffic sign recognition.
Standalone options include contrast roof colour, solar glass, cargo cover, park assist for parallel and perpendicular spaces, upgrade audio system with 11 speakers and 250-watt amplifier, InControl Wi-Fi and Apps, additional USB port in dashboard, cargo bay storage rails, heated second-row seats, 19- and 20-inch wheels. Also available are Adaptive Dynamics with Dynamic mode (magnetic suspension) and active driveline (driving modes) – but only for five-seat models.
The HSE Luxury builds on the HSE with premium leather upholstery, proximity key, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, configurable interior ambient lighting, premium carpeted floor mats, integrated garage door opener, power tailgate, 250-watt stereo system with 11 speakers, and navigation.
Option packages for the HSE Luxury include: Black Design Pack with black contrast roof and 20-inch gloss black finish wheels; 5+2 Seating Pack which includes third-row seating, third-row vents, and an additional USB port; Vision Assist Pack adds adaptive xenon headlamps with LED accents, surround-view camera, and automatic high-beam assist (not available with 5+2 Seating Pack); Driver Technology Pack includes auto-brake, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, and traffic sign recognition.
Standalone options include contrast roof colour, solar glass, cargo cover, park assist for parallel and perpendicular spaces, InControl Wi-Fi and Apps, additional USB port in dashboard, cargo bay storage rails, heated second-row seats, 19- and 20-inch wheels. Also available are Adaptive Dynamics with Dynamic mode (magnetic suspension) and active driveline (driving modes) – but only for five-seat models.
