Revamped 2020 Land Rover Discovery Sport revealed
The Land Rover Discovery Sport has been updated for 2020, with the seven-seat family SUV boasting new styling tweaks, a fresh interior and updated mechanicals including hybrid technology.
It was originally launched back in 2014 and, despite the new Discovery, Velar and Evoque stealing the show when it comes to all-new models, the Discovery Sport remains a popular model.
Externally, some design cues have been carried over from recent Land Rover products. Up front there’s a rehashed grille and light cluster than mirror the looks of the larger Discovery, while the rear gets a fresh set of tail lights, too. Its dimensions remain almost the same as before, but it’s slightly shorter and a little taller than the outgoing model.
Changes are more thorough on the inside, where you’ll find an all-new dashboard and centre console design that again mirror the general look and feel of the larger Discovery. There’s a new infotainment system, while trim is now made up of gloss black pieces.
Land Rover’s Touch Pro infotainment system features, with a 10.25in touchscreen in the middle of the dash, with a touch-sensing climate control panel below. A 12.3in digital driver’s display replaces analogue dials.
Other new tech includes a clever rear view mirror, that replaces the conventional mirror with a rear-facing camera. ClearSight is also available – a tech that lets the driver view the position of the wheels in relation to kerbs – a useful tool when you’re attempting to keep the alloys scuff-free.
New seats across each of the three rows provide improved comfort and versatility, thanks to the second row 40:20:40 split fold and slide functionality, boosting the possible number of seats.
The new Discovery Sport is available in Discovery Sport, S, SE and HSE trim, in addition to the R-Dynamic. The latter are marked out with unique bumpers, ‘Shadow Atlas’ script across the bonnet and tailgate and body colour side sills and rear arches.
Versatility is enhanced further with the addition of stowage space across all rows, while the fuel tank has also been increased in size by 20%. It’s also available with Land Rover’s Activity Key – a wristband that alleviates the need to carry around the conventional key fob.
Mild hybrid technology is now standard across the engine range, which is made up of 2 petrol and 3 diesel 2.0-litre Ingenium units. A six-speed manual and new nine-speed automatic will be available.
The mild hybrid tech uses an engine-mounted belt starter generator to harvest lost energy. At speeds below 17km/h (11mph), the engine will shut off when the driver applies the brakes, before redeploying the stored energy to assist the engine under acceleration to reduce fuel consumption.
The biggest news is a plug-in hybrid is on the way too, which is set to feature a three-cylinder petrol engine and an electric motor. We’ll have to wait until the end of the year for that, though.
Off road fans will be able to take advantage of a wading depth of 600mm. Land Rover’s Terrain Response 2 system also automatically detects the surface and adjusts the torque delivery to best suit the conditions, while Advanced Tow Assist makes reversing with a trailer (up to 2,500kg) more intuitive and safer than ever.
Other safety features include Lane Keep Assist, Autonomous Emergency Braking and Driver Condition monitoring – all three of which are standard across the range.