The 2016 Land Rover Discovery Sport turns up capability, utility, and design in the compact luxury crossover segment. The first ever Discovery Sport made its North American debut at the 2014 LA Auto Show. However, this off-road capable SUV is not that compact. It has a sliding second row and 5+2 configuration to allow for a seven passenger capacity. The third row is small (similar in volume to that of the Nissan Rogue) and is best used for children and small adults.
Land Rover’s smallest crossover will be available in three trims levels: SE, HSE, and HSE Luxury. The latter starts at $45,570 and can be optioned close to $50,000. This pricing is comparable when you consider competition from the Audi Q5, BMW X3, and Volvo XC60.
The Discovery Sport shares drivetrain components with the Range Rover Evoque, so you get a 2.0L turbocharged four with 240 horsepower and 250 lb-ft of torque available at a low 1,750 rpm. The 9-speed automatic transmission sends the power to Land Rover’s sophisticated four-wheel drive system. It’s also capable of 28 MPG on the highway according to Land Rover. Disco Sport has 8.3 inches of front ground clearance and ford nearly two feet of water, so it has plenty of off-road capability built-in.
The 2016 Land Rover Discovery Sport goes on sale in the spring of 2015 with a starting price of $37,070 before destination charges. This is just $470 more than the outgoing LR2 that it replaces.
Watch this TFLcar insider video to learn Almost Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about the new Discovery Sport.
Andre Smirnov is a life-long automotive enthusiast, writer, reporter, and software engineer. He has been a contributor at TFL since 2011.
