2020 Land Rover Discovery Sport Delivers Family-Friendly Adventure
The old guard of behemoth SUVs, guzzling petrol and taking up more space than a downtown studio apartment, may indeed be dead and gone. But it is Land Rover, one of the original tastemakers of that once-dominant archetype, that is hammering a nail into its coffin. One look at the new 2020 Land Rover Discovery Sport and it’s plain to see: This is a sport utility vehicle with an entirely new objective. One aimed at fuel conservation and sustainability, all while teeming with a host of technological and luxurious touches that would make its forbears blush at the extravagance.
It’s a brave new world, folks. And Land Rover is committed to it.
The Land Rover Discovery is a major contributor to the canon of 20th century off-road accomplishment. With a biography stretching back to the 1980s, the full-size “Disco,” as its adoring public refers to it, has been a prized vehicle since its inception.
The Birth of a Sport Model
The Land Rover Freelander (rebranded as the LR2 in 2008 for the American market), a previous attempt by the company to carve out its piece of the compact sport utility market, had noticeably less success and a dubious reliability rating. Wanting to reinvigorate its pursuit of the burgeoning crossover market, Land Rover pivoted. Abandoning the Freelander, the automaker reimagined its contribution to the segment in 2014. The Discovery nameplate joined Range Rover as a sub-brand under the Land Rover flag, and the Discovery Sport hit the market in the fall of 2014, with both five and seven-passenger iterations available.
The Discovery Sport’s reception eclipsed the outgoing Freelander almost immediately, with 2015 sales totaling nearly 70,000 vehicles—13,000 more units than the model it replaced. By 2017, total sales shot up to over 126,000, a higher number than any two Freelander model years combined. Per year-end figures for 2018, over 413,000 Disco Sports have hit the pavement.
And with major upgrades and improvements on the way for the 2020 Land Rover Discovery Sport — not the least of which is a new hybrid powertrain option — it is safe to say that the kid brother of the British off-roading royal bloodline will continue to pull much more than its own weight.
New Decade, New Disco
For starters, fans will surely notice that the 2020 Land Rover Discover Sport has undergone a bit of a facelift. A striking new grille, revised bumpers in the front and rear, and top-of-the-line LED headlights and taillights enhance the appeal of the baby Disco’s already-striking silhouette. Plus, for the first time ever, it can be had with 21-inch wheels.
As for power, the 2020 Land Rover Discovery Sport comes standard with a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four cylinder, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission making 246 horsepower and 269 lb.-ft. of torque. And, new this year, buyers can do their part to assuage ever-looming climate concerns with a hybrid option. A 48-volt system pairs with the stock engine to put out an impressive 286 horsepower and 295 lb.-ft.
Off-Road Ready
The 2020 Land Rover Discover Sport may be the smallest SUV in the Land Rover fleet— and it’s likely that you’ve heard it referred to as a “luxury” vehicle. But don’t let any of that fool you. This rig is as capable off-road as anything in its class.
First, every model comes with standard all-wheel drive. Plus, the new ClearSight Ground View system — a front-mounted camera that displays the terrain directly ahead of the driver on the infotainment screen — is available for added convenience on trail excursions. Additionally, the Terrain Response 2 traction management system can handle a variety of terrain, lock up the rear axle for traction, or even disconnect as necessary when on a challenging crawl.
Plan on hittin’ some swampy trails along the way? That shouldn’t be a problem at all, as the Disco Sport can safely wade into two feet of water.
Comfort-Minded
The interior of the 2020 Discovery Sport comes with all the comforts and English refinement one would expect from a Land Rover. The comfy seats are redesigned and improved upon. And those who love the hybrid engine (or who just love the Earth) will be happy to hear that they can be upholstered with Luxtex, a recycled polyester microfiber. There are even massaging front seats available. Wowzer.
Wireless charging, a digital rearview mirror, new cupholders, and more efficient cubby space keeps the trip comfortable and convenient. And every model is equipped with a 10-inch TouchPro infotainment system, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capabilities, as well as a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot.
Forward-Thinking
Want some more cool tech goodies? So do we! How about the Activity Key? It’s a waterproof wristband that acts as a secondary key fob. (That means, your days of fumbling in your pocket whilst trying to get all the groceries in the house in one trip are a thing of the past.) The power liftgate is nice, too. And to quell those safety concerns, top-notch assistance tech like lane-keeping assist, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control are all available.
The 2020 Land Rover Discovery Sport wears a lot of hats.
Luxury SUV. Off-Roading Machine. Compact Crossover. (Yet, it still can hold up to seven people or offer nearly the same cargo volume as a much larger Audi A7 when the seats are folded.) Downtown, in the woods, or just to the local soccer game, the Discovery Sport is ready for the road ahead.
So, when can we get our hands on one? Hopefully, late this summer. And while official pricing figures haven’t been released yet, most folks believe that the numbers shouldn’t stray too far from last year’s, which started out in the upper $30,000s and maxed out in the high $50,000s. A small price to pay for capable, family-friendly, crossover-sized luxury, don’t you think?
