- Doors and Seats
5 doors, 5 seats
- Engine
2.0T, 4 cyl.
- Engine Power
177kW, 340Nm
- Fuel
Petrol (95) 8.2L/100KM
- Manufacturer
4XC
- Transmission
Auto
- Warranty
3 Yr, 100000 KMs
- Ancap Safety
NA
Land Rover Discovery Sport SE Si4 new car review
Why we're driving it
Land Rover's Discovery Sport has benefited from a running model year update. The 2017 Disco Sport features fresh tech as well as a new range of diesel engines, though we've tested it here in petrol form.
What we like
First things first, this is a fashionable car. Luxury SUVs are in vogue, the Discovery Sport's baby Range Rover styling is a hit, and the brand offers an excellent range of customisation options for owners.
The updated model is more customisable than before, with the popular exterior Black Pack treatment augmented by new Graphite Pack and Black Pack LE options for the grille, wheels, radiator vents, roof and more. It looks brilliant - as long as you get the spec right.
Our test example even featured red anodised cabin elements to complement red stitching on its black leather trim. It looks quite sporty, more like a performance car than a British luxury SUV. And that's no bad thing.
The second point to remember is that this is a Land Rover, and as such it packs genuine off road ability helped by all-wheel-drive traction and driver aids such as terrain response and hill descent control systems now joined by a new low traction launch system for fuss-free progress on slippery surfaces. Land Rover's revisions also include the addition of active lane keeping assistance, which replaces a lane departure warning system in the car's safety pack.
While this particular car wasn't equipped with JLR's optional third row, the Discovery Sport's seven-seat versatility represents a key advantage over some rivals.
The model we've tested here features a Ford-sourced, 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo engine that makes 177kW and 340Nm, helping it feel spritely on the road. That gels well with the baby Land Rover's excellent steering and decent body control, which make for a surprisingly engaging drive.
We also like Land Rover's service plans, which cover the first five years of 100,000 kilometres of maintenance for $1460 in petrol models like this.
What we don't like
The Discovery Sport's ride isn't quite as settled as it should be, feeling a little too sharp on bumpy roads. We're also less-than-convinced by its nine-speed automatic transmission, which can offer the odd thump as well as a spot of indecision. The auto is constantly changing gears – it feels like a six speed transmission with more decisive software would be less intrusive.
We've said it before and we'll say it again: Jaguar Land Rover's price list for optional extras feels a little bit mean. Our test car features a $1850 panoramic sun roof, with the remaining metal parts of the roof are painted black (another $950), joining $8190 in cosmetic options such as a body kit and 19-inch split-rim wheels in a dark finish, $560 for a digital radio receiver, $640 for heated front seats and $1670 for torque vectoring, pushing the price out to $76,380 plus on-road costs.
Land Rover offers an optional new infotainment system in the Discovery Sport. We haven't tried that yet, though we can say the ageing standard system feels a little past its use-by date.
This is one of the last Land Rovers to be equipped with the Ford-sourced engine found in cars like the Mondeo, as Jaguar Land Rover is just about to roll out a new line of "Ingenium" petrol engines. Next year's model is likely to feature a more powerful and efficient motor offering 184kW and 365Nm outputs
Would I buy one
The Discovery Sport is a sharp-looking machine that represents one of the most affordable luxury SUVs on the road. Buying one now represents a tough decision – do you go with the tried-and-true Ford engine of this year's model, or hang on a little longer for the better punch and thriftiness of Jaguar's in-house offering? If you buy new cars to have the latest and greatest tech, then you know the answer. But if you simply want to get hold of a great-looking SUV with impressive practicality, don't hesitate to grab a seven-seat Discovery Sport.
Land Rover Discover Sport SE Si4 pricing and specifications
Price: From $59,990 plus on-road costs
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol
Power: 177kW at 5800rpm
Torque: 340Nm at 1750rpm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic, all-wheel-drive
Fuel use: 8.2L/100km