PRETORIA, South Africa – Land Rover’s Discovery Sport, with new tech and claiming top-end cabin quality and passenger space with 5+2 seating, has reached South African showrooms, so here’s what they’re all about…
Proportions are said to have been optimised while new diode headlights feature along with a new grille and bumpers. Seating comfort and versatility are said to have been improved and can be set to 24 passenger/load configurations.
OPTIMISED INTERIOR
The new wagons will be available in base, S trim levels, or or R-Dynamic variants in S, SE and HSE trim with grey alloy wheel rims. Seats come with contrast stitching and black shift paddles and tread plates.
”The Discovery Sport,” Land Rover says, ”makes the most of its compact exterior with a versatile interior enhanced to optimise interior space and small-item stowage across all three rows. A 20% bigger fuel tank (now 65 litres) will assure off-roaders…”
A ClearSight rearview mirror can be switched to a video screen to show what is behind, no matter load or passenger population numbers or sizes. It has a 50-degree field and Landy describes the camera as having ”superior” clarity in poor light.
A similar ground-view camera will cover approaches to city kerbs or display tough off-road terrarin in an almost 180-degree image of what is beneath the vehicle.
Wireless charging for mobile devices has been introduced to the lower centre console, and a 4G wifi hot spot, alongside USB and 12V connectivity points for each row, will keep everybody charged and connected.
Second- and third-row occupants have individual heat/ventilation controls.
Artificial intelligence can learn various drivers’ preferences and set massages/seat position, music choice, and aircon/steering settings to suit.
Unfortunately, The Corner thinks Land Rover has gone too far with bodyshell styling changes – the former ”at a glance” identification of most – even more modern – Landys has been discarded and this latest model has lost its individuality to such an extent that it now looks like most other top-end 4×4 wagons.
Pity.
However, Land Rover believes ”the new Sport is every inch a Land Rover” with its all-terrain / any weather / wading ability (60cm), all-wheel drive, auto-adjusting off-road suspension / engine response.
Towing limit is 2500kg and front-wheel drive will be cut when the system detects steady cruising – or return it within a half-second. Cruise control, ”drowsy driver” syndrome, and lane-keeping are standard.
In South Africa the diesel engine option will be a two-litre Ingenium four-cylinder (badged D180) said to be capable of 132kW and 5.8 litres/100km. Top speed 202km/h.
Petrol units will have an Ingenium two-litre capable of 184kW, eight litres/100km, and top speed of 225km/h after accelerating to 100km/h in 7.6sec. Your call…
READ MORE Land Rover features on Carman’s Corner
Every modern Land Rover will be covered by a five-year service programme and a five-year or 100 000km* warranty and servicing plan.
*Whichever comes first.
…AND SO TO THE PRICES
New Discovery Sport prices (every unit has an auto gearbox). Prices include VAT but not CO2 tax.
Discovery Sport D180 AWD a/t – R749 500
Discovery Sport D180 S AWD a/t – R795 500
Discovery Sport D180 AWD R-Dynamic S a/t – R819 100
Discovery Sport D180 AWD R-Dynamic SE a/t – R855 300
Discovery Sport D180 AWD R-Dynamic HSE a/t – R897 800
Discovery Sport P250 AWD a/t – R759 900
Discovery Sport P250 S AWD a/t – R805 800
Discovery Sport P250 AWD R-Dynamic S Automatic – R829 500
Discovery Sport P250 AWD R-Dynamic SE Automatic – R865 700
Discovery Sport P250 AWD R-Dynamic HSE Automatic – R908 100
Carman's Corner 