The Drive Report: 2024 Land Rover Discovery Sport

Glossy black surfaces skirt the borders of the Discovery Sport, with black cladding around the wheel arches sitting above new 19-inch alloys.

Let’s face it, the Discovery Sport has seen better days. Once Land Rover’s global bestseller and the successor to the incredibly comfortable Freelander, today it stands eclipsed by members of its own tribe, namely the Defender 90 and the Range Rover Evoque, with the likes of the Range Rover Sport leading in terms of global sales. The Discovery Sport is a Land Rover built in the traditional mould and that’s not to say that it’s outdated, just that it stands apart from the current crop of swept-back, ultra-minimalistic Land Rover designs.

Sticking to the “why fix what isn’t broken philosophy”, the exterior of the Discovery Sport remains largely unchanged save for a few key design tweaks. This isn’t a surprise since the Discovery Sport has essentially looked the same since it was conceived, going through a minor facelift back in 2019. Still, it’s a design that has aged incredibly well, unlike, say, the radical Jaguar i-Pace. The headlamps remain tapered just like before, but the grille receives a blacked-out treatment with a new honeycomb pattern. There are new faux air intakes with three horizontal lines on either side.

The exterior of the Discovery Sport remains largely unchanged save for a few key design tweaks

Glossy black surfaces skirt the borders of the Discovery Sport, with black cladding around the wheel arches sitting above new 19-inch alloys. On the whole, the Discovery Sport remains nearly identical to the model it replaces. Which isn’t really an issue. What is lamentable, however, is that the version sold in the UK, while similar on the outside, gets a totally new architecture underneath that’s similar to the current-gen Evoque and is, therefore, primed for electrification. Still, with Land Rover India having no plans of electrifying or hybridising the Disco Sport anytime soon, perhaps it’s more fruitful to turn our gaze towards the car’s interiors.

Crucial update

Here it’s a more contemporary affair, with a new touchscreen infotainment system featuring the latest Pivi Pro interface along with the off-roading suite that debuted in the new Defender and is found in all present-day Land Rovers. The same level of technological minimalism that informs all current-gen Land Rover interiors can now be found here, for better or worse, since almost all functions are now carried out via the 11.4-inch curved glass Pivi Pro touchscreen.

Interior

Not surprisingly, the Discovery Sport is loaded with features. A panoramic sunroof, paddle shifters, a Meridian sound system and a new gear shifter that feels slick, compact and ergonomic. Still, the absence of ventilated seats is keenly felt when the country is undergoing a heatwave. Thankfully, features like wireless Apple CarPlay have been added to the mix, along with two USB-C charger ports in each row and climate control extending to the third row. Still, temperature can only be controlled via the touchscreen. It’s a button-free experience that’ll hopefully be brought to an end with new Euro NCAP parameters placed but until then, it continues to be a major ergonomic bugbear. On the whole, there’s a certain dignified sobriety to the exterior and interior styling of the Discovery Sport that sets it apart from the competition, even the more couture-friendly Evoque.

Powertrain and off-roading

The 2024 Sport retains the 2.0-litre turbo-petrol and Ingenium diesel in the outgoing model, the latter being a bigger seller. While it’s not as refined as the diesel motor offered in the BMW X3, the Discovery Sport’s oil burner is not without charm. Plenty of low-end torque (from a total of 430 Nm) and a significant amount of power (201 bhp) make this one the clear choice.

But what captivates you is the Discovery Sport's adherence to being a comfort-oriented SUV. Following in the footsteps of the Freelander, the Discovery Sport despite its name harbours no illusions about being sporty, and it’s this accurate self-assessment that makes it distinct. That, and the added utility of three-row seating.

The 19-inch alloys continue to be a good idea, adding a level of suppleness to the already plush suspension set-up.

With the new Pivi Pro screen comes the latest Terrain Response System offering 360-degree camera views, 3D surround cameras and a transparent bonnet function, something also available in the Mercedes-Benz GLC. The modes remain the same: Comfort, Grass, Gravel, Snow, Mud, Sand and Auto, as does the Disco Sport’s water-wading capacity (600mm), but the host of cameras do help the SUV take on the competition, and undoubtedly feels more fresh.

Verdict

Although similar in power and performance to the similarly specced Evoque, the Discovery Sport is a more comfort and practicality-oriented SUV. It’s got three-row seating, and its entry and departure angles are arguably more suited to off-roading than in the case of the Evoque which, although fairly capable, is more of a soft-roader. For once, it’s also the more reasonably priced option for a Land Rover, undercutting the price of the BMW X3 and the GLC at Rs 67.90 lakh (ex-showroom).

No two ways about it, the Discovery Sport has plenty of competition, especially from the likes of the BMW X3, which has a fairly potent and ultra-refined diesel mill of its own but isn’t quite as adept as an off-roader. But earthy Land Rover charm, not to mention ride comfort mixed with extra utility and serious off-roading ability, makes the Discovery Sport stand tall in a gathering of equals.