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The Land Rover Discovery is one of the classic 4x4 staples and easily the brand’s most recognisable marque, but as a certain Bob Dylan once said … ‘the times they are a-changin’.
SUVs are the order of the day with the modern demographic, with families looking for a vehicle that looks classy and sporty, but is still big enough to pack all the kids in the back along with their school bags, football gear and beach towels.
Thus, the Land Rover Discovery Sport was created, and the 2016 model is the sportiest, sleekest and most stylish yet.
This starts with the exterior, which is more compact. The front features soft curves that give the model a modern feel and a sense of speed and performance. Accentuating the aerodynamic feel, the rather prominent mesh grille is flanked by funky headlamps with LED running lamps that are immediately distinguishable.
The interior is what matters the most, though, for even if the outside makes your friends jealous, it’s all for nothing if the inside is uncomfortable and complicated to navigate.
Thankfully, despite just spending an afternoon with my new buddy, I felt that I’d get to know everything about him thanks to a simple and easy-to-use layout.
The most noticeable addition is the TARDIS-like three-rows of seats, with the extra two in the back unthinkable considering how compact the car looks from the outside. Unsurprisingly, the two rear seats are pretty much for children only (although the traditional ‘back seats’ are spacious and have room to spare for a six-footer), but the fact they are included in the first place is an amazing feat from the designers.
The marque’s staple luxury is included in the Sport, with the stitched leather, chrome trim and configurable mood lighting all adding together to make the cabin refined and comfortable.
For enhanced space and comfort, both front and second row seats slide and recline for perfect seating position, there are multiple cup holders and storage bins for every seating position and the rear seat air vents have been moved to the pillars to more effectively provide adequate airflow.
Speaking of air conditioning, the multi-zone climate control function could prove useful in the winter months to avoid mid-journey punch-ups, but, luckily, assistant production editor Zahid and I were both in agreement anyway that both sides of the car should be set to ‘LOW AS POSSIBLE!’ as temperatures soared towards 50 degrees.
Under the bonnet, powering the Discovery Sport is a turbocharged 2.0-litre, four-cylinder engine that packs 240BHP. It doesn’t look like that much compared to some of its contemporaries, but this machine goes like the clappers when it needs to, and the throttle pick up is instant and gratifying.
The transmission is nine-speed automatic, complete with the same rotating gearstick knob that rises from the centre stack that I bemoaned on the Jaguar XE a few weeks back. It’s a nifty design, but without a gearstick to rest my right hand on when driving, it just feels weird. Mainly for this reason, I spent most of my time in sport mode so I could use the paddle shifters behind the wheel to keep it occupied.
All the standard infotainment features are packed into the crystal clear touchscreen on the centre console, which was much easier to use than expected considering the difficulties I had with the Jaguar version. Bluetooth, USB, AM/FM radio and navigation could all be flicked between with just one press at all times and with minimal distraction from the road, while the accompanying sound system is crystal clear and packs a mean punch.
Overall, the 2016 Land Rover Discovery Sport is a fantastic drive, especially coupled with its affordable price point, starting from BD18,000. Featuring a plethora of space, luxurious comfort and a variety of user-friendly features, this is a serious contender for your attention.
For more information, visit the Euro Motors Jaguar Land Rover showroom in Sitra or call 17460460.
