Land Rover Discovery Sport 2016 Review

We say hello to the Land Rover Discovery Sport which has been updated to include Land Rover’s updated 2.0-litre turbocharged Ingenium diesel engine. The Disco Sport has charmed our road test team as a credible and capable SUV. But how will it fair in the longer term? Let’s find out.

Combining a rugged exterior design with underpinnings that back-up its spunky promise, the Discovery Sport seems like a winning combination.

And while there has been some criticism levelled at the outgoing engine and transmission combination, the all-aluminium new ‘Ingenium’ engine, tested here in TD4 180 format, promises improvement.

The Discovery Sport HSE has a base price of $64,635 (plus on-road costs) and a host of standard features. Finished in Fuji White paint with Ebony grained leather interior, our test vehicle is a pretty good representation of a standard HSE-spec car; with only a panoramic sunroof ($1850) and third-row seating ($2050) as fitted options. These options bring the as-tested price to $68 535 (plus ORCs).

Powertrain changes are the main highlight in the updates for the 2017 range which see a number of driver assist technologies – such as lane keeping assist and infotainment upgrades – introduced as options, none of which are fitted to our test vehicle.

While the Discovery Sport is ‘Land Rover’ and not ‘Range Rover,’ it is by no means a poorer cousin to the Evoque. Its leather upholstery is suitably luxe and while some of the hard plastics do look a little more rugged than refined, you can tell the Discovery Sport is an off-road SUV for buyers who might, you know, actually head off-road.

Some of the key features on the HSE model include Land Rover’s legendary off-road capability including Terrain Response all-terrain progress control and hill-descent control.

Driver assistance features including lane-departure warning and autonomous emergency braking (AEB) up safety tech levels, while convenience features such as a powered gesture tailgate, keyless entry, push-button ignition and rear-view camera add to the Discovery Sport’s ease of use.

Ten-way adjustable climate front seats with both heating and cooling enhance the cabin for both driver and front passenger.

The infotainment system is the InControl Touch Navigation accessed on a standard colour touchscreen. Available as an option, but not fitted to the test car, is a larger 10.2-inch screen using the latest InControl Touch Pro software; which is standard in the Range Rover Evoque Convertible.

Without the additional tech to test, the evaluation of this car will come down to how that new powertrain acquits itself.

The aforementioned Ingenium engine is a 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel unit that generates 132kW/430Nm. That’s 8kW less than the 2.2-litre diesel in last year’s Discovery Sport SE, but 10Nm more pulling power.

The performance difference between the two is really quite imperceptible, but while there’s still no mistaking that this is a diesel, it’s not quite as noisy or agricultural as the previous engine. On initial runs, it also appears a better match for the nine-speed automatic transmission which hunted for gears previously.

The lighter (-24kg) Ingenium diesel also promises much greater fuel economy. In ADR terms we’re looking to see an improvement of 11.5 per cent, down to 5.3L/100km. A run down the winding Great Ocean Road failed to elicit such a low number, however. We saw 8.2L/100km after 1000km. This will no doubt improve with more kilometres on the clock.

We’ve written previously on how well the Discovery Sport performs on the road and yet again, even riding on a large 19-inch wheels, we’ve so far found that it is a very pleasant vehicle to pilot whether on freeways or more dynamic country roads.

It’s also a flexible family conveyance, capable of carrying a family of four and a four-legged friend with ease for a long weekend away. The third-row seats when required are easy to access but are squeezy for adults and older teenagers. The second-row can be pulled forward within the cabin to give more boot space, and while it does reduce legroom for passengers, the additional space is significant and useful for stowing more luggage.

Design wise, the Discovery Sport appeals as a vehicle which has a touch of European flair, without the try-hard characteristics of its ‘blingy’ rivals. As such, it will appeal to prestige SUV buyers of the no-nonsense variety.

No-nonsense drivers will also be drawn to the astonishing 34,000km/ two-year servicing intervals for the Ingenium engine. Let’s just hope they’re also drawn to premium service stations for some top quality fuel as this writer is somewhat sceptical about the effectiveness of such extended service intervals here in Australia.

While it may not see a mechanic for the duration of our loan, the Disco Sport has already cemented its position in our own garage and is proving a trusty companion once again.

Look out for more updates in coming months.

Long-Term Tests
motoring.com.au aims to make your choice of vehicle easier. Our Editorial section does this via our mix of news, international and local launch reviews as well as our seven-day tests.

From time to time we also take the opportunity to spend more time in a vehicle. These longer-term tests can be as short as a couple of weeks, but more recently we’ve settled on a three-month period as indicative of ‘normal’ ownership.

Long-term tests give our staff writers and contributors a chance to get to know a car as an owner would. While the car is with us, we pay for fuel, pay for the servicing and generally use and live with the car as a new owner would.

We believe long-term tests give car buyers an added insight into the vehicle on test, but also the qualities behind the brand and nameplate. The extended period also allows us to touch base with the dealer networks in question.

It comes as no surprise that manufacturers tend to have a love-hate relationship with long-term tests. Three months is plenty long enough to fall out of love with the latest and greatest, and start to nitpick — just like real owners do.