What a Discovery! Land Rover’s compact SUV is sound in mind and body
The 2015 Land Rover Discovery Sport makes the vehicle’s space work effectively.
For a change, let’s start out by hopping in the back seat of today’s test car, a 2015 Land Rover Discovery Sport.
This is a premium compact SUV, and the key word here is compact.
Key in sales because compact SUVs are a hot market segment, and the Discovery Sport is joining Land Rover showrooms even as the company’s sales are up 24.9 percent over the first five months of the year.
It’s key in design, too, because there’s limited space to divvy up among the engine bay, passenger cabin, and cargo area.
Land Rover has done its division well in this vehicle at least as far as the rear passengers are concerned.
With the 10-way adjustable driver’s seat set pretty far back for a six-footer, we tried the rear seats.
For starters, it was easy to climb back there—always a consideration. Not all passengers are nimble.
Legroom? There was more than enough. The front seat backs even are a bit concave to carve out a skosh more knee space.
Adjustability? Those rear seats move back and forth by 6.3 inches.
Fold down? The 60/40 split allows you to fold one or both sides for extra cargo space.
Recline? They do. Heated? They are.
Visibility? It’s good because the rear seats are a couple of inches higher than the front for so-called stadium seating. If so inclined, I could look over the shoulder of a shorter driver and be, well, a backseat driver.
It should be noted that comfort applies with two adults in the back. Because our test car was a five-passenger, there ostensibly is room for a third person in the second row, though said person gets the middle segment in a 40/20/40 setup.
Land Rover also offers a seven-passenger version, called the 5+2. Unless you’re planning on training your kids as gymnasts or circus performers (contortionists), this is a four-passenger vehicle for day-to-day use with the option to “cram in more bodies as needed.’’
LOOKING INSIDE: Leather seats, trim, and steering wheel give the Discovery a luxury feel. The transmission selector rises out of the center console.
Still, this is good rear room for a compact SUV.
And the Discovery Sport is a true SUV.
It has the marque’s traditional all-terrain capability plus the capability to scale a 45-degree incline. While we wouldn’t want to take the Discovery Sport to some of the places we’d go in a Wrangler, that’s not this Land Rover’s job. Instead, it’s to take you up the hill to your ski home or down the muddy, rutted road to your favorite fishing or hiking spot.
A four-position selector on the center console allows the driver to pick from among General (for normal driving), Grass/Gravel/Snow (slippery conditions on- and off-road), Mud/Ruts, and Sand.
Each selection adjusts the steering, throttle, transmission shifts, braking, stability, and all-wheel-drive distribution. That’s a lot; however the Discovery doesn’t have either a low range or suspension height adjustment.
Built into the system is a suite of supporting technologies that include Hill Descent Control, Gradient Release Control, Roll Stability, Dynamic (steering) stability, and Electronic Traction Control.
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While not a lightweight at 3,957 pounds, the Discovery Sport has a low center of gravity thanks to its aluminum hood, front fenders, roof, and tailgate.
Over the decades, Land-Rover has learned to combine this off-road capability with good on-road manners. Its electronic power steering is well calibrated for all conditions, and the suspension tuning wasn’t bothered by leftover winter potholes.
Also contributing to the smooth ride is its longish wheelbase (107.9 inches) for a relatively short (180.7 inches) vehicle.
Our test vehicle was the Sport HSE, the middle of three trim levels (SE, HSE, and HSE Lux). Base price was $42,495 (with destination). A $4,500 HSE Package added Xenon headlamps with LED signature fog lamps, a fixed panoramic roof, 10-way power front seats with memory, powered tailgate, 19-inch wheels, keyless entry, leather interior, and upgraded interior and exterior trims.
A $1,600 Climate package added heated front and rear seats, heated leather steering wheel, and heated windshield. A contrasting black roof ($350) brought the bottom line to $48,945.
If that price gives you a sinking feeling, it should be a relief to know that the Discovery Sport has a “wading depth’’ of 23.6 inches with watertight door seals. Land Rover once had us test the Sport’s predecessor—the LR2—by driving it through a muddy pond at a Quebec off-road course. (Side note: I wouldn’t have wanted to be on the cleanup crew for those SUVs after that day’s drive.)
Inside, the Discovery Sport’s leather and metal trim provides an upscale feel. However, the controls, in Land Rover custom, are straightforward, simple, and intuitive to a newcomer to the brand.
The standard eight-inch infotainment touchscreen uses a four-quadrant home page offering quick access to audio, navigation, climate, and Bluetooth connectivity.
Power comes from a 2-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that produces 240 horsepower and 251 lb.-ft. of torque. That goes to all four wheels as needed via a 9-speed transmission and on-demand AWD coupling.
Acceleration was more than adequate, though short of impressive. Braking, on the other hand, was impressive.
The Discovery Sport’s fuel economy is rated at 20 miles per gallon in city driving, 26 on the highway, and 22 combined. We averaged 24.2 while avoiding any commuter traffic.
More technology is available. A $1,900 Vision Assist Package offers blind spot monitoring with closing-vehicle sensing, automatic high beams, cross traffic detection, adaptive Xenon headlamps with signature LED driving lights, and a surround camera system.
And a $1,295 Driver Assist Package offers autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning, traffic sign recognition, and SD card navigation.
All-in-all, it’s a luxurious way to get there under any conditions—all in a compact package.
2015 Land Rover Discovery Sport HSE
THE BASICS
Price, base/as tested (with destination): $42,495/$48,945. Fuel economy, EPA estimated: 20 city/26 highway/ 22 overall. Fuel economy, Globe observed: 24.2 mpg. Drivetrain: 2.0-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged engine, 9-speed automatic transmission, AWD. Body: 5-passenger compact SUV.
THE SPECIFICS
Horsepower: 240. Torque: 251 lb.-ft. Overall length: 180.7 in. Wheelbase: 107.9 in. Height: 67.9 in. Width: 85.6 in. (including side mirrors). Curb weight: 3,957 lbs.
THE GOOD
All-weather capability, interior space, and comfort.
THE BAD
Acceleration, pricey options.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Go most anywhere in comfort.
ALSO CONSIDER
Acura RDX, Audi Q5, BMW X3, Cadillac SRX, Infiniti QX50, Lexus NX, Lincoln MKC, Mercedes GLK (C Class), Porsche Macan, Volvo XC60.
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