Land Rover is an iconic British marque with products renowned for their design and all-terrain capability. With 70 years of rich legacy, Land Rover vehicles are known for their ability to take on some of the toughest terrains with relative ease. Whether on or off-road, the urge to explore and go above and beyond is what distinguishes every vehicle bearing the Land Rover badge. So, on a winter afternoon, when Power Drive got the opportunity to get up close and personal with the Land Rover Discovery Sport, we were more than glad to take it for a spin. Read on to find out more about our date with the gentle beast. Photographs by Sourish Meryson.
The Land Rover Discovery Sport does not get any cosmetic updates for 2017. After all, why fix something that ain’t broken. The Discovery Sport looks macho with just the right proportions that makes maneuvering it quite effortless in the urbane city conditions. The front looks striking with its big DRLs, sleek grille and the large Discovery script that the sits above it. Whether navigating through city traffic or while cruising on the highway, the Land Rover Discovery Sport never fails to turn heads on the go.
The interior layout is quite functional, with everything within easy reach. The cabin is swathed in beige leather as well as soft touch materials that feel premium and exudes class. The large, panoramic sunroof makes the cabin feels airy and spacious.
Navigation makes planning journeys and following routes easy thanks to turn-by-turn voice guidance, junction view and 3D maps. Set your destination with a few taps, or simply speak a command.
The seats, both upfront and at the rear, are comfortable and provide good lumbar support. Soft to the touch and pleasing to the eye, these seats come in a choice of colour that truly complement the cabin architecture.
Making sure all passengers enjoy the impressive audio in the cabin, the Meridian 380W Sound System features a subwoofer and 10 speakers are carefully and strategically arranged throughout the cabin. NVH levels are well contained with very little engine noise filtering in only at high rev range.
The new 2.0-litre Ingenium diesel motor is both responsive and refined. At idle, there is barely any vibrations that can be felt inside the passenger cabin. At full throttle, however, you will hear some engine murmuring, but it’s well within acceptable limits and doesn’t disrupt the peace.
This engine is available in two states of tune, depending on the variant you choose. The one we tested test is the HSE trim (7-seater) and the powertrain that does duty in this variant produces 150PS (180PS in the HSE Luxury trim) and 382Nm of torque that peaks at 1,750 rpm. And although 150 PS may not sound earth shattering, however, the fashion in which the power is delivered makes the Land Rover Discovery Sport a joy to drive. The 9-speed automatic gearbox has well-spaced ratios and you’ll find the engine revving at a relaxed 1,500 rpm even while cruising at 100 kmph.
The Discovery Sport’s suspension set-up offers a great blend of ride and handling. Driving over some of Kolkata’s uneven stretches, I barely felt the need to lift my foot off the throttle, as the suspension went about ironing out the potholes and bumps. However, on the downside, there is quite a bit of body roll when cornering which isn’t very confidence inspiring.
The Xenon headlights provide greater visibility and safety. They include signature Daytime Running Lights, rear LED lights and headlight powerwash.
Some of the highlights of the Land Rover Discovery Sport HSE trim that we tested are as follows:
18-inch 5 split-spoke alloy wheels
Atlas grille with Narvik Black surround
Xenon headlights with LED signature
Cruise Control and Speed Limiter
Rear Parking Aid
Front Parking Aid
Rear View Camera
Park Assist
Power fold, heated door mirrors with approach lights
10-way electric front seats
Partial leather seats
60:40 second row seats with slide and recline
Meridian Sound System 380 W with 10 speakers plus subwoofer (Touch)
8-inch Touchscreen with touch navigation
Configurable Interior Ambient Lighting
Illuminated aluminium front tread plates with Discovery script
Land Rover Discovery Sport (18MY) Ex-Showroom Price:
2.0 l Diesel Pure 5 Seats – Rs 42.48 Lakhs
2.0 l Diesel SE 5+2 Seats – Rs 48.67 Lakhs
2.0 l Diesel HSE 5+2 Seats – Rs 52.31 Lakhs
2.0 l Diesel HSE Luxury 5+2 Seats – Rs 57.46 Lakhs
Power Drive 