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-   -   Land Rover Discovery Sport petrol launched at Rs. 56.50 lakh - Quick Review added! (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/indian-car-scene/177569-land-rover-discovery-sport-petrol-launched-rs-56-50-lakh-quick-review-added.html)

Land Rover has launched the Discovery Sport 2.0L petrol variant at a starting price of Rs 56.50 lakhs, ex-showroom Delhi.


Motoroids

These petrol models are surely targeted for the NCR. How do these engines take to our 91 Octane petrol? 237 hp from a 2 litre petrol will surely need 95/ 97 octane to run properly. Even the recently launched Merc GLC 300 runs on a high output 2 litre petrol engine. I sincerely hope OMCs make high octane petrol easily available in that region atleast!

Land Rover launched the Discovery Sport as a successor to the Freelander back in 2015.



What you will like

• Modern if laid back styling – less derivative than its German rivals
• Commanding cabin with excellent visibility and space
• Astounding off-road ability
• Good on-road manners with well weighted steering for an SUV
• Build integrity and durable

What you won’t like

• Petrol engine has a bit of drinking problem if pressed hard.
• +2 rear seats are a joke and an unnecessary expense
• Cabin lacks the initial showroom appeal in terms of trim and basic touchscreen interfaces
• Expensive compared to its peers
• JLR service is poor due to indifferent Tata management

The Range

Riding on the Evoque’s success, the Discovery Sport was positioned upmarket and was larger in size to its predecessor. The Discovery Sport is available in both petrol and diesel variants. The example tested was petrol equipped with JLR’s Ingenium engine which puts out 240 PS @5000RPM along with 340 Nm of torque. A far cry from the 150 PS diesel on offer but that comes with a little bit more torque at 382 Nm. For an extra Rs 6L premium on the diesel HSE, you get the HSE Luxury 180 PS diesel with a thumping 430 Nm of torque.

Abroad, a 290 PS Petrol version exists in Luxury trim

Back to the petrol version – it is available in SE and HSE trim levels.The HSE version as tested retails for Rs 53.75 Lakhs, ex showroom. The main differences that the HSE costs Rs 3.5 Lakhs premium over the SE are

• 10 speaker Meridian system + sub-woofer
• Silver 5 spoke wheels
• Full perforated leather seats
• 12-way electric seats as opposed to 10 way (read lumbar support)
• Sliding front armrest
• Front parking sensors
• Rear view camera+ park assist
• In Control Apps preparation

The petrol versions are priced at Rs 1 lakh less than the diesel equivalent.

The Evoquesque styling has been toned down and made a little bit more upright in order to improve interior space.
 
Exterior

The Discovery Sport looks pretty modern despite the fact that the current X3, GLC and Q3 have been launched after it. However, Merc excepted, the other two are very derivative in styling. Land Rover took a bold step and emerged out of the box (pun intended). The slightly sloped back front disguises the actual bulk of the car.



Viewing it up front. Land Rover have kept it simple with a single pair of Xenon headlights, surprisingly, the front fog lights are not available on the petrol version. Instead, you get the larger intakes of the basic (Pure) version which are significantly larger compared to the diesel. The front bumper houses the intercooler as well as the oil cooler. A possible reason is that the engine runs at hotter operating temperatures.

The silver skid plate provides a contrast relief to the front bumpers.



The headlights have an effective low beam but a pretty weak high beam. I found that I had to reduce speed when travelling on an unlit highway.


Note the grey panel on the bonnet to reduce windscreen reflections. It also houses the SAPPA airbag – (Scuttle Area Pedestrian Protection Airbag).



Viewing the sideways profile, the overhangs are minimized. The rear overhang is in the form of an arc to achieve the necessary departure angles. The lower sills and wheel arches are discretely cladded in black. Unlike a Polo or an Etios Cross, it does not have to prove itself with excessive cladding.



The roof is in a contrasting gray. It is a fixed panoramic sunroof. In this Byron Blue example, you also also have the option of black. In other colors, you only get black. The main colour options are Fuji White, Firenze Red, Indus Silver, Santorini Black, Scotia Grey.


The C Pillar is pretty thick, the rear most side window hides the D Pillar and makes the side silhouette rather distinctive. This also provides excellent visibility to the third row of passengers.



The rear is pert and high set. The rear lights are not susceptible to getting coated in mud or getting damaged. The tail lights are compact and house everything except the fog lights which are in the rear bumper.



An interesting point are that the rear lights are shaped like a compass (not Jeep!)





As in the front, the rear bumper gets an additional skid plate. There is 200 mm of ground clearance. Note that the spare wheel externally located under the boot floor. It is a reduced cross section – read space saver. If we did not have to stump up for the extra two seats in the third row, we could have a full-size spare instead and nearly Rs 2 lakhs off. An interesting fact was that the first batch of Petrol Ingenium cars came without a spare wheel due to the exhaust system design. This was quickly rectified!



No electric boot opening - unecessary in my opinion. Instead you get a proper handle to shut the tailgate. More effort but certainly less time!



The 981 litre boot is well shaped, practical. However, there is no stowage space for the retractable luggage cover cartridge and you need to leave it at home. The Kodiaq has a nice slot to stow it in the boot floor!



With the third row up, not much room in the boot. No official figures are even quoted.



Second row seats fold to expand to 1691 litres at a touch of a button. You need to manually lift them back in place.



600 mm of wading depth.(We never tried)

Interior

The cabin makes it clear that you are in a proper SUV not a car-based SUV. It’s all about space and utility, not so much ultimate comfort and luxury branding! This is the problem that JLR faces when customers visit the showroom. For 60+ lakhs on road, people want the sense of luxury. We happened to show the Discovery Sport to a Hexa owner who commented that the Hexa interior was more upmarket!



As I settled in, I found the seats were a little narrow for my frame. They were not as bad as the Hyundai Tucson which were really uncomfortable. The seats are firm and adjustable 10 ways. Steering is manually adjustable for height and rake. The controls clack in a solid manner not the velvet solidity of its German rivals but it is a lot better than a flimsy click of a Maruti.

I know quite a few women who shop at Ritu’s, Sabyasachi and other high-end places, but when they strut their fancy, quality stuff, it just does not stand out. Ditto the Discovery Sport. The dashboard is initially underwhelming. It looks ordinary and lacks the bling as it focusses on being functional and durable. You would feel a little shortchanged compared to a Mercedes, Volvo or even a Tiguan in terms of style. The small recessed 8" screen does not help.

However, if you start to examine the individual parts of the dashboard closely, those chrome inserts are actually proper formed aluminum. No plastic chrome as in the Mercedes. The leather on the dashboard is of a good durable quality. The leather pigment matches the plastics so you barely notice it. The plastics are durable but of a good quality. I would venture to say it is better than the lower plastics of the Audi Q5 and a far cry from the cheap plastics found at the bottom of a Lexus. There is an absence of interior finishers like wood or aluminum trim inserts. That feature is strictly for the larger Range Rovers!







High Mounted Electric Window Switches


The sliding armrest slides fore and aft and is complete with USB, power and aux. The central console houses two cup holders complete with thick plastic inserts to hold your cup tight. (will last much longer than a spring-loaded gizmo and will certainly not rattle!). Aft of the cupholders, is a flat expanse housing a small chrome parking brake switch and the gear selector. Although small in “handprint”, these seem to take up a lot of space which Mercedes or Volvo use for storage. In the Evoque, the parking brake switch is mounted on the lower part of the dashboard, providing more storage space in the console.

The gear selector (can’t call it a knob!) is a rather minimal touch. Pops out on starting the engine and you twirl it as required. If you switch off in gear, the selector turns to Park and retracts as a safety measure. D is for normal drive and S has a more aggressive shift pattern. Sport mode does not take the steering, throttle response nor the suspension into scope. You can switch to Paddle shifters in manual mode. To go back to the selected drive mode, pull the right hand + paddle and hold for a second (I later read the manual on line to find this out)



Heater Controls are twin zone. The max AC is pretty effective after parking the car in 30 Degrees Centigrade with the roof shade open. None of the rear passengers ever complained about the AC effectiveness.



There is a rubber lined stowage space under the lower console switches. The band of switches above this are for

• Start/Stop Activation – It did not work our car and we really did not try!
• Eco Mode – This reduces the AC and provide information on how you driving.
• Terrain Mode – This has various modes

General Program – Keeps driveline disconnected unless slippage is detected - meant for general motoring
Snow/Ice - Deadens throttle response but in deep snap - sand + disabled DSC is recommended
Mud/Ruts - More sensitive slip detection +4wd
Sand - More sensitive throttle

Hill Descent - activates the Hill Descent Control - Tried it on another off-road event, helps regulate downhill speed by modulating the brakes. Press the switch twice to activate the ATLS (All Terrain Limitation System) which sets the speed on a rough terrain (call it a cruise control on rough roads)



The Discovery Sport has an 8" touchscreen - a bit small compared to its competitors. The switches on the right control the entertainment and navigation functions. These are shortcut buttons and can be controlled from the screen. The extreme left set of buttons control the Park Assist and Park Sensors. The Luxury version dispenses with the buttons and everything is touchscreen. The touchscreen suffers from some latency. It is more apparent when programming the navigation. The menu is very simple compared to a Volvo or a Mercedes.

The Top Level menus are as below.

First swipe provides

Entertainment - Controls for Radio and other Media Devices. The 10 Speaker Meridian system is tight but did not kick my socks off unlike the Volvo B&W system
Climate Control (Directional Airflow)


Phone - Menus, Pairing and Settings


Navigation


Second Swipe provides

InControl Apps
Wifi Hotspot
Cameras - in this case the 360 sensors
Eco Data
4X4 info - mode and whether driveline is active
Valet - Disables rear boot lid


Final Swipe Controls Ambient Lighting - choice of 7 colours





as well as
Rear AC Flow Disable
Screen Off

Main issue with the touchscreen is that it is quite a reach for driving oriented controls like the Park Assist. The Park-Assist works well. My wife got freaked out watching the wheel spin like a propeller when parking. However, accessing the switch is quite a reach when parking in a hurry induced by impatient traffic.



The 360 degree park sensors are pretty sensitive and keep beeping in traffic. The rear camera works well but does not have any directional markings leaving you to make your judgements



Bonnet Release is on the passenger side and unlike VAG cars, one need not open the door to release it.



The rear seat room is generous. The seats are adjustable fore and aft as well as for the backrest angle. The middle passenger did not feel unwelcome but not too cozy either. The Panoramic roof makes the rear light and airy. Virtually all the ladies who rode in this car loved this feature. My wife has not stopped talking about the visibility and the ability to see the stars.



Good air circulation with vents in the B pillars. This allows more legroom for the rear. There is a small console in the rear with a 12V power socket. The HSE Luxury (available in a diesel only) has two additional USB ports at the back.


The Third Row

Why did they bother?

This row is at best sufficient for 2 small children or to give your enemies a lift. Space is deep and tight. Having forced Vid6639 to potentially lose his manhood in the Ashok Leyland Stile, it was only appropriate to prove his residual manhood and put him in the third row to verify this.

Presenting the third row of seats - deep but narrow - not as pleasurable



This head restraints fold out of the seat back and touch the rear windshield. Pray for not getting rear ended!


The only concession to comfort. A rear blower control!


Viddy has never tried any interesting position in life beyond standing or sitting so he got an intense yoga lesson in 5 min. You can see the ecstasy of Viddy when he banged his knees while pushing the second-row back rest in place. He has changed his handle to Vid6969 after his reassigned exo-skeleton takes shape.

Engine
The clamshell bonnet lifts with little effort to reveal the 2.0 Litre 240 PS Ingenium petrol engine.



This is JLR’s own design and is modular in nature as it also is available in diesel and 6 cyl variants (for the larger cars). Having sold JLR for a song, Ford made up for the deficit by selling engines back to JLR for a hefty margin. JLR with newly infused capital from Tata developed the modular Ingenium series of engines It uses a continuously variable valve lift system as well as variable cam timing. There is a 290PS version available in the UK.

The engine is smooth and revvs freely The engine note is pleasing if not engaging. Power is pretty linear, one senses very little lag. The max torque band appears at 1500 RPM onwards. You can observe the speed at 85/km/h. Note the overload of car information - too many data points at a glance. Car was in ECO mode so the throttle, speed and brake usage info in green meant that I was hugging trees on the move. (Pic taken by my daughter!)



The engine is coupled to a 9-speed automatic. In town, we found the first 4 gears most effective. The remaining are more suited for the highway. At 100km/h, the engine ticks over at 1250RPM. Gear shifts are smooth although there is a reluctance to downshift during press on driving.

Despite having such high ratios, on a couple of runs to the airport and back, I was averaging barely 11 km/l. If you drive very spiritedly, it comes down to 5km/l. Within town, we were getting around 6-7km/l. I spoke to an owner of an Outlander. His figures were comparable.

Driving

The main forte of the Discovery Sport is off-roading. For that read about the Fat Cats exploits here

The Command Driving position affords great visibility. The minimal overhangs coupled with the large windows and large mirrors make the Discovery Sport easy to place in tight spaces. My first task in reversing the Discovery Sport from a packed showroom full of JLR cars into a bustling service road was a cinch. It is very easy to place on the road as you can see the squared off bonnet and the rear visibility without passengers is pretty good. In Bangalore traffic, the sensors keep beeping away due to the close proximity of two wheelers unless you switch the sensors off.

The steering is well weighted, and you get feedback on the road. It is a utility vehicle first, so it is far from eager on turn-in, but it does the job. It is not a point and squirt machine, you navigate it into position and it responds fairly for an SUV. With the excellent visibility and its presence, I could hustle this car around town more easily than my Swift! On the highway, the car is smooth and cruises well. It is not as well planted as a Kodiaq. High speed lane changes are a little roly-poly comparatively. There is a little bit of vertical pitching on uneven surfaces. The pitches are short sharp if slightly choppy but it remains well planted. You don’t suffer the seasickness that the Kodiaq subjects its passengers to as it pitches badly over bumps.

For Bangalore's roads, this car is practical.
Small pothole? Drive over it.
Encounter a speed breaker? - What speed breaker!
Awkward narrow U Turn? Let the front wheel climb the edge of the pavement gently!
Awkward Parking space on a hillock or a rough patch - Simply park maadi!

Five up, the car remains stable and drives well. 5 up, the Bangalore Mod team took it on rural roads and on the highway and lacked for nothing except a cup of tea! On rural roads, this car owns the road, one can press on without any fear of grounding. Just keep an eye out for deep ditches or obstructions though



Gear-shifts are smooth, it shifts up easily, but there is a reluctance to down shift during press-on driving. For that, you need to take control with the paddles. Sport mode defers the change up but in town, the downshifts are a bit too aggressive.

With 240PS, you might be expecting tyre burning performance but alas, the Discovery Sport has a lot of weight to carry. Acceleration (0-100 KM/H) is quoted at 7.7 seconds. Fellow Mod Suhaas reckoned that the performance was very similar to his family's Octavia 1.8 TSI in terms of its very linear power delivery. The mid-range acceleration of the Discovery Sport is its main strength. It despatched middle lane stragglers with ease.

We tried some experiments with the Terrain modes on normal roads. The snow mode dulled things whereas the sand mode made the throttle more sensitive.

All in all, the Discovery Sport was a pleasing package to drive. It may lack the high speed dynamics of its German rivals and its cabin is a little dated, but its biggest secret is its off-road/ bad road ability. We took this car to its nearest off-road competitor - The Endeavour. The Endeavour has everything the Discovery Sport has except for design finesse, many buttons and a few rough edges. The ride is a little choppy but it can seat 7 people with ease. However, it costs a good Rs 20 lakhs less. The owner of the Endeavour had a quick drive and was impressed with the smoothness and how the Discovery Sport was so well integrated as a package.



The Kodiaq is the Discovery Sport's biggest bane - It offers everything except total off-road ability for 15 Lakhs less. It is a shame, considering the Discovery Sport is quite likeable, price aside. With the impending Discovery Sport based Harrier arriving soon with local content. There would be be cost reduction opportunities if common components underfloor could be used.

However, this will not be the case as the new Evoque announced last week means that a new Discovery Sport will not be far away. It has superior electronics control interface systems. Some of which might not come to the next Discovery Sport, if you compare the Discovery systems and the revised Range Rover Sport - you will see the "brand" differentiation. We can guess though that the forthcoming Discovery Sport will be much improved and could justify its premium a little better.

Disclaimer - JLR India lent us the Discovery Sport Petrol for review and made us promise not to take it off-road or park it in a neighbours swimming pool!

This is called the Team-BHP group test. 5 mods tested this Discovery Sport.

Nice short review Ajit! Had the Discovery Sport for a day and took family along for a drive. Dad appreciated the space inside and the smooth petrol motor. Ride quality was good but not the most comfy. You need to go faster to smoothen out the bumps.

As Ajit mentioned the Kodiaq is the Discovery Sport's biggest headache and if you are looking at this segment, the Q5 has a better cabin, the X3 has better Dynamics and the XC60 is a better all rounder.

The Discovery sport has 2 USP's, one is the size which is bigger inside out than the three above and the off road capability. It's a little more robust and simpler. The interiors will probably outlast the other 3 due to the long wearing materials. It's a very honest and capable vehicle. You appreciate it over time and won't impress you straight away. It grows on you.

Engine has good mid range but low end is inconsistent. It moves well in the mid range. ZF9 box is really good but sometimes slow to respond. But that's nitpicking.

The petrol doesn't make a lot of sense but the diesel now with 177PS is not a bad option for anyone looking at a spacious and practical SUV.

3 mods discussing the design:


Design is not as flashy on the roads but still looks smart. Not the choice if you want to be seen:


IT's a good 6 inches shorter in length than the Endeavour:


The Ford looks like a brute in front of the smart Discovery Sport:


lol: OMG I just read this.

I was the only brave and fit mod among the 5 to actually attempt to climb into the third row of that car. So give me some credit please. :uncontrol

Well, like Tiff Needell climbs in the boot to test capacity, we have you for the Third row. Thats the most back row activity that you will ever get into!

There's even a video we shot of how to get out of the third row swiftly and gracefully as Vid6639 shows us:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGC2L5OFwZI

The first thing that struck me when driving the Disco Sport was the manner in which it went about smothering the bad and rough patches of road. The ride quality is sublime and the heavy-ish steering was a joy to operate.

Yes, there is definitely an underlying stiffness especially over extremely rough patches, but it creams bad roads without a fuss!

Also, it's plenty fast for a petrol SUV and can haul if required! It works well as a 5 seater too. The only area it fails to impress is the infotainment and gadgetry. There's not too much of that going on in the cabin.

The 3rd row jump seats are practical if you have little children in the family. But if you don't you could permanently stow it away.

Another quirk I noticed is the low sills of the doors. What initially appears to be cladding fixed to the skirts is actually a part of the door itself! In spite of being a tall-ish SUV, the bottom half / sills of the doors are lower than usual and you need to be a touch careful while swinging them open, lest you hit the edge on the kerb / pavement.

All in all, the Kodiaq is definitely better value, and the XC60 is the better choice for the money.

But if you absolutely must have a Land Rover, and you're counting pennies at the showroom counter, the Disco Sport is the way to go!