The
2016 Discovery Sport is a new nameplate, replacing the LR2 in the Land Rover
lineup and heading in a direction that's going to be far more appealing than
its predecessor. View more details and Photos after the cut…
In
many respects it borrows some of the essence of the Range Rover, yet this family-friendly
companion keeps the size manageable and the cost affordable—at least by
luxury-brand standards.
The
Discovery Sport doesn’t fully commit to either the upright-and-boxy or
soft-and-carlike school of utility-vehicle design; rather, it mixes a lot of
the attributes that make crossover utility vehicles so appealing, and then adds
just enough Land Rover ruggedness. It’s all about the stance, really. The
Discovery Sport’s oversize wheels (relative to its small-midsize body) really
fill out the wheel wells and give this model a planted, secure look from all
angles. It’s almost like a sized-up hot hatch in proportion, from some angles.
The
Interior
Inside,
the Discovery Sport is unexpectedly serious and businesslike at first
glance—with the horizontal dash and vertical center stack laid in with the
stiffness of a T-square. But what might seem a little too stark and simple soon
shows itself to be refreshingly straightforward, and an elegant contrast to the
soft, contemporary exterior. There are plenty of soft-touch surfaces where it
matters, and the rotary shift controller, which rises from the center console
on startup, is a nice centerpiece.
Engine
Performance
Overall, the new Discovery
Sport performs and handles with a verve that’s characteristic of car-based
crossovers, yet those off-road chops are there when you need them. A 240-hp,
2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder is smooth and strong here, and the
paddle-shifted nine-speed automatic is a good companion for responsiveness,
drivability, and gas mileage. The electric power steering loads up reassuringly
here, while the brakes have the subtlety required for off-road combined with
the reassuring pedal feel needed for higher-speed stops. And a new rear
suspension design allows more wheel travel and a quieter, more absorbent (and
less pitchy) ride than the LR2.
Credit:
thecarconnection
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