Land Rover Discovery Sport is a worthy successor/replacement

The changes are good! You are sure? Sometimes, looking at the manufacturer's offer, you just want to shout: "Leave it as it is!" Unfortunately, sometimes it's too late… An example would be a Honda, Toyota or Mitsubishi proposal from a few to a decade ago, where gems such as the MR2, Supra, S2000, Lancer Evo, etc. took the lead. Land Rover is making similar changes. and the next harbinger is the Discovery Sport model.

A bit of history

Sometimes you have to go to the end and do something contrary to stereotypes, opinions and advice from self-proclaimed experts. Land Rover does this quite often, exemplified by the 1998 Freelander presentation. Fans of the brand were disgusted that their favorite SUV manufacturer launched something like this - a pseudo roadster for beginners. Some see in this premiere the beginnings of crossovers so popular today, but there were many “beginnings” and it is difficult to unequivocally determine the ancestor. One way or another, this risky step turned out to be a bull's-eye. Dissatisfied fans of the brand forgave, put up with such a model, and in return, the manufacturer received a huge group of new customers. The car was offered in two body styles - a recreational 3-door with a removable rear body and a family 5-door. At the beginning of the adventure with this segment, both versions were not fully developed. the interior was quite cramped and not very modern, but the 2003 facelift brought a lot of changes. The next generation of Freelander, which appeared in 2006, brought significant stylistic changes. Angular shapes and sheets of plastic were removed and very beautiful lines were used, which you can still like today, but ...

… A new chapter begins!

If a manufacturer wants to replace a well-deserved car with a new model, doubts arise. The same was true in this case. Two generations of the Freelander have managed to please even orthodox Land Rover fans, and the latter retires and introduces another model - Discovery Sport. Again doubts, skepticism and general pessimism. But is it? Of course, if someone associates Land Rover only with rough terrain, workhorses and simple design, then this novelty will not appeal to him. But if anyone has fallen in love with the current lineup, models like the Evoque, Range Rover and Range Rover Sport, they will be thrilled with the new Discovery Sport, which debuted at last year's Paris Motor Show.

Currently, only the Defender is old school field forest with strict rules. In some ways, Discovery echoes it, but Discovery Sport is a completely different, very modern and fashionable approach, aimed at those who want to stand out. Of course, this is not just a fashion accessory, as there is a clear emphasis on functionality. In terms of dimensions, the novelty has a wheelbase of 2741 4599 mm and a length of 91 5 mm, which is 2 mm more than the unwritten predecessor of the Freelander. What definitely sets the LR offering apart from the competition are the optional rear seats, which are now breaking records in popularity and are often the deciding factor when buying. The + layout will certainly increase the functionality of the car, even if only short passengers can be accommodated in the last row.

In terms of design, it is very high-end and combines elements of the top Range Rover and the smaller Evoque. We've got extended headlights, a sloping rear roof, a compact and compact rear end, and an accentuated C-pillar that looks great when paired with a black-painted roof. The interior is calm, elegant and without unnecessary attractions. Some may complain that it is too simple, but this is offset by the quality of workmanship, fit and the level of materials used - here the class, as befits a Land Rover, is the highest. Maybe perfectionists won't approve of uninteresting looking buttons under the steering wheel or on the door panels, or some detail that could be designed with a little more panache, but on the other hand, if one appreciates the reliability and simplicity of the Land Rover, these shortcomings will turn into into dignity.

With common sense under the hood

At the moment, the engine range offers a choice of three units, but a new engine will soon appear - a 2.0 hp diesel 4 eD150. with a torque of 380 Nm, available at 1750 rpm. This will be an offer for the less demanding, as front axle drive will be standard. If someone is looking for something more serious, he should opt for two diesel or one gasoline unit. In the area of ​​diesel engines, we have the 2.2 SD4 version with 190 hp. at 3500 rpm with 420 Nm of torque available at 1750 rpm. A slightly weaker alternative is the 2.2 TD4 engine with 150 hp. at 3500 rpm with a torque of 400 Nm at 1750 rpm. For more demanding customers, there is a 2.0 Si4 petrol engine with 240 hp available at 5800 rpm with 340 Nm of torque available at 1750 rpm. At the same time, the maximum speed is 199 km / h, and acceleration from 0 to 100 km / h takes 8,2 seconds. These are not sports emotions, but it is quite enough for dynamic city driving and smooth off-road driving.

A worthy successor?

Calling the Land Rover Discovery Sport the successor to the Freelander is difficult, because it still offers a slightly different philosophy and approach to the subject. A better term might be a substitute who just took a vacant seat. Was it worth it? It looks like it is, although some people may turn away looking at the base version's price of PLN 187. But at this price, we get a strong, 000-horsepower gasoline unit, and potential competitors, such as the Audi Q240 or BMW X5, at a much lower price - about 3-140 thousand. PLN - offers engines up to 150 hp. weaker. Of course, after upgrading to Discovery Sport level, the price will be similar, but this is where the magic of the stamp comes into play. Some feel that the Land Rover offers more prestige - after all, he is a British aristocrat, albeit in a compact size.

Find out more about the driving experience in the video!

Land Rover Discovery Sport, 2015 [PL / ENG / DE] - presentation by AutoCentrum.pl # 177