2020 Land Rover Discovery Sport Review

　　

2020 Land Rover Discovery Sport Review

byMark TakahashiCorrespondent

　　Mark Takahashi has worked in the automotive industry since 2001. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Mark has also contributed to Motor Trend, Auto Aficionado, Chevy High Performance and several motorcycle magazines in various roles. Mark is also a juror on the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards and can be seen regularly on the zzdcar YouTube channel and sometimes representing the company in media interviews.

　　Land Rover introduced its Discovery Sport back in 2015, and it's gone on to become one of the brand's most popular models. For 2020, Land Rover hopes to maintain that popularity by giving the Disco Sport a thorough update. About 60% of the Discovery Sport's parts have been updated, making it feel almost like a full redesign, especially from the inside.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2020 Land Rover Discovery Sport P250 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 9A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.04 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$179/mo  for Discovery Sport P250

　　Discovery Sport P250

　　P250 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 9A) - $37,800 MSRPP250 S 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 9A) (Most Popular) - $41,500 MSRPP250 R-Dynamic S 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 9A) - $43,100 MSRPP250 SE 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 9A) - $44,600 MSRPP250 R-Dynamic SE 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 9A) - $46,150 MSRPP290 R-Dynamic HSE 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 9A) - $52,800 MSRP

　　vs

　　$183/mo

　　Avg. Midsize SUV

　　Hop inside and you'll find that the 2020 Land Rover Discovery Sport has the brand's latest design look. The updated infotainment display, digital gauges, multifunction controllers, and new technology features add a healthy dose of modernity and usability. And even though its rather compact dimensions may suggest otherwise, the Sport can be optioned with a third row of seats.

　　For power, Land Rover has made the base four-cylinder engine more powerful. There's also an optional upgrade engine that gets an electric boost from a 48-volt mild hybrid system. These new engines also benefit from an automatic driveline disconnect — when you're cruising straight, only the front wheels receive power, which Land Rover reckons improves fuel efficiency by 7%.

　　As a Land Rover, the 2020 Discovery Sport has impressive off-road abilities that will likely leave any other rival luxury SUV stranded. While you may not be an all-terrain enthusiast, those abilities translate to better stability if you live in weather-prone regions. At the same time, the Disco Sport is well-mannered on dry pavement.

　　Overall, we're pleased to see that the Discovery Sport has matured into a more well-rounded and refined SUV. It's worth checking out, especially if you find that other options such as the BMW X3 and the Mercedes-Benz GLC are a little too bland for your tastes.

　　

Which Discovery Sport does zzdcar recommend?

The midrange S trim gets our recommendation in the Discovery Sport lineup. You get just enough luxury enhancements over the base model at a price that is still somewhat attainable. There are plenty of options available to suit your particular preferences.

　　

2020 Land Rover Discovery Sport models

The 2020 Land Rover Discovery Sport is offered in four trims: Base, S, SE and HSE trims. All models but the HSE are powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (246 horsepower, 269 lb-ft of torque) that is paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission that drives all four wheels. The HSE model adds a 48-volt mild hybrid system that boosts output to 286 hp and 290 lb-ft of torque.

　　Standard features for the base Discovery Sport include 18-inch wheels, automatic LED headlights, front and rear parking sensors, heated mirrors, rain-sensing wipers, keyless ignition, dual-zone automatic climate control, cloth upholstery, eight-way manually adjustable front seats, 60/40-split folding rear seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, Land Rover's InControl telematics and remote apps, Bluetooth, a universal garage door opener, a 10-inch touchscreen, a rearview camera, and a six-speaker audio system with USB input.

　　Advanced safety features include forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane keeping assist and a drowsy driver warning system.

　　The S trim adds power-folding mirrors, an auto-dimming driver-side mirror, 12-way power front seats, a choice of leather or faux leather/suede upholstery, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, a navigation system, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and a traffic sign reader with an integrated speed limiter.

　　The SE trim additions are limited to 19-inch wheels, a power liftgate, self-leveling headlights, automatic high beams, front seat memory functions, a digital instrument panel and a blind-spot monitor.

　　At the top of the lineup, the HSE trim comes with the more powerful mild hybrid engine, 20-inch wheels, keyless entry, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking at speeds above 50 mph, premium leather upholstery, 14-way adjustable front seats, a virtual rearview mirror and a 10-speaker Meridian premium audio system.

　　Bundled options include the Park package (a surround-view camera system, a passenger exit warning system, rear cross-traffic alert and an automated parking system), the Dynamic Handling package (selectable drive modes, adaptive dampers and red brake calipers) and the Cold Climate package (heated steering wheel, windshield and headlight washers). S through HSE trims are also eligible for the R-Dynamic option that adds shift paddles and sportier exterior and interior treatments.

　　Many features are available at an additional cost on supporting trims. Other options include a third row of seats (increasing passenger capacity to seven), a panoramic sunroof, heated seats, a wireless charging pad, a head-up display, satellite radio and a waterproof activity key bracelet.

　　

2020 Discovery Sport Highlights

Trim: P250P250 SP250 R-Dynamic SP250 SEP250 R-Dynamic SEP290 R-Dynamic HSEP250

　　

Base MSRP	$37,800
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	21 MPG
Cost to Drive	$179/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	32.7 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	all wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles