2024 Land Rover Discovery Sport Assessment, Pricing, and Specs

Although it’s the entry point to the Discovery Sport, we’d stick with the S model. It comes with plenty of creature comforts and convenience features, including power front seats, a Meridian stereo system, a digital gauge display, wireless smartphone charging, and a panoramic glass roof. We’d splurge on the Comfort package, which adds ambient interior lighting, rear climate controls, and a cabin air purification system.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

Every Discovery Sport has a turbocharged four-cylinder powertrain that makes 246 horsepower. Of course, standard all-wheel drive—along with a host of optional trail-rated equipment—helps the Sport glide over bumpy terrain and weather any storm. The Disco Sport can even wade into as much as 23.6 inches of water (for those who dare) and tow up to 4409 pounds. We tested a 2020 model with the 246-hp engine and found it to be rather sluggish; throttle response is lazy, and the Disco Sport requires 7.5 seconds to reach 60 mph. Handling isn’t particularly crisp, so don’t expect to wring thrills from curvy back roads. On the plus side, the Discovery Sport delivers a comfortable ride for cruising.

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

The Discovery Sport’s EPA fuel-economy estimates are 19 mpg city, 23 mpg highway, and 20 mpg combined. Compared with other luxury compact SUVs, the Land Rover is thirsty. It was particularly greedy for fuel during our 75-mph highway fuel-economy test, where it delivered a lackluster 21 mpg. Even the six-cylinder BMW X3 M40i managed 29 mpg in our testing, and other all-wheel-drive rivals, such as the Acura RDX, managed 25 mpg. For more information about the Discovery Sport’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

With a dashboard design that mimics what’s in flashier and pricier Land Rovers, the Discovery Sport maintains the brand’s upscale image. The cabin now offers sustainable materials and more seat configurations for better versatility. The seats in our test vehicle were comfortable enough for several long-haul trips lasting four hours or so. Base models come well equipped with such luxuries as heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, a fixed-glass panoramic roof, dual-zone automatic climate control, faux-leather upholstery, and 12-way power-adjustable front seats; a pair of third-row jump seats are optional. The Discovery Sport holds 28 cubic feet of cargo behind its second row. That’s three cubes better than what the Audi Q5 can boast but falls short of the 30-cubic-foot space in the tail of the Cadillac XT5.

Infotainment and Connectivity

All Discovery Sport models come with an 11.4-inch infotainment touchscreen featuring Land Rover’s latest Pivi Pro interface and a digital gauge display. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both standard, and other infotainment features such as a mobile hotspot and a head-up display are optional. All models come with a premium Meridian stereo system.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

Land Rover offers plenty of safety features including everything from advanced camera systems to the usual array of contemporary driver and safety assists. The latter includes adaptive cruise control, automated emergency braking with forward-collision detection, lane-keeping assist, and more. For more information about the Discovery Sport’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:

• Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection
• Standard lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist
• Available adaptive cruise control

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

Land Rover’s standard warranty holds up to rivals’ but offers no frills. The X3 and even corporate siblings from Jaguar offer a period of free scheduled maintenance, but buyers of the Discovery Sport will be left paying those bills out of pocket.

• Limited warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles
• Powertrain warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles
• No complimentary scheduled maintenance

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