Land Rover Discovery Sport review

The Land Rover Discovery Sport is one of the exceptions to the rule that a car with Sport in its name must be a high-performance model – or at least have racy go-faster looks.

What this large SUV does do is offer a more compact and affordable alternative to the enormous Land Rover Discovery, and if you peer beneath the surface you’ll see that it has more in common with the Range Rover Evoque. While the Evoque focusses on chiselled, catwalk styling, though, the Discovery Sport’s boxier lines mean it's better at catering for space-hungry families.

There’s plenty of room for five, and all but the front-wheel drive D165 diesel and the plug-in hybrid P300e models can be had with a third row of seats for seven-seat practicality. Yes, you read that correctly: this is a Land Rover you can buy without four-wheel drive (in D165 form only, though – all other engines come with four-wheel drive). 

The Discovery Sport has been updated with visual tweaks to the exterior, a much plusher interior and a more sophisticated infotainment system. The refresh also introduced mild-hybrid technology to most of the engines, which should reduce fuel consumption and emissions.

Although it’s much cheaper than the bigger Discovery, the Discovery Sport still competes with upmarket large SUVs including the five-seat Audi Q5 and BMW X3, as well as the seven-seat Mercedes GLB. You might also be considering non-premium seven-seaters, such as the Peugeot 5008 and Skoda Kodiaq, which offer similar practicality for less money. 

Read on for our in-depth review, including which engine and trim combination makes the most sense, whether it feels good to drive and how comfortable your passengers will be. If you're looking for a 4x4 with more of a focus on size or looks, visit our full separate reports on the Land Rover Discovery and Land Rover Evoque.

Don't forget, if you buy a new car of any make and model, it pays to check whether you can save thousands of pounds using the free What Car? New Car Buying service, which can help you find the best prices, including top Land Rover deals.