PROJECT 12K
Project 8K, our ‘Jack-of-all-Trades’ work truck has become Project 12K as we give our Jeep Cherokee a new lease on life.
with HSE-spec 19 inch wheels, the new ‘Sport can look almost like a caricature with a big, fat wheel as each corner. You sit quite high, too. Not as high as in a Rangie but high enough to dwarf ordinary passenger cars. Having done thousands of kilometres in old Discos, that had me expecting the rollicking sort of ride of an old square rigger in need of new springs and dampers, but don’t worry, the new Sport has the same sure-footed, sporty-yet-supple ride of the best contemporary ‘sport’ SUV. As I found out first-hand at the Trailblazers 4x4 property at Kariotahi on the coast west of Waiuku, the Sport is also just as capable and impressive off-road. With 230mm of wheel travel, axle articulation of 320mm and 212mm of ground clearance you’re going to have to go somewhere particularly gnarly to hook a ‘Sport up. At 25 degrees up front and 31 degrees at the back you’re also going to have to do something fairly foolhardy to pull a bumper off. Or drown the thing for that matter, its 600mm wading depth capability better than that of many more obviously rugged off-roaders. Then there is the latest version of Land Rover’s patented Terrain Response system. In a new Discovery Sport you can pick and choose between four settings from general to grass, gravel and snow, mud and ruts to sand by pushing the appropriate button on the centre console. The difference between each is immediate and noticeable, first, by the engine’s response to your throttle foot changes, then by the sheer, active capability of the ( standard, road-pressure) tyres to find grip up AND down hill. Speaking of going downhill the latest version of the Terrain Response System features Hill Descent Control, Gradient Release Control ( GRC) and Roll Stability Control ( RSC), Dynamic Stability Control ( DSC), Electronic Traction Control ( ETC) and what Land Rover calls Engine Drag Torque Control ( EDC). By sending more torque to the effected wheels EDC helps prevent lock-up under heavy engine braking when the ground is slippery… and we’ve all needed THAT at some stage haven’t we? Hairy-arsed old-school 4WDers might scoff, but it really is uncanny out in the field how much forward momentum you can maintain on loose surfaces with road-going radials. You really do have to experience it for yourself so if your local dealer ever has an open day on a local farm do take advantage of it. Now the tech and off-piste bona-fides are out of the way I can add my two cents worth about the new ‘Sport in general. Key thing to know and understand in terms of Land and Range Rover’s model line-ups is that the ‘Sport replaces the Freelander and takes up where the chic Rangie Evoque ( trendy ‘ town’ car if ever there was one) leaves off. From the nose to the A-pillar there’s a distinct Evoque look to the Sport, but that ( the A pillar) is where it stops. From there everything ( floorpan, length, height and rear suspension) changes, the ‘Sport a genuine roomy, comfortable medium-size SUV... one with a flexible seating arrangement which offers room for seven ( count ‘em) in an ( optional) 5+2 seating configuration. Take up the seven seat option and when you need to sling in a couple of extra kids you simple unfold the rear pair of seats from their holding pen beneath the boot ‘ floor.’ Once finished with them you can fold them back and free up space for your rear seat passengers to move their seats back and forth as they see fit, the sheer amount of leg and footroom impressive for an otherwise ‘compact’ SUV.
Responsible for much of the extra cabin space is the compact multilink independent rear suspension system which packages arms, coils and dampers tightly into each rear corner. Should you be in the market for a premium SUV then the Discovery Sport is worth a serious look. The fact that most will be sold into our main centres and spend 99 per cent of their time on family duties shouldn’t colour your thinking either. You never know, it could be Bear Grylls behind the wheel.