A GOOD SPORT MADE EVEN BETTER

Revision to the Land Rover Discovery Sport continue to perfect one of the best compact SUVS you can buy, writes Rob Adams

The Land Rover Discovery Sport is a sevenseat compact SUV at the top of its game. But the British firm is not resting on its laurels. You’ll probably struggle to spot the four new colours and trim packs launched for the 2017 model year, but inside it’s a different story.

That’s because Land Rover has, at last, improved the Discovery Sport’s one remaining major weakness: its infotainment system. The latest Incontrol Touch Pro system is now available, which introduces a 10.2-inch ultra-wide touchscreen that’s as crisp-looking and high-res as the old system was dated and tired-looking.

It operates smoothly, boasts a smartphone-like swipe-and-pinch interface, and also has a novel Bluetooth tracker system called Tile. You can attach small tags to items such as keys or bags, and the car will pinpoint exactly where they are. Well, this is a commodious seven-seat SUV. Losing stuff in it is easy. Finding what you’ve loaded now becomes easier too.

Other tech improvements include a lane keep assist system, a ‘smart’ speed limiter and a gadget that monitors how alert the driver is and sounds a warning if it thinks they’re becoming tired.

One thing Land Rover hasn’t changed is the engine. The 2.0-litre Ingenium diesel arrived soon after launch and continues to put in a decent performance. Acceleration is fine, the towing limit is 2.5 tonnes and the automatic gearbox shifts smoothly.

A big foible remains though – the half-second pause in acceleration when you’re trying to move swiftly away from the line. If you’re not ready for it, this can lead to some heart-stopping moments at junctions. We also wish it were a little more refined at idle as well.

On the move, the Discovery Sport is a pleasant machine to drive, with a generally comfortable ride and nice body control. Despite the name, it’s not all that sporty, and rolls more than a BMW X3, but steering is precise enough and it’s still possible to thread it reasonably quickly through corners without fuss.

The ride can grumble a bit over particularly scruffy surfaces, although seven passengers are more likely to quibble about an interior that’s more 5+2 than true sevenseater. The Discovery Sport is best as an ultra-practical five-seater, where the comfortable sliding and reclining middle seats should prove a real hit.

Overall, then, it’s a small series of subtle but worthwhile tweaks to the Discovery Sport that address some of the few quibbles we have about it. As the superb packaging, pleasing comfort and overall desirability remain high, it is, more than ever, a machine you should seriously consider.

“The latest Incontrol Touch Pro is as crisp-looking as the old system was dated and tired-looking”