The softer side of Land Rover conceals a highly capable off-road trailblazer

If imitation really is the sincerest form of flattery, then the Land Rover Discovery Sport that arrived for the 2015 model year should be really flattered.

From any vantage point, the similarities between the new 2017 Discovery and the Discovery Sport are startling. Both share the same curvy sheetmetal and forward-slanting rear roof pillar. The Discovery replaces the mid-pack LR4.

So, what’s the difference between the Sport and the new model?

The tape measure reveals that the Discovery is more than 14 inches longer and has 7 more inches between the front and rear wheels. That’s enough space for an available thirdrow seat so that “Disco” owners can transport two more passengers than the five-passenger Sport.

Those seven souls are guaranteed first-class accommodations, including what Land Rover calls “stadium-style” seating that gives everyone aboard an elevated view of the landscape. Additional second-row flexibility allows the three-section bench to be split into two separate bucket seats with the mid-position folded, or configured as a two-person bench with the outer section folded. In fact, both the second- and third-rows can be folded flat, creating an exceptionally spacious cargo area.

An option allows you to power fold/ unfold the rear seats to the desired configuration from the dashboard’s touch-screen. It can also be done remotely by using the available smartphone app. Another Discovery trick is an optional drop-down inner tailgate that’s useful as a table or bench.

The Discovery’s mostly aluminum unitized (frameless) structure replaces the LR4’s body-on-frame construction. This means a weight reduction of about 1,000 pounds (to about 4,700 pounds), despite being slightly larger overall.

Carrying over from the LR4 is a supercharged 3.0-liter V6 that puts out 340 horsepower and 332 poundfeet of torque. Optional is a 3.0-liter V6 turbo-diesel rated at 254 horsepower, but more importantly, 443 pound-feet of torque. Both engines are mated to eight-speed automatic transmissions.

Despite the weight loss, the supercharged V6 is rated at 16 mpg in the city and 21 on the highway, which is only marginally better than the 2016 LR4’s 15/19 rating. Opting for the turbo-diesel increases those numbers to 21/26, but, according to Land Rover, that model is nearly a second slower to 60 mph than the gas V6 (6.9 seconds versus 7.7).

Being Land Rover, four-wheel-drive is standard. Base SE and HSE Discovery

trims split the torque 42 percent to the front and 58 percent to the rear in normal driving conditions, but the bias will change if tire slip is detected.

Standard for the HSE Luxury (optional on SE and HSE) is twospeed transfer case with a low range and center-locking differential for tackling steep grades.

The HSE Luxury also comes with an electronic air-suspension that automatically adjusts the Discovery depending on the load and terrain conditions and lowers the ride height by 1.6 inches when parked.

Base Discovery SE pricing starts at $51,000 including destination charges. That gets you a reasonably equipped wagon (leather seats, fixed panorama roof, dual-zone climate control, etc.), but for serious comfort and safety content, the HSE and HSE Luxury allow you to travel in regal style. Or you can save time and trouble, cough up 75 large for the Discovery First Edition and receive virtually every extravagance in Land Rover’s extensive accessories catalog.

Whatever your choice, you’ll be acquiring one of the most competent, comfortable and stylish (thanks to the Discovery Sport) utility vehicles on the market, with a pedigree to match.