Sprint Reviews
ENG
What you need to know: The Freelander’s gone. Remember that slightly square and drab Land Rover? Well, quite a few people bought its practical shape and - save for owners of the early examples - don't look like they will want to upgrade their Landys any time soon.
This Discovery Sport takes over from the Freelander and shares the same platform as the trendy Evoque; which it also nicked its design from.
This is all part of Land Rover's big product revitalization: out with those boxy brutes and in with stylish lifestyle SUV'S.
Some more facts: Like its Range Rover brothers, this “Sport” denotes the smaller, cheaper and edgier version of a bigger model. Forget about the current Discovery, its boxy silhouette will be replaced by a new model soon.
Available as a 2L turbo-diesel or 2L turbo-petrol, Discovery Sport is also available in four equipment lines with plenty of options. All models use Land Rover's latest “Terrain Response” intelligent 4WD system. We tested the topspot SD4 HSE Luxury with all the mod-cons your travel bug heart could yearn for.
Where we drove: Besides city traffic and highway jams, this seven-seater luxury SUV took us for a weekend break to Langebaan on the Cape’s West Coast. Thanks to the punchy TD motor ( 140kw/ 420Nm) and nine automatic gears, it did the journey in modern comfort, speed and economy.
At the busy seaside village, we noted that nobody told us any Landy jokes and the car's mix of contemporary design and tried off-road technology – it did not l ook out of place between Fortuners and X5's.
Watch out for: The purchase price. At N$800,000-odd this isn’t a bargain so we suggest a cheaper model with optional extras. You also get a 5-year / 100,000km maintenance plan with your new car.
Why you'll want one: Crisp design, the functional interior, seven seats, excellent turboDiesel fuel efficiency (claimed 6.3L per 100km from the 65L tank), clever off-road tech and smooth on-road abilities. The Discovery Sport shows what a modern Land Rover can be – a car for every purpose.