How Popsocket became a global phenomenon
The platform in question is the PTA (Premium Transverse Architecture) in the new Range Rover Evoque. According to Land Rover, it’s 13% stiffer than the previous one and offers enough battery space for future electrification experiments.
The most significant changes to the outside are new front and rear LEDS, a more prominent bumper and grille, and a bolderlooking badge on the bonnet. Luckily, the
Sport doesn’t have the same crooked derriere as its larger sibling. I prefer the symmetric rear end on the Discovery. Despite the car being almost the same length as the previous model, it has more space inside due to an optional third row.
You can easily mistake driving the
Discovery Sport for driving a Range Rover. Inside, you’ll find premium materials in abundance, and the noise insulation’s excellent. Its digital Touch Pro infotainment system in the middle console has a large screen.
The most luxurious version is the HSE, followed by SE and S. Combine the HSE with the sporty R-dynamic trim level, 21-inch wheels (R13 400), black contrast roof (R6 800), the black exterior pack (R10 700) and the colour option Portofino Blue
(R3 000), and you’ll end up with an awesome ride that’d make any rapper proud.
It’ll be interesting to drive the new Defender in comparison. The entry-level Land Rover used to be topped by Discovery and Range Rover, but that’s no longer the case since the prices for the upcoming, reborn icon were published. Prices for the new Defender 90 and 110 will start at R830 300 and R910 400 respectively, making the Discovery Sport the most affordable Land Rover in its current goanywhere fleet.
On the road, you realise quickly that the word ‘Sport’ in the Discovery’s name means anything but sporty. This compact SUV is a luxury cruiser not built for being thrown around tight bends. To call it the Discovery Cruiser would be more apt.
But off-road, it reverts to its pure Land Rover genes. The terrain response dial’s still in the cockpit, and the gear shifter’s now a lever instead of a turn-dial.
Even hairy inclines with deep ruts are no match
The 2017 Jaguar F-pace was the first car to introduce the Activity Key, which is now an optional extra on the Discovery Sport. It’s a waterproof, lightweight and shockproof wristband that acts as an electronic key to open your car. The idea is to leave the actual key, which doesn’t like saltwater or sweat, inside your car, and use the wristband to open or lock your car by making contact with a sensor in the rear window – leaving you free to jump on your mountain bike. for the new Disco. And thanks to Hill Descent Control, you simply push a button, choose the speed and go off the brake and accelerator. Then, the car tackles even the steepest downhill on its own. Another helpful gimmick is the Transparent Bonnet, which allows the driver to see what’s under the car via a video feed. On smoother gravel sections where you can drive at faster speeds, the Discovery Sport is a much more comfortable ride than before. So there you have it: the brand-new, entrylevel Land Rover.
‘Even hairy inclines with deep ruts are no match for the new Disco’