Land Rover has introduced the 2020 Discovery Sport
which features a new design, upgraded technology and eco-friendly engine
options. Looking instantly recognizable, the model has a “refined evolution”
of its previous design. As a result, styling changes are minor but include
modified bumpers and restyled LED lighting units. The crossover has also been
equipped with a new grille and an assortment of wheels that range in sizes from
18- to 21-inches.
The updates continue in the cabin as the Discovery
Sport has a new three-spoke steering wheel, a revised center console and higher
quality materials. Drivers will also
find a new digital instrument cluster and a more modern 10-inch Touch Pro
infotainment system.
Elsewhere, designers installed a new center stack
with more luxurious looking switchgear. The crossover also has new seats which promise to provide improved
comfort and versatility. Speaking of the
latter, the Discovery Sport now has a 40:20:40 split-folding second row which
ups the number of possible seating configurations to 24. The seat themselves can be
covered in a new Luxtex material which is made out of recycled polyester
microfiber. Land Rover says it’s
“luxuriously soft, lightweight, durable and tear-resistant.” Customers will find a host of new
options including massaging front seats, a wireless smartphone charger and a
Pet Pack that adds canine friendly accessories.
On the tech front, there’s a new smart rearview
mirror dubbed “ClearSight Rear View.” At
the touch of a button, the mirror transforms into an HD display that shows live
images from a camera mounted above the rear window. It offers a wider field of view than a
traditional rearview mirror and better visibility in low light conditions. The model can also be equipped
with ClearSight Ground View. It uses
cameras to show a “virtual 180-degree view beneath the vehicle.” Land Rover says this will be helpful for
drivers tackling rough terrain or high city curbs.
Like the 2020 Range Rover Evoque, the Discovery
Sport rides on Land Rover’s Premium Transverse Architecture which is
essentially an updated version of the previous D8 platform. It’s 13 percent stiffer than its predecessor
and features “rigidly-mounted subframes that reduce noise and vibration
intrusion into the cabin.”
In the United States, the model will be offered with
two different powertrains. Choices
include a 246 hp four-cylinder petrol and a 48-volt
mild-hybrid powertrain with 296 hp. The latter uses a belt-integrated starter
generator to capture kinetic energy during deceleration. That power is stored in an battery located
underneath the floor and can be used to give a performance boost during
acceleration.
UK customers will receive a host of engine options
including four 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbodiesels. The entry-level unit – which is available
with and without a mild-hybrid system – produces 148 hp and 380 Nm of torque.
Customers
can also order mild-hybrid variants with outputs of 178 hp and 430 Nm as well as 237 hp and 500
Nm. On the petrol side, there’s a mild-hybrid 2.0-liter four-cylinder
with 197 hp and 320 Nm of torque. Buyers can also opt for a more powerful
mild-hybrid variant with 246 hp and 365 Nm of
torque.
As with most newer models, the 2020 Discovery Sport
will be offered an assortment of driver assistance systems. They include Adaptive Cruise Control with
Steering Assist, Lane Keep Assist and Autonomous Emergency Braking. The facelifted Discovery Sport is
now available to order in the UK and pricing starts at £ 31,575. The model won’t arrive in America until this
summer and pricing will be announced closer to launch.