Skip advert
Advertisement

Land Rover Discovery Sport review - A talented all-rounder - Land Rover Discovery Sport design

Subtly brilliant, the Discovery Sport takes fight to the Germans

Evo rating
RRP
from £28,995
  • Good mix of comfort and handling, great off-road, strong engines
  • Steering is low on feel

Design

As with many modern cars, the Discovery Sport is quite colour and specification sensitive, but it straddles an attractive line between the boldness of the Evoque and the reserved Freelander it replaces. Characteristic Land Rover design cues include the clamshell bonnet, a two-bar grille with hexagonal mesh and bumpers with integrated skid plates.

Advertisement - Article continues below

We've some reservations over the proportions - the relatively narrow body and raising beltline have neither the designer appeal of the Range Rover Evoque nor the solidity of the full-fat Discovery, but it's undoubtedly a product of the Land Rover brand.

It seemingly manages to avoid offending anyone while dripping in showroom appeal. It's at its best when fitted with the LED 'signature' daytime running lights (HSE and above) and Land Rover offers buyers styling packs to further customise the appearance, most notably the dark and brooding Black Design Pack, which includes gloss black 20-inch rims.

A Graphite Pack, available from 2017 model year cars, throws in a 'Dark Atlas' colour finish to the grille, bonnet lettering and side vents, a Corris Grey contrasting roof shade and Narvik Black door mirror caps. The pack also includes a new 19-inch wheel option. Colour options for 2017 include Silicon Silver, Farallon Black, Carpathian Grey and Aruba metallic finishes.

Inside, the design is quite restrained, though undeniably classy for the most part. Sparkly markers for the main instruments are quite jewel-like and a highlight is the fact that anything that looks like metal actually is, meaning everything from the solid door handles to the air vents to the columns either side of the centre console are a tactile delight. 

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Used Volkswagen Golf GTI (Mk5, 2004 - 2009) review – one of the best VWs of the last 30 years
VW Golf GTI Mk5 front
In-depth reviews

Used Volkswagen Golf GTI (Mk5, 2004 - 2009) review – one of the best VWs of the last 30 years

Volkswagen's quintessential hot hatch saw a stunning return to form in Mk5 guise. It’s aged like a fine wine and is an appreciating modern classic tod…
2 Sep 2025
Boxster and Cayman are dead – Porsche’s sweet-spot sports cars axed
Porsche 718 Boxster GTS 4
News

Boxster and Cayman are dead – Porsche’s sweet-spot sports cars axed

The ultimate goldilocks sports cars of our time finally bow out. The segment has lost its all-time great benchmarks
2 Sep 2025
Best cars of the 1990s – the ultimate driver’s cars from three decades ago
Best '90s cars
Best cars

Best cars of the 1990s – the ultimate driver’s cars from three decades ago

The 1990s was a goldilocks decade in some ways – new technologies married old-school sensibilities in sensational driver’s cars
30 Aug 2025