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

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.

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.