Used 2019 Land Rover Discovery Sport

Combining timeless British luxury with a capable off-road attitude, the 2019 Land Rover Discovery Sport opens the door to first-time buyers on a budget. As Land Rover’s most affordable SUV, the Discovery Sport SE is less expensive than the Audi Q5 and Mercedes-Benz GLC, and its advanced all-wheel-drive (AWD) system makes it much more adventurous than its car-based rivals. Unlike the BMW X3 and Lexus NX, the Discovery Sport offers the option of a small, but still functional 3rd-row seat. However, driver-assist systems standard on most competitors are still optional on the Discovery Sport. Powered by a choice of turbocharged 2.0-liter engines, the Discovery Sport isn’t hurting for power, but its fuel economy is wanting and there is no hybrid or diesel option.

With its reserved but elegant cabin, quiet interior and handsome styling, the 2019 Land Rover Discovery Sport has all the trappings of an expensive luxury SUV, but its sub-$40,000 starting price is anything but exclusive. On the road, the Discovery Sport isn’t as smooth riding as an Audi Q5 or a Lincoln MKX, but then again neither of these competitors can follow the Discovery Sport when it comes to tackling off-road obstacles. From the driver‘s seat, the view ahead is clear, with good visibility and minimal obstructing from the front windshield pillars. The same cannot be said for the rear view, where narrow side glass and wide pillars create big blind spots. Power comes from a 237-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged engine paired with a smooth-shifting 9-speed automatic. With this setup, the Discovery Sport is quick, but not fast. To get fast, you’ll need to move up to the 286-horsepower 2.0-liter turbo in the HSE trim that returns a 0-60-mph run of just 6.3 seconds. Off-road, the Discovery Sport excels, thanks largely to its impressive ground clearance and advanced Terrain Response AWD system with settings for Grass, Snow, Gravel, Sand and Mud.

The Discovery Sport’s interior offers the same blend of off-road utility and luxury-brand plushness the rest of the SUV delivers. The efficient, blocky theme feels right in line with off-road adventuring, but the deep-dish seating, 8-way-power front seats, and leather upholstery (leather and cloth on SE versions) remind you this is a luxury SUV. We’re also fans of its unique rotary shifter and the SUV’s 8-inch touch screen and intuitive infotainment system. The raised 2nd-row seats slide and recline, and will easily accommodate 6-foot-4 occupants, and the smart interior packaging gives it more usable cargo space than its larger BMW X3 and Audi Q5 rivals. The optional third row is small but useful for small children.

The 2019 Land Rover Discovery Sport is not the luxury brand’s smallest SUV. The Discovery Sport is about 10 inches longer than the Land Rover Range Rover Evoque. It is shorter than competitors, however, but it’s also wider, giving it an edge when it comes to stability. It shares much of its attractive shape with the larger and more expensive Land Rover Discovery, including its steeply sloped windshield and body-color C-pillar, which looks like a bladed weapon. The Discovery Sport’s short overhangs front and rear give it generous approach and departure angles — that means it can tackle steep slopes without scraping — and it can even ford streams up to 23.6 inches deep.

SURROUND CAMERA SYSTEM
The Discovery Sport’s Surround Camera System (optional on HSE and standard on the HSE Luxury) employs four cameras placed around the SUV’s exterior. The setup provides a bird’s-eye 360-degree view outside the vehicle, aiding with everything from negotiating a tight parking space to narrowly missing boulders.

EMERGENCY BRAKING
Offered on higher trims as part of the Driver Assist Plus Package and standard on the Landmark Edition, autonomous emergency braking will alert the driver if a forward collision is about to happen. If the driver fails to react, the system can automatically bring the vehicle to a full stop.

For a luxury SUV starting under $40,000, the 2019 Discovery Sport SE comes nicely equipped. All-wheel drive is standard, as is the Terrain Response System which has settings for different conditions like snow and sand, Hill Descent Control, push-button start, partial leather seating, power-adjustable front seats, USB media and charging ports in the first row, plus two 2nd-row USB charging ports. A 10-speaker audio/infotainment system with an 8-inch touch screen and Bluetooth connectivity is also standard. If you want full leather seating and the panoramic sunroof, you’ll have to move up one trim level to the Discovery Sport HSE.

Stand-alone options and packages are available for the Discovery Sport SE, HSE, Landmark Edition and HSE Luxury and include keyless entry and heated front and rear seats on the SE model, plus smart safety features like automatic traffic detection, high-beam assist, surround-camera system, adaptive headlights and emergency braking on the HSE and HSE Luxury versions. The HSE and Luxury trims can come with a heated steering wheel and windshield, head-up display, upgraded audio and adaptive suspension. A 12-way-power driver’s seat is also available, and Adaptive Cruise Control and Blind Spot Monitor are stand-alone options. A Meridian audio upgrade and Touch Pro navigation system are also offered.

The 2019 Land Rover Discovery comes standard with a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine good for 237 horsepower. It’s teamed with a 9-speed automatic and standard all-wheel-drive system by Haldex. On HSE and higher trims, buyers can opt for an available high-output 2.0-liter turbo that bumps horsepower to 286. Ironically, both engines get nearly the same EPA estimated fuel economy, although acceleration times vary by nearly a full second.

2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4
237 horsepower @ 5,500 rpm
251 lb-ft of torque @ 1,200 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 21/25 mpg

2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4
286 horsepower @ 5,500 rpm
295 lb-ft of torque @ 1,200 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 20/25 mpg