Land Rover debuted the heavily updated Discovery Sport in international markets last year and the British automaker is now gearing up to bring the new model to our shores soon. The Discovery Sport facelift will go on sale in the country on February 13, hot on the heels of the January 30 launch of the new Range Rover Evoque.
Launched globally in 2014 as a replacement for the Freelander, the original Discovery Sport went on to become the company's top-selling vehicle. The new model attempts to take over the mantle, aided by a raft of upgrades inside and out.
While the previous Discovery Sport was underpinned by the D8 platform (a modified iteration of which forms the basis for the Tata Harrier), the new one sits on the second-gen Evoque's Premium Transverse Architecture that has been engineered to accommodate electrified powertrains as well. Despite the all-new underpinnings, the upcoming SUV doesn't stray too far from its predecessor in terms of dimensions. It measures 4,597mm in length (3mm shorter), 2,069mm in width (identical) and 1,727mm in height (3mm shorter). The 2,741mm wheelbase also remains unchanged.
The exterior design has been given a nip and tuck with revised front and rear bumpers, a tweaked front grille, and restyled headlights and tail-lamps. The overall styling is now more in line with the second-gen Evoque and the Velar. The cabin has been spruced up as well, with a cleaner design and more equipment – including a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, touch pads for the steering-mounted controls, revamped air-conditioner controls and the company's Touch Pro infotainment system with a 10.25-inch touchscreen compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Moving to the mechanicals, the entry-level Land Rover is powered by a range of 2.0-litre petrol and diesel mills from the firm's Ingenium family of engines. Of these, the powertrains expected on the India-spec version are the P250 petrol and D180 diesel which, as the names suggest, put out 250hp and 180hp of power, respectively. A standard 9-speed torque converter automatic transmission and all-wheel-drive capability will be part of the package.
The Discovery Sport will continue to sport a 5+2 seater configuration and likely be available in the mid-spec S and SE variants, equipped with all the modern trappings for an SUV of this class. Moreover, the higher-spec HSE trim, which is already offered with the current Discovery Sport in India, could also be on the cards for the new model.
Despite space and comfort in the last row being at a premium, the upcoming Land Rover Discovery Sport will continue to boast of the flexibility of three-row seating, which will remains a novel offering in a segment that includes the likes of the Mercedes-Benz GLC, BMW X3, Audi Q5 and Volvo XC60. The current model priced at Rs 44.68-61.95 lakh (ex-showroom, India); one can expect a mark-up with the arrival of the new SUV.
Also see:
Updated Land Rover Discovery Sport image gallery
X3 vs Q5 vs XC60 vs GLC vs Discovery Sport comparison
X3 vs Q5 vs XC60 vs GLC vs Discovery Sport comparison video