2016 Land Rover Discovery Sport 2.0 petrol review, test drive

What’s it?

Whether it’s for emission irregularities elsewhere in the world or the Indian Supreme Court’s recently lifted ban on the registration of cars with diesel engines larger than 2,000cc, diesel cars have been in the news for all the wrong reasons of late. Consequently, this has forced many carmakers to re-think their product strategies. Among them is Land Rover which took a big hit thanks to the diesel ban in critical markets such as Delhi NCR. Presently, Land Rover’s smallest diesel engine in India is a 2.2-litre unit which goes on the Discovery Sport and Range Rover Evoque. Jaguar Land Rover’s sub-2,000cc diesel from the Ingenium engine family will make its long-awaited debut in India on the Jaguar XF that launches next month but there’s no word on when the Land Rover SUVs will get the new motor.

The government is expected to clear the air on diesel engine regulations soon. Yet, for those still hesitant to buy the Discovery Sport with the 2.2 diesel engine will see a version that is surely of interest here – the new Discovery Sport petrol that comes powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine. It is the same unit that does duty on the Jaguar’s XE and XJ sedans. The petrol engine makes a strong 240hp, so aside from the expected improvements in refinement vis-a-vis the diesel Sport, there’s the promise of far stronger performance too – an area where we found both – 150hp and 190hp – versions of the diesel Sport lacking in. What is the petrol engine like and how different does it make the Discovery Sport feel? Let’s find out.