2020 Land Rover Discovery Sport Review: Mountain Climber With Space For Seven

The Land Rover Discovery Sport enters the new year with refreshed styling that remains true to the rugged good looks it has always boasted. However, under the handsome sheet metal is a new chassis that gives the crossover a stiffer ride to eat up road abrasions and absorb vibrations. And not many compact luxury SUVs offer the option to install a third row of seats and accommodate up to seven passengers, although this does cost it the majority of its pretty good trunk space. Nonetheless, passenger space remains good and the interior is still well-appointed, even if it isn't nearly as luxurious as rivals like the Audi Q5 or Acura RDX. But while these luxury SUVs are particularly appealing as town cruisers, they don't have the same off-road capabilities. The new base engine is a little stronger than before, with 246 horsepower and 269 lb-ft of torque, but it's the 286-hp mild hybrid engine that really impresses. The Land Rover Discovery Sport certainly performs well in the areas that it focuses, but its inherent weaknesses in other areas, like reliability, tech features, and overall comfort, might be enough to dissuade buyers who aren't all about that rugged lifestyle.

What's the Price of the 2020 Land Rover Discovery Sport?

The Land Rover Discovery Sport is reasonably priced for the segment, with a starting MSRP of $37,800. Upgrading to the S trim adds $3,700 the price tag, while the R-Dynamic S will cost you $43,100. The highest-tier Sport is the SE, with a starting price of $44,600, while the R-Dynamic variant will set you back $46,150. The R-Dynamic HSE is the most premium trim and comes equipped with the mild-hybrid engine, at a hefty total cost of $52,800. These prices exclude tax, registration, licensing, and the manufacturer's $995 handling fee.

2020 Discovery Sport Exterior

Dimensions

2020 Discovery Sport Performance

Handling and Driving Impressions

Despite its rugged nature, the Discovery Sport suffers from the same light steering as other luxury SUVs. It's responsive enough at low speeds, allowing the compact crossover to maneuver well around town or when crawling up and down rough terrain. But it doesn't give much feedback, making it sometimes difficult to know what the wheels are doing.

The Disco Sport handles well enough around town, but try taking a windy road at higher speeds and it leans into turns far too readily. It remains capable at slower speeds over pretty rough terrain, though. Multiple driving modes allow the SUV to function well through mud and over gravel, but anything rougher and the Land Rover's limits come into sight.

It rides pretty well for a vehicle with a focus on off-roading, but the larger wheels detract from ride quality. And while the new, stiffer chassis helps to deliver a more quiet ride while reducing vibrations in the cabin, it can have a similar effect to larger wheels when trailblazing.

2020 Discovery Sport Interior

2020 Discovery Sport Trunk and Cargo Space

Warranty

Verdict: Is the 2020 Land Rover Discovery Sport A Good SUV?

Few SUVs look as truly sporty and capable as the Land Rover Discovery Sport, but looks aren't everything. Despite its ruggedness, the crossover can only handle mild off-roading, and it is far less luxurious and comfortable around town than other luxury SUVs like the Audi Q5.

Add to this its low reliability rating, limited standard features, and terrible fuel economy, and the Disco Sport starts to lose some of its appeal. There are certainly more suitable SUVs for those who simply need a high utility, urban family hauler. But that isn't what sells Land Rovers.

However, if you plan to go off the beaten path, then the spacious cabin, generous cargo hold, and rugged capabilities of the Sport make it the ideal SUV to take the family on a weekend camping trip. Where your priorities lie will determine the value of the Land Rover Discovery Sport, as it certainly isn't a great all-rounder, but what it does well, it does very well.

What Land Rover Discovery Sport Model Should I Buy?

Normally, if you want good value for money, you opt for a hybrid powertrain. But that isn't the case when it comes to the Disco Sport. Sure the HSE has the best performance and gets the most features, but it also has a crazy price tag and no better fuel economy than the base engine. Thus, we suggest settling for the Sport SE. It may get the larger 19-inch wheels, but we can overlook that in favor of the premium LED headlights and enhanced safety features like blind-spot assist and automatic headlight leveling. It also enjoys a well-appointed leather interior with most of the comfort and convenience features available to the Discovery. If you really need the third row of seats, you can upgrade to the R-Dynamic SE, but we don't recommend it, as this costs the SUV most of its standard cargo space, and the third-row seats are only suitable for smaller children.

2020 Land Rover Discovery Sport Comparisons

2020 Land Rover Discovery Sport vs Land Rover Discovery

The Discovery Sport is basically a miniaturized version of the Discovery, and it gets the strengths and weaknesses that come with this. It is cheaper by almost $20k, with the entry-level Discovery SE costing $54,300, and handles better thanks to its smaller size and upgraded chassis. The improved fuel economy is also a plus point. However, its big brother gets a lot more room inside, which makes installing the third row of seats more appealing. It also has oodles more power, with the base engine developing 340 hp and 332 lb-ft, while the optional diesel engine puts out 254 hp and 443 lb-ft. Add to this its impressive cargo capacity of 41.2 cubic feet, and the bigger SUV certainly looks appealing. If you have the cash to spare, the bigger Discovery is the better-appointed and more capable off-roader, with more standard features and overall comfort. But the value of the smaller Disco Sport can't be denied.

2020 Land Rover Discovery Sport vs Land Rover Range Rover Evoque

The subcompact cousin to the Disco Sport, the Range Rover Evoque shares many similarities with its relative. For a start, they both get the same base engine, developing 246 hp and 269 lb-ft. However, the Evoque gets better fuel economy out of it thanks to its smaller size and lower weight, achieving 20/27/23 mpg. This slightly offsets the fact that the base Evoque is actually more expensive than the entry-level Sport. And while the Range Rover can only haul five people and has a smaller cargo capacity of 21.5 cubic feet, it still feels better around town than its more rugged clansman. If you are willing to put up with the Discovery Sport's slightly harsher ride quality, it is the better value for money here, and it will let you go where the Evoque simply isn't equipped to.