by Aiden Eksteen
If you're looking for a vehicle that can reward you and your family with vacations or weekends away packed with off-road adventures and still be adapted to and practical enough for regular everyday driving, then the 2021 Land Rover Discovery Sport is the car for you. There aren't many 5-door compact luxury SUVs that can take on the unbeaten path, not only with a decent level of skill, but also with seven passengers on board, if you opt for the third-row of seating. The Discovery Sport does this well, but its 2.0-liter turbo 4-cylinder engine proves to be a detriment - 246 horsepower and 269 lb-ft of torque may sound ample, but performance is always lackluster. This flaw, along with its poor fuel economy, and middling levels of luxury, punish the Disco Sport's standing in the ever-popular SUV segment. It's got a good amount of creature comforts, conveniences, driver assists, and safety features, but there are many SUVs like the Audi Q5, Acura RDX, and Lexus RX that feel more premium and are just more well-rounded.
Despite having undergone some significant alterations for the 2020 model year, the 2021 Land Rover Discovery Sport, still part of the Discovery Sport's first generation, arrives with an extensive array of cabin and technology upgrades. The most notable upgrade is perhaps the standardization of a new Pivi Pro infotainment system throughout the lineup, incorporating a more intuitive and user-friendly interface, over-the-air updates, and both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. There's also an optional Online Pack package that installs Wi-Fi hotspot capability, an integrated Spotify music app, and a wireless smartphone charging pad. A good selection of advanced driver-assist features have also been made standard across the board, such as a 3D surround-view camera, and a new cabin air filtration system is optional for higher-tier trims. To simplify the latest Discovery Sport line, Land Rover has dropped the P300 powertrain completely and has discontinued last year's base P250 trim and the R-Dynamic HSE top-spec trim.
See trim levels and configurations:
| Trim | Engine | Transmission | Drivetrain | Price (MSRP) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P250 S |
2.0L Turbo Inline-4 Gas
|
9-Speed Automatic
|
Four-Wheel Drive
|
$41,900 |
| P250 R-Dynamic S |
2.0L Turbo Inline-4 Gas
|
9-Speed Automatic
|
Four-Wheel Drive
|
$43,600 |
| P250 SE |
2.0L Turbo Inline-4 Gas
|
9-Speed Automatic
|
Four-Wheel Drive
|
$45,350 |
| P250 R-Dynamic SE |
2.0L Turbo Inline-4 Gas
|
9-Speed Automatic
|
Four-Wheel Drive
|
$46,950 |
NHTSA safety ratings are not available at this time.
There aren't many SUVs in the US market that look as good as the Discovery Sport SUV, with its unique, athletic yet brawny aesthetic. Its perks are more than skin deep, though, as its modern and expansive interior, highly practical trunk space, and optional 3rd-row seating for seven passengers really do make it a good vehicle for families. Considering the price of the 2021 Discovery Sport SUV, at $41,900, puts it in competition with the likes of the Lexus RX and Mazda CX-9, it has to do more to stand out, though. It isn't as luxurious as the former or as well-rounded and value-rich as the latter, but it offers a unique trailblazer ambition that the entire family can enjoy.
Unfortunately, that is about all one will get from the Discovery Sport SUV - performance from its powertrain is adequate at best, just good enough to move the Disco Sport from point A to point B without actually exploding. This isn't actually certain either, considering the all-too-low reliability expectations of the car. There is also no US-based safety rating for the compact, although the European institutes rate it highly. All in all, the Discovery Sport is a pleasant adventure vehicle for the outdoorsy family and a merely competent daily runabout, but there are better all-rounders that will offer more value for the money.
With a good selection of advanced and desirable features over the S trim, such as LED exterior lighting with DRLs, a digital driver display, blind-spot monitoring, and a power-operated liftgate, the SE trim offers the most bang for your buck. We'd personalize it with the black roof and one of the extra-cost metallic paints for a more premium and unique impression. There are also some sweet wheel designs to choose from. To get even more out of the 2021 Land Rover Discovery Sport, review the optional packages and add-ons. We recommend throwing in the 14-speaker Meridian surround sound system and 14-way heated, power-adjustable front seats. This trim is also configurable with the line's optional third-row seating, for those who need it.
The most popular competitors of 2021 Land Rover Discovery Sport:
Acura
Alfa Romeo
Aston Martin
Audi
Bentley
BMW
Bollinger
BrightDrop
Bugatti
Buick
Cadillac
Caterham
Chevrolet
Chrysler
Dodge
Ferrari
Fiat
Fisker
Ford
Genesis
GMC
Gordon Murray Automotive
Hennessey
Honda
Hyundai
Infiniti
Jaguar
Jeep
Karma
Kia
Koenigsegg
Lamborghini
Land Rover
Lexus
Lincoln
Lordstown
Lotus
Lucid Motors
Maserati
Mazda
McLaren
Mercedes-Benz
Mini
Mitsubishi
Nissan
Pagani
Polestar
Porsche
Ram
Rimac
Rivian
Rolls-Royce
Spyker
Subaru
Tesla
Toyota
VinFast
Volkswagen
Volvo