2020 Land Rover Discovery Sport Improved with Cool New Tech
The affordable Land Rover Discovery Sport compact SUV has helped introduce many new and young families into the brand. For 2020, a number of changes make it more appealing, refined and convenient than before.
Let’s start with styling. While the clamshell hood, rising beltline and tapered roof remain unchanged, the bumpers, grille and LED lights all feature a new design. Customers can choose from 12 paint colours and the option of a black contrast roof. Furthermore, all S, SE and HSE models feature Silver Atlas detailing on the grille, tailgate finisher and badging scripts.
- Also: 2017 Land Rover Discovery Sport: a Capable SUV with an Edge
- Also: 2020 Range Rover Evoque: More Than a Simple Redesign
The interior of the 2020 Discovery Sport has been revised and improved to incorporate more premium materials and a new centre console featuring a 10-inch InControl Touch Pro infotainment system as standard equipment. The latter is available with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus a 4G Wi-Fi hotspot.
Meanwhile, Land Rover says the new seats provide enhanced comfort and versatility thanks to the 40/20/40 split, fold-and-slide second row, increasing the possible number of seat combinations to 24. A massage function is now also offered for the first time on Discovery Sport in the front row. Optionally, customers can select a non-leather material called Luxtex, which is made of a recycled polyester microfiber.
Storage for small items has been improved across all rows. New cup holders and repositioned cargo bins in the third row will help keep things in order, while six USB ports and three 12-volt outlets are located conveniently throughout the cabin. Front occupants can even benefit from the brand’s first use of wireless charging for compatible devices.
More Than Meets the Eye
Built on the new Land Rover Premium Transverse Architecture (PTA), the 2020 Discovery Sport body is 13 percent stiffer than its predecessor and also quieter when you factor in the rigidly mounted sub-frames.
The 237- and 286-horsepower gasoline engines return, but similar to a growing number of vehicles including the new Range Rover Evoque, this compact luxury SUV adds a 48-volt mild-hybrid option that uses an engine-mounted, belt-integrated starter generator to harvest energy normally lost during deceleration and stores it in an under-floor battery. At speeds below 18 km/h, the engine is designed to shut off when the driver applies the brakes. When pulling away, the stored energy is redeployed to assist the engine under acceleration. Total system output is rated at 296 horsepower.
Want more visibility? A new smart rear-view mirror transforms into an HD video screen at the touch of a button to display a rear-facing camera feed, so your view will never be restricted by passengers or large items in the back. Need to pull a trailer? The new Advanced Tow Assist feature will make back-up manoeuvres simpler.
Another slick new technology called ClearSight Ground View offers a virtual 180-degree view beneath the vehicle onto the centre touchscreen—as if the hood was transparent. This will be particularly useful when navigating high city curbs or tackling rough terrain.
The 2020 Land Rover Discovery Sport will arrive at Canadian dealerships this summer. Pricing has yet to be announced, but remember that the outgoing 2019 model starts at $43,500.
