By Dave Abrahams
Pretoria - Land Rover's new Discovery Sport, the first member of the new Discovery family, lands in South Africa with a raft of new features (new for a Disco, anyway!) including the next generation multi-link rear axle, an all-new touch-screen infotainment system and a high-strength steel and lightweight aluminium body-shell.
Most importantly from a customer point of view, it offers 5+2 seating in a premium SUV only 80mm longer than an Evoque, lending credence to its claim that this is not a replacement (it'll be sold alongside the current 'full-size' Discovery) but a new niche-filler. At 4590mm long on a 2741mm wheelbase, it's 239mm shorter than the seven-seat Discovery,
The maker says it's the first Land Rover tailored to create a clear differentiation between the luxury (Range Rover), leisure (Discovery) and dual-purpose (Defender) ranges.
ENGINE OPTIONS
It's available at launch in South Africa with a choice of one petrol (the 177kW, direct-injection two-litre Si4 turbo) and two turbodiesel fours - the same 2.2-litre unit in either 110kW TD4 or 140kW SD4 specification, each rated at 420Nm from just 1700rpm.
Each of the three drives via a ZF 9HP48 nine-speed paddle shift automatic transmission and Land Rover's Terrain Response all-wheel drive system, allowing you to tailor its drivetrain characteristics to prevailing conditions: General, Grass/Gravel/Snow, Mud and Ruts, and Sand - with an optional extra Dynamic mode for tauter on-road performance - along with variable-ratio, electric power-assisted steering, torque vectoring by braking and 325mm front disc brakes with new-generation calipers and pads.
DiscoSport off-road gizmotronics include hill descent control, hill hold, roll stability control, dynamic stability control, traction control, engine drag torque control and torque vectoring by braking, while the new multi-link rear axle not only increases axle articulation but also minimises intrusion of the rear suspension turrets into the load space - that was crucial in finding space for the third row of seats, as well as in providing a long-legged 800mm wading capability.
Standard kit includes parking sensors, surround camera, auto headlights, high-beams and wipers, trailer stability assist, lane-keeping and extended satnav, along with halogen headlights and daytime running lights. Higher trim levels feature Signature xenon/LED headlights, while Signature Plus adaptive-cornering technology is optional, and rim sizes vary from 17-20 inches.
TRIM LEVELS
Four trim levels are available: S, SE, HSE and HSE Luxury. The second-row seating has tilt-and-slide, so row-two occupants can recline their seats or slide them forwards or back by 160mm - or load capacity can be increased from 829 litres to as much as 981 litres, while still seating five people.
You can have up to four 12V power points and six USB ports, for charging every phone and iPod in the family at the same time, while Bluetooth connectivity allows two phones to be paired with the car at the same time - one to make or take hands-free calls, the other to play audio.
S models come with a mix of Resolve and Tofino cloth trim, all the others are leather-clad. S and SE trim has space for two cups with a separate roller storage section between the front seats; HSE and HSE Luxury spec has a bigger console with a sliding armrest and a roller storage section with two removable cup holders - clip them out and you can stow a two-litre bottle in the same place.
One signature feature carried over from as far back as the Series 2 Discovery is the 'curry hook' in the front passenger footwell; Solihull legend has it that the engineers put in so many late nights on the design of the second-generation Disco that they wound up living on take-aways, and put in hooks to keep the tandoori sauce off the carpet!
PRICES
TD4 S - R541 900
SD4 S - R590 300
SD4 SE - R635 600
SD4 HSE - R692 300
SD4 HSE Luxury - R731 400
Si4 S - R590 300
Si4 SE - R635 600
Si4 HSE - R692 300
Si4 HSE Luxury - R731 400
These include VAT but not CO2 emissions tax.
For more details and full driving impressions see Star Motoring next Thursday.