2015 Land Rover Discovery Sport Leads Disco Revival

2015 land rover discovery sport

One of the iconic names in premium off-roading is on its way back to the United States, as the 2015 Land Rover Discovery Sport is expected to go on sale early next year with an MSRP of $37,995. It will take over for the current LR2 in the Land Rover lineup at that point, with the bigger LR4 undoubtedly regaining its "Discovery" label in future U.S. iterations as well. There's also a chance for even more versions, as the brand is positioning the 2015 Land Rover Discovery Sport as merely "the first member of the new Discovery vehicle family." 

Now, while it borrows some of its architecture from another member of the Land Rover family the Range Rover Evoque, the 2015 Land Rover Discovery Sport has its own distinct advantages. For example, at 180.7 inches in length, it's right between rivals like the Audi A5 or Mercedes GLK-Class in size; but the 2015 Land Rover Discover Sport distinguishes itself from that pair by offering a "5+2" cabin, featuring two rows of lux seating for five and then a notably smaller third row for "occasional usage." It's a definite bonus for families, and those are clearly the target audience here.

Top powertrain features of the 2015 Land Rover Discovery Sport will include its 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine, also borrowed from the Evoque and able to deliver 240 hp and 251 lb.-ft. of torque. Fuel-economy ratings for the 2015 Land Rover Discovery Sport aren't yet available, but they should be helped by a nine-speed, paddle-shifting automatic, a multi-mode Terrain Response driving system and the latest Haldex all-wheel-drive technology. All of which further enables fairly strong off-road capabilities, with the 2015 Land Rover Discovery Sport able to climb inclines of up to 45 degrees, wade through water up to almost two feet deep, and boast 8.3 inches of ground clearance. 

In terms of on-road athleticism, the 2015 Land Rover Discover Sport is expected to post 0-60 times of 7.8 seconds and reach a top speed of 124 mph.

The 2015 Land Rover Discover Sport naturally sports plenty of premium amenities, too, highlighted by an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with voice-controlled navigation, mobile wi-fi capability, 11-speaker audio, all of the top driver-assistance measures and the brand's InControl connectivity system, complete with smartphone-app integration. But the brand also pushes ye olde envelope with many of these features.

A case in point: That navigation system for the 2015 Land Rover Discovery Sport includes off-road functionality that can "mark" the vehicle's route on a virtual map, so drivers can retrace their routes if necessary. It also has the ability to determine to plot the shortest direct route between two points, regardless of roads and trails. Meanwhile, among those high-tech safety measures for the 2015 Land Rover Discovery Sport is a new autonomous braking system and a traffic-sign recognition system that alerts owners to speed limits, etc.

Other nifty advantages of the 2015 Land Rover Discovery Sport include:

• Hallmark Land Rover design cues, like a clamshell hood and two-bar mesh grille, complemented by LED exterior lighting, 19- and 20-inch alloy wheels, a dramatically raked silhouette, and prominent air inlets
• Premium cabin appointments, with owners of the 2015 Land Rover Discovery Sport enjoying a "Sport Command Driving Position," second-row passengers set in stadium-style seating for improved visibility, and standard leather and real-metal trim throughout
• Plenty of family-friendly versatility, backed by a roomy rear cargo space, multiple USB ports and 12-volt power sources, and unique touches like rear-seat climate ducts mounted in the vehicle pillars for more effective air distribution

The 2015 Land Rover Discovery Sport can then be further customized through the company's extensive range of upgrades, ranging from a black-out exterior style package to an off-road appearance upgrade with under-body shielding and tubular stainless-steel side steps.

Needless to say, Autobytel will provide more news about the 2015 Land Rover Discovery Sport as it becomes available.