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.
