Land Rover Discovery Sport 2019 revealed: specs, prices and release date

Land Rover has released a thoroughly reworked version of its Discovery Sport SUV, bringing with it a hi-tech interior and more efficient engine options.

The Discovery Sport was introduced as a replacement for the ageing Freelander in 2014 and went on to become the British marque’s bestselling model.

But sales have slipped following the arrival of “some strong competition”, most notably the critically acclaimed Volvo XC60, Autocar reports.

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Land Rover, however, has a plan to win back customers, the motoring magazine says. The new Discovery Sport will be available with hybrid powertrains for the first time, which should mean drivers won’t need to make as many trips to the pumps.

With orders now open, here’s everything you need to know about the overhauled Discovery Sport:

Price

The Discovery Sport is the cheapest car in Land Rover’s range, with base-spec models kicking off at £31,575. That’s an increase of about £1,000 over the outgoing version, says CarBuyer.

Design and interior

Motor1 notes that the new car is a “facelifted” model, meaning its design doesn’t deviate too far from the previous Discovery Sport.

However, the website argues that the design changes are “small but significant”. The most apparent tweaks are new LED daylight running lights that have a “more aggressive” look than the outgoing model, while the front of the car “has a simpler appearance”.

At the back, the new Discovery Sport gets “square-shaped” tail lights and a “simplified bumper now conceals the exhaust pipes”, adds Motor1.

The SUV’s cabin, meanwhile, has been given a hi-tech overhaul to give it a more premium feel than before.

For example, the rear-view mirror can change into a digital display that relays video from a rear-facing camera mounted on the car’s roof with “the flick of a switch”, says Auto Express.

The interior design has also been revamped. Though it retains the old model’s “chunky look”, the new Discovery Sport is “brought up to date” with a 10.25in touchscreen infotainment system and a 12.3in digital instrument panel behind the steering wheel, the magazine notes.

Engines and electrification

All versions of the Discovery Sport bar the cheapest 148bhp diesel-engined model are equipped with 48v hybrid systems and the 2.0-litre four-cylinder Ingenium engines from parent company Jaguar Land Rover (JLR). They also come with four-wheel drive systems and nine-speed ZF automatic gearboxes.

At the top of the range sits the P250 MHEV, boasting a power output of 246bhp and 269lb-ft of torque, helping the car go from 0-60mph in around 7.1sec, says Autocar. The most frugal hybrids have a fuel economy of 40.9mpg and emit 144g/km CO2.

A plug-in hybrid version will join the range later this year, the motoring magazine says.