Long-term test review: Land Rover Discovery Sport ~ station of gear

Land Rover Discovery Sport - long termer - header

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Land Rover Discovery Sport - long termer - handover

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25 Feb, 2016 11:30am James Disdale

First report: Dealer adds a real sense of occasion to the handover of our new premium SUV

Mileage: 1,495

Fuel economy: 34.1mpg

First impressions count more than ever these days, so it's no surprised car manufacturers are pulling out all the stops when handing over your new set of wheels.

Take the Land Rover Discovery Sport that's just joined our fleet, for example: when I collected the keys from the vast Lookers dealership in Battersea, London, 'my' car was hidden under a tailored cover in the showroom's glitzy reception area. There was even a plinth with my name on it alongside.

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Land Rover Discovery Sport - long termer - plinth

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I was greeted by brand ambassador Claudio Calabrese, who offered me a complimentary cup of tea before the grand unveiling of our Land Rover. I'll admit, I needed a calming brew, as the optional Phoenix Orange paint I'd confidently selected from the online configurator was making me increasingly nervous, as I wondered whether the bright finish would be too brash in the metal.

I needn't have worried - as soon as Claudio pulled off the covers, I knew I'd made the right choice. The Discovery looked stunning, easily standing out from the increasing number of white, black and grey models I've noticed on the road in the last few months.

The eye-catching paint isn't the only option on our baby Disco. I'd also added the £1,140 Style Pack that brings privacy glass, illuminated kick-plates and configurable ambient cabin lighting, plus the £2,490 Entertainment Pack, which includes a 17-speaker Meridian sound system and dual-view infotainment screen.

Yet, even without these extras, the HSE model is pretty well-equipped. For instance, the lengthy standard kit list runs to leather seat trim, sat-nav, bi-xenon lights (we've added the £390 adaptive function), keyless entry, a reversing camera and cruise control. There really isn't much this car doesn't have.

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Land Rover Discovery Sport - long termer - front seats

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Crucially, our model comes with Land Rover's all-new Ingenium 2.0-litre diesel engine, which promises greater refinement and lower emissions compared to the old 2.2-litre unit. In combination with the nine-speed gearbox, it gives a CO2 figure of 139g/km and claimed efficiency of 53.3mpg.

And, like all Discovery Sport models, you get four-wheel drive with the brand's clever Terrain Response system. Combine this with the spacious interior and seven-seat layout, and the Discovery promises to be perfectly suited to both my growing family and the muddy, flooded roads that surround my Hertfordshire home.

With the comprehensive handover complete, I excitedly edged the Disco out of the showroom, beaming as much as the paint finish. If first impressions really do count, then this car's future is going to be very bright indeed.

Our reigning compact SUV champ has all the family car bases covered. It's handsome, spacious, well built, generously equipped and good to drive. It'll need to live up to the hype, though, as over the next year, we'll be putting its credentials to the test, both on and off-road.

On fleet since: December 2015
Price new: £39,800
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbodiesel, 178bhp
CO2/tax: 139g/km/£130

Options: Metallic paint (£1,765), adaptive xenon headlamps (£390), Style pack (£1,140), Entertainment Pack (£2,590), space saver spare wheel (£160)
Insurance: Group: 29 Quote: £787
Mileage/mpg: 1,495/34.1mpg
Any problems?: None so far

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