2020 Land Rover Discovery Sport – 5 Or 5+2, From RM380k

British SUV marque Land Rover has given the new Land Rover Discovery Sport its local debut, refreshing a very important model for the brand in a very competitive segment. Taking on the likes of the BMW X3, the Mercedes-Benz GLC and the Volvo XC60, the Discovery Sport is the only one in the segment to offer as many as 7-seats, giving it a unique advantage in the segment.

Of course, it is also considerably more expensive – with prices starting at RM379,800 for the 5-seater and RM409,800 for the 5+2, the Discovery Sport isn’t exactly the value buy of the century. But as we’ve said many times before, the Land Rover brand is one you buy with your heart and not necessarily your head, and the Discovery Sport’s standard appearance in sharp R-Dynamic trim certainly appeals strongly in that regard.

It isn’t all nostalgia and ‘Rule, Britannia’ here though, as the new Discovery Sport packs a variety of improvements and refinements that make it better than it has ever been. The biggest changes are what you cannot see – despite its familiar shape, this isn’t strictly a facelift. Under the skin is a whole-new platform & architecture, shared with the upcoming Range Rover Evoque. As such it offers the car better interior packaging, less weight, more technology, and a brand new powertrain.

Up front is a new 2.0-litre Ingenium mill producing 280PS and 365Nm, with power going to all-four wheels via a 9-speed ZF automatic gearbox. Land Rover is quick to note that the gearbox benefits from close ratios ensuring maximum response from the motor, as well as a taller top gear to ensure smooth & unflustered cruising ability. Also new to the powertrain is a feature called ‘Active Driveline Disconnect,’ which allows the DiscoSport to run on just two powered wheels instead of four, to save fuel. And should extra traction be required, four-wheel grip can be reinstated in as little as 500-miliseconds.

This is still a Land Rover no matter how slick or suave it may be, so new to the arsenal is the inclusion of Terrain Response 2. With TR2, the Discovery Sport now enjoys even better electronic management of the throttle, brakes, and steering to ensure maximum traction over difficult terrain. This, paired with the ClearSight Ground View system which allows you to see between the two front wheels as well as the Wade Sensing system means that the DiscoSport is as formidable as any Land Rover out in the wild.

But, we hear you saying, of course the Landie is good off-road. What about on-road creature comforts that buyers will demand of a modern luxury SUV? Glad you asked: the Discovery Sport is generously equipped in that regard, too. On the inside, you’ll find a new 10” TouchPro infotainment screen that offers lag-less responses as well as smartphone mirroring, which works in tandem with a 12-inch driver’s instrument cluster that make the car feel thoroughly modern. The steering wheel has also been updated to the same unit used in the Range Rover Velar, resulting in the inclusion of touch-sensitive adaptive buttons on the wheel.

A particular highlight for us is the inclusion of active safety features for the first time in the Discovery Sport – the new model now comes as standard with high-speed autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and driver attention alert. There’s also a 360-degree camera system as well as an available heads-up display too for added effect, which all work alongside the expected 7-airbags dotted around the cabin.

We applaud Jaguar-Land Rover Malaysia for the inclusion of active safety features in their latest models, which puts the Discovery Sport in the leagues of the Volvo XC60 and the Lexus NX for the standard inclusion of such features (we’re looking at you, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, and BMW).

The 2020 Land Rover Discovery Sport is available now with a 5-year/150,000km warranty, along with 5-year/65,000km servicing and 3-years roadside assistance. And for the best deals on a new car, head over to the MalaysianMotoring Facebook page, where you can drop us a message to begin your hassle-free, contactless buying journey.