2020 Land Rover Discovery Sport Review

The 2020 Land Rover Discovery Sport is on the smaller side of the British brand's lineup, but it still packs big-SUV features like three-row seating and off-road toughness. For 2020, Land Rover improved on the Disco Sport's formula with a touchscreen infotainment system with excellent smartphone integration, a mild hybrid powertrain option, and Land Rover's latest Terrain Response 2 traction control system.

Disco Will Never Die

Many Land Rover traditionalists scoff at the Discovery Sport for being softer off-road than the mainstay Range Rover, but the 2020 model year gains technology that will make naysayers drool. For starters, the ClearSight Ground View system displays a camera view of the terrain directly ahead of the car onto the infotainment screen. This system allows the driver to place the front wheels without needing a spotter, a big benefit in tricky off-road conditions. Another high-definition camera displays the view to the rear, augmenting your sightlines should you load up the Disco Sport with passengers and block the view out back.

Keeping the oily side down is the updated Terrain Response 2 traction management system, which has the ability to handle more varied terrain and lock the rear axle for traction, or disconnect the rear axle for increased efficiency.

Two engines will be available, both turbocharged four-cylinders paired with a nine-speed automatic and standard all-wheel drive. The standard engine produces 246 horsepower and 269 lb-ft of torque, while the top-of-the-line R-Dynamic HSE variant will come with a 48-volt mild hybrid engine producing a respectable 286 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque.

You'll Have a (Disco) Ball

It's not just the powertrain that has been improved. The infotainment system has leveled-up as well. The Discovery Sport will come with a single-screen touchscreen system that, when optioned correctly, will feature Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, along with the ability to connect to the infotainment system through an app on your smartphone and smartwatch. Other options include a color head-up display and a built-in 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot.

Land Rover understands that given the smaller size (the Disco Sport has a shorter wheelbase than the Velar), the third row is essentially for smaller adults and children. But the standard sliding second row lends the Discovery Sport a lot of flexibility. Land Rover quotes 63.3 cubic feet of cargo volume with all seat backs folded down, a little less than the much larger Audi Q7.

Other improvements for the 2020 model year are available massaging front seats and a sustainable seat material called Luxtex. It's designed to simulate leather but is made of recycled polyester microfiber.

Pricing and Release Date

So does the 2020 Land Rover Discovery Sport live up to its storied namesake? In many ways, yes. Thanks to its flexible cargo and seating capability, and its go-anywhere suspension and powertrain, the Disco Sport can do what Land Rovers are best known for: transporting people and cargo over a variety of terrain in comfort. We're looking forward to testing its abilities closer to its on-sale date this summer. Pricing isn't available, but we anticipate that it'll be within the same bracket as the current model, putting the starting price in the high $30,000s and topping out around $56,000.