2015 Land Rover Discovery Sport: Australian price and specs

22 January 2015

Replacing the ageing Freelander, Land Rover's new seven-seater Discovery Sport SUV launches in Australia this May. While the truck will eventually be

Replacing the ageing Freelander, Land Rover’s new seven-seater Discovery Sport SUV launches in Australia this May.

While the truck will eventually be fitted with the more modern Ingenium engines debuting in the Jaguar XE, for now the Discovery Sport goes on sale motivated by a choice of three familiar Land Rover motors – two diesel, and one petrol.

With all cars fitted with four-wheel-drive, this is no soft-roader.

The base car – the 110kW TD4 turbodiesel with a six-speed manual – kicks off the range at $53,300, placing the new Land Rover in competition with everything from a high-spec, five-seat Mazda CX-5 ($47,030), the larger Toyota Kluger GXL ($53,990), and the Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited ($57,000).

Additionally, the Discovery Sport is priced similarly to its cousin, the Range Rover Evoque – though the Land Rover offers those two additional seats – and more durability.

The 110kW base diesel aside, a higher-performance, 140kW SD4 turbodiesel will be offered, though both share a 2.2-litre capacity.

Just a single petrol trim will be offered with a 177kW SI4 two-litre petrol, which is paired only to a nine-speed automatic. On all diesel models, the automatic gearbox is a $2,500 option, with six-speed manuals standard fare.

Two compact seats in a third row will be available on Discovery Sports, though they’re for small kids or short trips only – the larger Discovery will still be the more comfortable family vehicle. All models feature the brand’s adaptive Terrain Response off-roading system.

The use of aluminium in the chassis keeps the overall weight manageable. Additionally, the Discovery Sport’s cabin is vastly improved over the Freelander: an eight-inch touchscreen is a welcome new amenity.