2020 Land Rover Discovery Sport Facelift Debuts With New Styling And Mild-Hybrid Powertrain

Land Rover has introduced the 2020 Discovery Sport which features a new design, upgraded technology and eco-friendly engine options.

Looking instantly recognizable, the model has a “refined evolution” of its previous design. As a result, styling changes are minor but include modified bumpers and restyled LED lighting units. The crossover has also been equipped with a new grille and an assortment of wheels that range in sizes from 18- to 21-inches.

The updates continue in the cabin as the Discovery Sport has a new three-spoke steering wheel, a revised center console and higher quality materials.  Drivers will also find a new digital instrument cluster and a more modern 10-inch Touch Pro infotainment system.

Elsewhere, designers installed a new center stack with more luxurious looking switchgear.  The crossover also has new seats which promise to provide improved comfort and versatility.  Speaking of the latter, the Discovery Sport now has a 40:20:40 split-folding second row which ups the number of possible seating configurations to 24.

The seat themselves can be covered in a new Luxtex material which is made out of recycled polyester microfiber.  Land Rover says it’s “luxuriously soft, lightweight, durable and tear-resistant.”

Customers will find a host of new options including massaging front seats, a wireless smartphone charger and a Pet Pack that adds canine friendly accessories.

On the tech front, there’s a new smart rearview mirror dubbed “ClearSight Rear View.”  At the touch of a button, the mirror transforms into an HD display that shows live images from a camera mounted above the rear window.  It offers a wider field of view than a traditional rearview mirror and better visibility in low light conditions.

The model can also be equipped with ClearSight Ground View.  It uses cameras to show a “virtual 180-degree view beneath the vehicle.” Land Rover says this will be helpful for drivers tackling rough terrain or high city curbs.

Like the 2020 Range Rover Evoque, the Discovery Sport rides on Land Rover’s Premium Transverse Architecture which is essentially an updated version of the previous D8 platform.  It’s 13 percent stiffer than its predecessor and features “rigidly-mounted subframes that reduce noise and vibration intrusion into the cabin.”

In the United States, the model will be offered with two different powertrains.  Choices include a 246 hp (183 kW / 249 PS) four-cylinder petrol and a 48-volt mild-hybrid powertrain with 296 hp (221 kW / 300 PS).  The latter uses a belt-integrated starter generator to capture kinetic energy during deceleration.  That power is stored in an battery located underneath the floor and can be used to give a performance boost during acceleration.

UK customers will receive a host of engine options including four 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbodiesels.  The entry-level unit – which is available with and without a mild-hybrid system – produces 148 hp (110 kW / 150 PS) and 280 lb-ft (380 Nm) of torque.  Customers can also order mild-hybrid variants with outputs of 178 hp (132 kW / 180 PS) and 317 lb-ft (430 Nm) as well as 237 hp (177 kW / 240 PS) and 369 lb-ft (500 Nm).

On the petrol side, there’s a mild-hybrid 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 197 hp (147 kW / 200 PS) and 236 lb-ft (320 Nm) of torque.  Buyers can also opt for a more powerful mild-hybrid variant with 246 (184 kW / 249 PS) and 269 lb-ft (365 Nm) of torque.

As with most newer models, the 2020 Discovery Sport will be offered an assortment of driver assistance systems.  They include Adaptive Cruise Control with Steering Assist, Lane Keep Assist and Autonomous Emergency Braking.

The facelifted Discovery Sport is now available to order in the UK and pricing starts at £31,575.  The model won’t arrive in America until this summer and pricing will be announced closer to launch.

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