Used Land Rover Discovery Sport review

As with all Land Rovers, the Discovery Sport is brilliant off road and is a very capable tow car, too; and like its siblings, you’ll pay handsomely to own one. That doesn’t make the Discovery Sport poor value, though, because you get a cabin crammed with premium materials, go-anywhere ability and seven-seat usability in most cases. But a quick scan of owners’ forums and the carbuyer.co.uk driver reviews soon highlights lots of tales of woe when it comes to reliability and build quality. Most dealers are good, but fixes can prove elusive, so thoroughly inspect any potential purchase before handing over your cash.

When Land Rover launched the original Freelander in 1997 it was a big step for the legendary 4x4 maker.

Created to take on the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V, the Freelander was a huge success, and the brand followed it up in 2007 with the equally successful Freelander 2. So when that car was replaced by the Discovery Sport in 2014 there were some people who thought Land Rover had missed a trick by taking its entry-level model upmarket.

But the new arrival became the second-fastest-selling Land Rover ever, with 100,000 examples snapped up in the first year. Does the Discovery Sport make a great used buy, though?

Models covered

• • Land Rover Discovery Sport Mk1 (2014-date) - SUV is great way into Land Rover ownership, if you can afford it. 

Land Rover Discovery Sport Mk1

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History

The Discovery Sport took over from the Freelander 2 in September 2014. The only engine offered was a 2.2-litre SD4 diesel with a nine-speed auto or six-speed manual box. An eD4 front-wheel-drive edition was launched in late 2015.

All of these early versions had seven seats, but in September 2015 a 2.0-litre TD4 Ingenium diesel engine replaced the SD4 unit and this brought a five-seat choice; gearbox options were as before.

An improved infotainment system was fitted from spring 2016, then in July 2017 a 2.0-litre Si4 Ingenium petrol unit arrived in 240bhp and 290bhp forms, as did a 240bhp 2.0 SD4 diesel motor.

Land Rover Discovery Sport reviews

Land Rover Discovery Sport in-depth reviewLand Rover Discovery Sport Si4 HSE Dynamic Lux reviewLand Rover Discovery Sport TD4 HSE Luxury reviewLand Rover Discovery Sport TD4 HSE reviewLand Rover Discovery Sport long-term review

Which one should I buy?

A disappointing 2.2-litre diesel engine powers the earliest cars; the 2.0-litre Ingenium unit is far better. Only the eD4 has front-wheel drive; all other models feature four-wheel drive, which helps with towing and improves security when it’s icy. But the eD4 is the most frugal engine of all – and the least powerful.

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Entry-level SE brings a heated screen and front seats, 18-inch alloy wheels, a 10-speaker, eight-inch touchscreen multimedia system and part-leather trim.

SE Tech adds navigation, automatic lights and wipers, along with a powered tailgate. HSE brings a glass roof, xenon headlights, a rear-view camera and 19-inch wheels. HSE Luxury trim offers Park Assist technology, plus cooled front seats and heated rear seats.

Alternatives to the Land Rover Discovery Sport

Plush compact SUVs to put on your shortlist include the Audi Q5, BMW X3 and Mercedes GLC, all of which bring performance, excellent build quality and a prestigious image. The same goes for the Range Rover Evoque, which still looks stylish seven years after it arrived.

If value is more important than a posh badge we’d suggest you take a look at the Skoda Kodiaq, Kia Sorento and Hyundai Sante Fe, all of which feature seven-seat practicality and lots of equipment at keen prices.

Offered in five-seat form only, the Ford Edge is also good value; the same can be said of the Ford Kuga and Honda CR-V, along with the Toyota RAV4. 

What to look for 

Alloys

Wheels vary between 17 and 20 inches; 18-inch rims give the best blend of looks and ride quality.

Air-con

Climate control systems can fail for a variety of reasons; dealers have several methods to effect fixes.

Sensor

Outside temperature gauge faults are common. It’s located in the door mirror, which has to be replaced. 

Noises

A squeaky tailgate is usually down to it rubbing on the tail-light cluster. Repairs don’t always succeed, however. 

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Interior

Easy to use but short of design flair, the Discovery Sport’s dashboard is busy, and so is its steering wheel, although both work well enough. Cabin room is excellent, yet the third row is for children only; cars with a glass roof feel more spacious inside. The boot can stow between 194 and 1,698 litres, depending on how many seats are in use. 

Prices

Running costs

Petrol Discovery Sports need annual servicing or after 16,000 miles; it’s two years or 21,000 miles for diesels.

The first, third and fifth checks for diesels are £417; the second, fourth, sixth and eighth are £554. Knock £50 to £100 off for petrol cars. The seventh is £729 and the 10th £794. A five-year/50,000-mile maintenance deal costs £499. Only diesels have a cambelt. Replace this every 105,000 miles or seven years (£550-£800). 

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Recalls

The Discovery Sport has been recalled five times, but the first campaign affected just one car. There were three recalls in 2016: one for possible fuel leaks in diesels due to a chafing hose under the bonnet, the second for short circuits caused by a chafing wiring loom and the third for faulty seatbelt pre-tensioners. The last was in May 2017 for potential petrol and diesel fuel leaks. 

Driver Power owner satisfaction

A 24th place in our Driver Power 2018 survey is a decent result, although the Discovery Sport is still quite new. Owners particularly like the interior, along with the practicality and boot space, plus the safety features. They really don’t like the running costs, though, while reliability and build quality get a thumbs down.