2015 Land Rover Discovery Sport - Latest New Car Information and Car Exporting News

An all-new compact SUV from Land Rover, the Discovery Sport replaces the outgoing Land Rover LR-2, and is the first in an entire family of vehicles forthcoming with the Discovery name. The Discovery Sport will compete with other compact luxury SUVs such as the BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class.

The Land Rover Discovery Sport shares some of its front architecture with the avant-garde Range Rover Evoque, but is more upright and allows for more passenger and cargo space. It's about two inches longer than the GLK-Class, and about three inches shorter than the BMW X3. The Discovery Sport technically seats seven, but seating for five is the most comfortable.

At the heart of the Land Rover Discovery Sport is the same engine used in the Range Rover Evoque, a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that makes 240 horsepower and 250 pound-feet of torque. In the U.S., it will be paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission. As with all Land Rovers, four-wheel drive is standard.

Like all Land Rovers, the Discovery Sport will be highly capable off-road. Land Rover's Terrain Response system comes standard, with different drive settings, including General, Mud and Ruts, Grass/Gravel/Snow, and Sand. The system adjusts steering, gearing, throttle, braking, stability control and the four-wheel drive system to best handle different road surfaces. Gradient Release Control gradually releases the brakes when starting from a stop on an incline. Discovery Sport also gets hill descent control, traction control and stability control.

Much of the underlying structure of the Land Rover Discovery Sport is made of lightweight aluminum and high-strength boron steel. The hood, front fenders and tailgate are aluminum, which shaves weight and helps with efficiency.

Standard equipment includes dual-zone climate control, partial leather seats with power 8-way front seats, pushbutton start, rearview camera with rear parking sensors, and anchor points in the cargo area.

Second-row seating should be comfortable in the Discovery Sport, with seats that recline and slide rearward up to about 6 inches, providing nearly 40 inches of rear legroom. That's about three inches more than the BMW X3, which is impressive considering the Discovery Sport's shorter overall length.

The optional third row is a tighter fit, and is best left for occasional use. The folding third-row seat stows away when not in use.

The 2015 Land Rover Discovery Sport is expected to be available in the U.S. in early 2015, with an MSRP starting at $37,995.