Land Rover Discovery Sport is been in the Indian Market for a while now , It was launched in 2015 as Land Rover‘s replacement for Freelander . Focused on Utility hence when it was launched there was only a Diesel Option. Down the line with consumers moving more and more to petrol motors, Land Rover decided to introduce 2018 Discovery Sport with a new 2.0-litre Ingenium petrol engine similar to what was introduced earlier in the Velar . Lets try to find out how this new 2.0-Litre Ingenium petrol pair with the Discover Sport which is a rugged and conventional as sports utility vehicles .
What is it like to drive?
The 1997cc, four-cylinder Ingenium petrol motor truly is a gem, it packs in 237bhp of peak power and 340Nm of maximum torque mated to a nine-speed automatic gearbox . From the moment you start moving you will notice a diesel like low-end grunt with torque coming in early . The Discovery Sport petrol can sprint with ease going from 0-100kph in 7.9 seconds . Building up to three digit speeds isn’t an issue but using the power will restrain once in a while , considering its size and weight which make its presence felt. The super-smooth nine-speed ZF transmission is clever and manages to bring out the best from the engine with well-spaced ratios but on the downside it feels hesitant to sudden inputs to the accelerator, especially at city speeds. 
The Sport mode holds the revs longer and manages to douse out more power which stays strong until 6,000rpm. Performance, on the whole, is quite usable as it feels comfortable cruising and also ambling at slow speeds in the city. This unit may not be the smoothest-sounding engine but considering its diesel counterpart you will notice the relatively low levels of clatter and vibration inside the cabin .
The suspension is stiff, sharp undulations filter into the cabin. The low-speed ride is a bit firm, but the Disco gains composure as speeds rise. In fact, at high- speeds the handling is safe and predictable rather than sporty. On the flipside, there is a bit of body roll when cornering hard, but it’s not a major concern at any point. Talking about its Off-road ability it comes with Land Rover’s 4×4 system with pre-programmed off-road modes that alters the Disco’s characteristics to suit a particular terrain (mud, sand, grass, gravel) mated to its 200mm ground clearance .Hence there is no dearth of grip under most scenarios – from seriously bad roads to super-smooth and fast corners.
Inside the car
The interior design, fit and finish everything seems to be built with longevity in mind. The car’s interior has been carried over from the diesel, except that it uses a different tachometer because this is a petrol car. The high-set seats and the low dash offer a nice view outside. We especially love how the rotary gear rises when you start the car and then there are those nice-looking air-con dials too. It comes with only a seven-seat configuration with this petrol engine.
While the third-row seats may be good only for kids, it folds flat onto the floor, offering over a 1,000 litres of luggage space. The middle row passengers get seats which are supportive and can be moved fore and aft to maximise legroom or free up knee room for the last row. Space, in general, is good while the large windows along with a panoramic glass roof allow enough light into the cabin. 
Land Rover has also given the cabin lots of recesses for small items and thoughtfully equipped it with seven USB charging points, one for each occupant. What you won’t like is the infotainment system which works and feels outdated and should be out of place in a car this expensive. All this said The Discovery Sport is a comfortable SUV with great built quality As expected from a Land Rover .
Verdict
The Land Rover Discovery Sport, at Rs 53.75 lakh Ex-showroom is the practical Land Rover to buy. It is spacious, has adequate road presence and bears an iconic name. The new Ingenium Petrol motor is like the cherry on top of the cake for the overall 4×4 ruggedness .
great review , miss your articles now