Five years old as of 2019, the Land Rover Discovery Sport is the company's oldest product on the market. As a result, the British firm rolled out a mid-cycle facelift. A bit late to the party given that modern vehicles have a shorter life span, but the update is rather consistent and includes new technology and notable design changes.

The Land Rover Discovery Sport Looks Familiar But Sportier

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Like any facelift, the 2020 Discovery Sport looks very similar to its predecessor. Land Rover didn't alter too many features but changed just enough to keep the SUV fresh and market it stand out. If you were a fan of the nameplate's clamshell hood, rising beltline, and tapered roof, you can relax, and Land Rover kept these defining features.

Up front, changes are typical for a mid-cycle facelift. The Discovery Sport boasts a new grille with more refined inserts, headlamps that look high-tech thanks to a new LED pattern, and taller bumper vents that give it a sportier vibe.

The profile looks the same save for minor revisions to the side skirts and the wheels. But on top of the new wheel designs in the usual 18- and 20-inch sizes, you can opt for larger 21-inch rollers for the very first time. Around back, you'll see a new pattern for the LED taillights and a revised bumper with a black center section and a sportier diffuser-like element.

You can customize the Discovery Sport through the Black Exterior Pack, which features additional Narvik Black detailing on the grille and fender vents, extending to the hood and tailgate lettering. You can also pick from 12 exterior paint colors and the option of a black contrast roof.

2020 Land Rover Discovery Sport exterior dimensions

Overall length (in)

181

Wheelbase (in)

107.9

Height (in)

68

Width, mirrors folded (in)

85.6

Width, mirrors out (in)

81.5

Turning Radius, curb to curb (ft)

38.7


The Land Rover Discovery Sport packs new tech and enhanced versatility

The cabin features the same design layout overall, but it boasts new tech that debuted in recently launched Range Rover vehicles. Arguably the biggest upgrade is the 10-inch infotainment system, which comes at no additional cost. It also has new connectivity features, like wireless charging for the first time, 4G Wi-Fi hotspot, and USB and 12-volt connectivity slots on every row.

The smart rearview mirror that debuted on the Range Rover Evoque is now available for the Discovery Sport. Called ClearSight Rear View, it turns the rearview mirror into an HD video screen at the touch of a button to display a rear-facing camera feed. Not exactly groundbreaking, but it's nice to find one in this rugged vehicle too.

Land Rover brags about a possible number of seat combinations of up to 246. It doesn't say much about the cramped third-row passenger space that needs to be enhanced. Needless to say, it hasn't changed and it won't until the next-gen model arrives.

Other new features worth mentioning include a massage function, a first for the Discovery Sport, and a sustainable, non-leather Luxtex material made of a recycled polyester microfiber as a replacement for the usual leather or fabric.

The Land Rover Discovery Sport Now Has an Electrified Drivetrain

The SUV continues to feature the familiar 2.0-liter four-cylinder Ingenium engines. The base model comes with 237 horsepower and 251 pound-feet of torque on tap, while the more expensive trim delivers 286 horses and 295 pound-feet of twist. In addition, Land Rover introduced an electrified version that mates the range-topping four-cylinder mill to a 48-volt starter-generator system. This mild hybrid version generates 296 horsepower. The British firm didn't say much about it, but it's safe to assume that the extra 10 horsepower comes from the 48-volt system.

The engine-mounted belt-integrated starter generator harvests the energy normally lost during deceleration and stores it in an under-floor battery. At speeds below 11 mph, the engine shuts off when the driver applies the brakes. When pulling away, the stored energy is redeployed to assist the engine under acceleration. This feature also enhanced fuel economy, but Land Rover has yet to reveal data.

The Land Rover Discovery Sport shouldn't cost notably more

Facelifts usually add a premium to the old model, but pricing should increase too much with this update. Expect the base model to cost around $39,000 instead of $37,990. As for the range-topping, 286-horsepower model, it will be replaced by the mild hybrid version, so the sticker could jump from $49,700 to around $52,000.

Further reading

Read our full review on the 2020 Land Rover Discovery Sport.

Read our full review on the 2019 Land Rover Discovery Sport.