2020 Land Rover Discovery Sport [Updated]

Land Rover's compact SUV is brand-new.

[UPDATE -- 6/7/2019: Land Rover sent a notice today that the hybrid system power output figures for the 2020 Discovery Sport were incorrect in the original announcement. We've updated this story to incorporate the revised numbers.]

While compact Land Rovers have been known by many names over the years, one thing has been constant: the Discovery Sport and its various predecessors have served as a desirable jumping-off point for buyers who want a piece of the storied SUV brand.

Land Rover's "5+2" SUV is back for 2020 with a new look, more practicality and updated feature content to keep it competitive in the ever-expanding luxury SUV segment.

What's new?

The 2020 Discovery Sport is a ground-up redesign featuring new packaging, new powertrains, and a completely new interior. Headlining the powertrain overhaul is a new 48-volt mild hybrid system paired to a turbocharged four-cylinder which produces a total of 286 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque.

Next down the line is an old-fashioned turbo-four based on Jaguar Land Rover's new Ingenium engine line. Making 246 horsepower and 269 lb-ft of torque, it's not as punchy as the hybrid setup, but it will be the volume workhorse for Discovery Sport. Both engines are paired to nine-speed ZF automatic transmissions and all-wheel-drive.

What's inside?

Land Rover brands Discovery Sport as a "5+2," meaning its rear seats aren't really intended for full-time use. For those who need a dedicated three-row, the midsize Discovery is what you want. In fact, the 48-volt mild hybrid system is only available if you opt for the five-passenger variant of the Sport.

That said, the Discovery Sport is designed to be a luxury SUV for small families, and as such, it comes equipped with plenty of rear-seat creature comforts, such as USB and 12-volt charging along with a WiFi hotspot, guaranteeing connectivity for all passengers. Up front, the updated Touch Pro infotainment system is compatible with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

What's good?

Discovery Sport also gets an updated suite of safety and driver assistance features, including adaptive cruise control with steering assist, lane keep assist, automatic emergency braking and a driver condition monitoring system.

What's next?

The new Disco Sport will arrive stateside this summer. Expect pricing and EPA fuel economy figures closer to its on-sale date.