Land Rover Discovery Sport gains mild hybrid diesel engine & tech updates

In a nutshell:

• Land Rover makes additions to the Discovery Sport range.
• Cleaner new diesel engines featuring mild-hybrid technology
• Discovery Sport Black gets new 286 hp petrol engine capable of 0-60mph in 7 seconds.
• Land Rover’s Pivi and Pivi Pro infotainment system now available for Discovery Sport.
• New Cabin Air Filtration system filters out fine particulate matter, allergens, pollen and even strong smells.
• Priced from £31,915 in the UK.

Land Rover has updated its flagship Discovery Sport to include a range of new engines - offering better efficiency and a smoother ride.

But it’s the new ‘Discovery Sport Black’ that steals the show, equipped with a turbocharged new ‘P290’ petrol engine producing 286 hp and capable of doing the 0-60mph sprint in 7 seconds.

The Discovery Sport has always been an extremely capable premium SUV - a family-friendly load lugger with the option to equip it with seven seats should you wish to.

And now the Discovery Sport looks to be even more usable thanks to a new range of four-cylinder ‘Ingenium’ diesel engines featuring efficiency-boosting mild hybrid technology.

There are two options available - a 160 hp offering and a more powerful 200 hp version.

Both are said to offer ‘enhanced efficiency, smoother power and superior refinement’, with CO2 from 163g/km.

Both also use Land Rover’s latest mild-hybrid (MHEV) technology when paired with AWD, featuring a battery to harvest energy lost under deceleration.

Land Rover tells us: “The result is a smoother stop-start operation and optimised fuel economy – giving customers a taste of the benefits of an electrified vehicle without needing to plug in and charge.”

Whether you opt for the petrol or the diesel incarnation, both now come with Land Rover’s state-of-the-art ‘Pivi’ infotainment system, which requires a separate data plan but ensures everything is ready to go the second you power up the engine.

Meanwhile the Sport now also features a ‘smart’ new Cabin Air Filtration system - a welcome addition in times when many are fearful of nasty, airborne pathogens.

The set-up is designed to filter out harmful fine particulate matter often found in cities and high-traffic areas, as well as allergens, pollen and even strong smells - the latter of which could prove extremely useful ferrying grubby kids and wet dogs long distances.

Occupants simply select 'Purify' mode to activate the system, which filters and continually monitors the air inside the cabin relative to the air outside. The touchscreen offers reassurance that the air within is cleaner than the air outside.

There are other new measures to protect your well being.

New driver assistance features include Rear Traffic Monitor with automatic braking, Rear Collision Monitor, and a 3D Surround Camera that lets the driver see what’s happening around the vehicle at speeds of up to 19mph - which should be useful for supermarket negotiation as well as tackling difficult off-road terrain.

There are plenty of trims to choose from, too, with features such as privacy glass and automatic tailgate, and spec running from ‘S’ all the way up to ‘R-Dynamic HSE’ and ‘Black’.

Finbar McFall, Global Product Marketing Director at Land Rover, said:“Next-generation mild-hybrid diesel engines bring enhanced efficiency to the Discovery Sport, while the new Discovery Sport Black adds to its appeal.

“The addition of the advanced new Pivi Pro infotainment system with immediate start-up and self-learning capabilities mean the new Discovery Sport is now even more capable and versatile, and ready for family adventures.”