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Used Land Rover Discovery Sport pros and cons

Is a used Land Rover Discovery Sport a good car?

While 4x4s tend to look like they can go off-road, most would likely be flummoxed by anything more extreme than a gravel driveway. However, one of the Land Rover Discovery Sport鈥檚 unique selling points is that it鈥檚 genuinely great off-road.

While most families don鈥檛 need this from their daily driver, it鈥檚 reassuring to know it鈥檚 there if you need it, perhaps during a particularly snowy winter or if you鈥檙e an outdoorsy type who鈥檚 often out in the wilderness. That鈥檚 not the Discovery Sport鈥檚 only appealing characteristic, though, because it鈥檚 also a spacious seven-seater car that鈥檚 comfortable over lumps and bumps in the road.

Unfortunately, despite everything that goes in its favour, the Land Rover Discovery Sport doesn鈥檛 have a great reputation for reliability, so this is worth bearing in mind if you plan to use it as your main car.

The latest model was introduced in 2019 with a smart appearance and improved interior, though the Discovery Sport traces its roots back to 2014. A new infotainment system was a headline act for the update, and while it鈥檚 better than what came before, it鈥檚 still not particularly intuitive to use. Fortunately, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come as standard.

Interior quality is also not quite up to the standard of other luxury SUVs such as the Audi Q5, BMW X3 and Mercedes GLC, but the Discovery Sport is impressively spacious inside. It has a good-sized boot, or you can have seven seats in place. Although the third row would be cramped for adults, it鈥檚 okay for kids.

Engine-wise, the Discovery Sport plug-in hybrid is the best, budget-allowing. Introduced in 2020, it has the potential to offer low running costs if you keep the batteries topped up. Otherwise the mild hybrid petrols and diesels are pretty thirsty. Opt for two-wheel drive versions with a manual gearbox if you want the best economy from non-PHEVs, but you do lose some of that off-road ability.

What to look for when buying a second hand Land Rover Discovery Sport

Unfortunately, the Land Rover Discovery Sport has a pretty poor reliability record, so seek plenty of documentation to see what work has been carried out and make sure it has been regularly serviced.

A few easier things to note include checking the interior for squeaks and creaks which could prove annoying on a long drive, and check models with the 2017-2019 top-spec infotainment, because it鈥檚 prone to bugs. Land Rover released a fix for this, though.

Also, if your daily journeys are typically short, avoid the diesels, because this can cause issues with the diesel particulate filter.

If you鈥檙e looking at early examples, we鈥檇 recommend avoiding the 2.2-litre diesel because it doesn鈥檛 comply with the latest emissions regulations, meaning it could see you charged extra for travelling in low emission zones.

If seven seats is a desirable feature, be aware that for most of the Discovery Sport鈥檚 life they have been an optional extra. It was a popular option, but not all vehicles have the third row.

Post-2019 update cars tend to be a bit more expensive than those that came before them. In 2017 there was another less extensive update and these provide decent value, particularly with top-spec versions getting an improved infotainment system.

Land Rover Discovery Sport FAQs