2015 Land Rover Discovery Sport Launched: RM399k for Si4 Petrol

As promised, after an exclusive preview for customers earlier this year, and a sneak peek at their new Glenmarie showroom, Jaguar Land Rover Malaysia (JLRM) has officially lifted the veil off the new Land Rover Discovery Sport here in Malaysia. 

Available in two variants, the 2.0L Si4 Petrol and 2.2L SD4 Diesel, the Discovery Sport is the brand’s latest premium compact SUV and the first member of the new Discovery family. 

Priced at RM399,000 (excluding road tax, registration, and insurance), the 2.0L Si4 Petrol comes with a 2-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine which produces 240PS at 5,800rpm and 340Nm at 1,750rpm.

As for the 2.2L SD4 Diesel, its 2.2-litre 4-cylinder diesel engine delivers a strong 190PS at 3,500rpm and 420Nm of torque from 1,750rpm, though prices for the diesel variant is yet to be confirmed. According to JLRM, they are still working on getting the price of the diesel variant as close to the petrol variant, and will confirm its price at a later date.

Both engine choices comes mated to a nine-speed automatic from ZF, which is featured on the Range Rover Evoque, and Efficient Driveline intelligent full-time four-wheel drive system that is equipped with Land Rover’s Terrain Response system.

The Terrain Response system automatically adjusts the car’s steering, throttle response, gearbox, centre-coupling, and braking/stability systems to the demands of the terrain according four settings – General, Grass/Gravel/Snow, Mud and Rust, and Sand. According to Land Rover, the Discovery Sport is able to scale 45-degree gradients, with approach, departure, and breakover angles of 25, 31, and 21 degrees respectively.

For Malaysia, the Discovery Sport comes equipped with a powered tailgate and configurable mood lighting as standard. Customers with a bigger budget however can specify the Discovery Sport with a whole host of optional features such as Park Assist with Parallel and Perpendicular Parking, Automatic High-Beam Assist, Lane Departure Warning, a panoramic glass roof, 825W 17-speaker Meridian sound system, and HDD satellite navigation.

A key selling point with the Discovery Sport is its efficient packaging, which it to have a 5+2 seating capacity. Though the model seen here at the launch is a five seater model brought in for homologation with the optional Black Design Pack, JLRM says that all Discovery Sport models will be sold with the 5+2 seating as standard.

Despite its exterior dimensions, Land Rover says that interior cabin space was maximised thanks to the use of a next-generation multi-link rear axle that enables a larger cabin space, and stadium seating inside. The second row can be moved fore and aft, while the third-row seats feature an easy-fold function.

Occupants on all three rows will be well taken care of with four 12V power points located around the cabin. There is even an option to fit as many as six USB charging sockets around the three rows, and to beat the heat, second-row occupants get B-pillar air vents, whereas its third-row occupants get an independent climate control.

In terms of safety the Discovery Sport comes fitted with six airbags, Hill Descent Control, Gradient Release Control, ABS, traction control, Hill Start Assist, Roll Stability Control, and Dynamic Stability Control. Every Discovery Sport will be furnished with a 5-year or 300,000km warranty, 5-year or 80,000km free scheduled maintenance, and 3-year roadside assistance for peace of mind.

The Discovery Sport can be viewed at the 1 Utama Shopping Centre (Old Wing) this weekend at the Discovery Sport Open Day, where its capabilities will be put on display on the Land Rover Terrapod. The Discovery Sport Open Day is open on Aug 22 and 23 from 11am to 9pm, for more information and to register for the event, please visit www.landrover.com.my/discoverysportlaunch.