Land Rover Discovery Sport: car review

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This article titled “Land Rover Discovery Sport: car review” was written by Martin Love, for The Observer on Sunday 1st February 2015 06.00 UTC

Price £32,395
MPG 46.3
Top speed 117mph

As you’d expect, the first car to roll off a production line always has some special fate in store: a deserving charity; a spoilt celebrity; a minted collector. Land Rover’s number one Discovery Sport, however, is on its way from Merseyside to… New Mexico. Not to some drug cartel (though the car’s agility and strength would come in handy), but to Richard Branson and his desert-based Virgin Galactic team. It makes perfect sense of Land Rover’s over-reaching tagline: “Above and Beyond”.

The Discovery Sport I drove only went to Somerset, not very Above or Beyond, but the journey was for a party to celebrate my son’s 18th and the fact that my sweet, curly-headed boy is now a grown-up man did seem slightly out of this world.

Anyone familiar with Land Rover’s Discovery knows it’s called a Disco: a laughable nickname as there is very little that’s funky about a Disco. Yes, it’s a superbly engineered slab of technical excellence that’s more able and more resilient than any of us will ever… discover (that was unexpected), but groovy? Uh, no. This new Disco, however, moves in a very different way. I’d better explain.

Inside story: the wonderfully calm and luxurious interior.

The Land Rover family extends from the rugged, no-nonsense Defender to the super-svelte Range Rover. In the middle hovers the self-consciously trendy Evoque, the original boxy Discovery and the rather dated Freelander. It’s this last model that the new Discovery Sport is replacing on the team. This Disco is actually nothing to do with that Disco… Would it have killed them to think of a new name? No. There’s Jive? Boogie? Salsa? Break? Lap? Or maybe not.

The Disco Sport, which went on sale last week, is a seven-seat SUV – the back two berths are tricky to access but once you are in they are surprisingly roomy – even if you are a gangling 18-year-old. At launch it features the reliable 2.2 diesel used in the Evoque, but a super-efficient turbo diesel will also be available later in the year. Both engines are light, quiet, smooth and efficient. There’s the choice of a six-speed manual or a slick nine-speed automatic – my father still remembers fondly the days when cars had three gears. This Disco is also the first to debut a whole bunch of clever Land Rover innovations – including its advanced pedestrian airbag technology, which has just won WhatCar?’s safety award of 2015.

Inside, it’s every inch the premium product you’d expect. In terms of usability, the pick of the new features is the touchscreen infotainment system. This interface has been one of Land Rover’s weak points. The old system was fiddly, slow and confusing. This one isn’t. The only question is why did it take them so long?

And the drive? Relaxed, responsive, powerful… a genuine joy. You sit high, commanding the road. The steering is silky; that diesel is tenacious and unfaltering. It’s the sort of car that makes you wish your destination was further away.

Heading to the party in Somerset, I parked my mundane cares, relaxed my shoulders and let the Disco go to work. We skimmed along winding roads past winter fields. The low sun dazzled and made the wet surface shine like mercury. It was mesmerising. And with the kids singing in the back, my wife dozing next to me and the dog slathering over the back window, I felt, well… Above and Beyond.

A bright idea

I’m going that way: the jacket with built-in indicators

Getting cyclists to use lights is one thing, getting them to indicate is another. But not Halfords has managed to kill two birds with one stone by launching a jacket that will do both. At first the innovative Visijax commuter jacket appears to be a regular waterproof, but using motion-sensor technology, it activates a flashing LED signal to show other road users when the cyclists is making a turn. It’s a patented Intelligent Motion-Activated Signalling System (iMASS), which triggers an amber turning signal when cyclists raise their arm. It lights up for five seconds before self-cancelling. This is complemented by powerful white LED lights on the chest and red lights on the back. On top of that the jacket has sweeping vents to circulate cool air while its Teflon coating repels mud and water. It comes in black and neon yellow and costs £99.99. Have a look at the Halfords’ website.

Chitty Chitty rides again

John Burningham with his 1934 Austin Seven, before its first MOT, which he wasn’t hopeful it would pass. Photograph: John Burningham

It may surprise you that the author best known as the creator of James Bond, also wrote the much loved children’s book Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang. Just like Ian Fleming’s novels aimed at grown ups, this adventure story features heroes, villains and gadgets but here the main protagonist is a magical car. Ian Fleming wrote the novel for his son Caspar but did not live to see it published before he died in August 1964. Illustrated by award-winning children’s book illustrator John Burningham, it was originally issued in three volumes by Jonathan Cape and has been fascinating young boys and girls for 50 years. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the publication of the final volume, Queen Anne Press is launching a facsimile of the original – the standard edition of three volumes in a slipcase will be available for £125, while 50 special editions, bound in cloth with gold blocking and accompanied by a portfolio containing two prints signed and numbered by John Burningham, will cost £600 each. Whether you decide to splash out or not, both the book and the brilliant film are well worth another viewing. For more details, go to queenannepress.com

A sprinkling of stardust at the Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show

The open road: get inspired by this year’s show.

Half-term week (February 17-22) sees this year’s Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show roll into Birmingham’s NEC. Helen Skelton, Sally Gunnell, Kate Lawler and Melodie King will all be attending, while Ben Fogle and Matt Baker will officially open the show. It’s the UK’s largest start-of-season holiday showcase, and you’ll find everything to do with getting outdoors under one roof. With more than 350 exhibitors, the show is a great family day out for both newcomers and enthusiasts alike. Advance show tickets cost from just £7 (kids 15 years and under go free). For more information and to book tickets go to caravancampingmotorhomeshow.co.uk or call 0844 581 1250.

Email Martin at martin.love@observer.co.uk or follow him on Twitter @MartinLove166

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Land Rover Discovery Sport: car review