Discovery Sport not worthy of Land Rover name

[MrLandy]

"It's no secret that most buyers aren't interested in how their SUV performs off-road. Or if it has even been designed to leave the relative sanctity of the bitumen." ('Disco Fever, battle of the luxury SUV's', The Age 20 June 2015). Disco Sport fails, comes third in comparison against BMW X3 and Audi Q5. Trying to be everything to all people in luxury urban escapeism mode is entirely unbecoming for Land Rover. Grave fears should be held for all future Land Rover models if this is a sign of things to come. A follower not a leader. Not worthy of the Discovery name, Let alone the Land Rover name.

[AllTerr]

That's funny.... I just read the exact opposite...


Sent from my iPhone using AULRO mobile app

[ramblingboy42]

Oh dear Mr Landy.....you are a SNIOP.......

have you read any other reports in the Discovery Sport?

the ones I have read have been very very good.

do you know anyone who has really tried to use their X3 or Q5 in the bush?

I know a guy who reckoned the X3 was the biggest piece of rubbish he had owned.....he sold it as soon as he could.

I don't think a motoring journalist has praised a Land Rover since the first Rangie was released.

[cripesamighty]

Was privy to a conversation just after some Q5 and X5 owners tagged along with some other SUV type vehicles (Forester, Freelander 2, XC90, D3, D4, Prado) on a 2 week holiday in convoy with a bunch of families. There was a modest amount of offroad tracks to negotiate, nothing requiring a 4WD or low range though.

The Q5 and X5 owners were in the process of selling their vehicles, as for them, in this mixed company of vehicles, theirs were shown up as unfit for purpose. The X5 owner complained about his tyres being wrecked after this light workout amongst other things and was very disappointed in the way the car didn't meet the hype of the sales pitch he received when he bought it. I'm pretty sure the Disco Sport wouldn't have flinched under the same light workout.

[Homestar]

I've heard nothing but good reports about it up until now. It is supposed to be very good off road too.

[scarry]

And it will get even better once the models with the new engines are released here.

[MrLandy]

Seriously? You all think the Disco Sport is an off road vehicle?

Sure it may be able to drive on some dirt roads "nothing which required 4WD". But that is anathema to the brand in my book. It's a soft roader 'sports' car designed primarily for on road use. Road Rover.

[Pedro_The_Swift]

Let me guess,,
you dont like the Evoque or new RR either,,,

[Homestar]

Seriously? You all think the Disco Sport is an off road vehicle?

Sure it may be able to drive on some dirt roads "nothing which required 4WD". But that is anathema to the brand in my book. It's a soft roader 'sports' car designed primarily for on road use. Road Rover.

A lot more capable than the Freelander it is replacing. I don't think anyone would buy one thinking it is a full on off roader, but it is certainly more than a soft roader.

[DiscoClax]

I had the great privelege of working closely with an ex-Land Rover Engineer for a few years not that long ago. Apart from being a top bloke and having his head screwed on right he also shared much information on their development and sign-off process. The company I worked for owned them at the time. I can't divulge too much but I can say that all Land Rover product must meet a minimum standard of capability, verified on their in-house off-road test course. No great surprise there. But what was surprising to me was how high that level was. Watching internal footage of a production spec Evoque traversing the same stuff a Defender goes through was truly eye-opening. Ultimately a Defender will always be more capable than their 'soft' variants, and have lower damageability, but even these 'lesser' offerings provide staggering ability and robust engineering. Look at water wading specs as just one basic example. Seriously. It totally changed my perception of the company and is products. It is something the public don't get to see, and the press don't really get exposed to either. It's a pity they don't make a bigger deal about it really.

I'd have one

Sent from my SM-G900I using AULRO mobile app