New Land Rover Discovery Sport 2021 pricing and specs detailed: Improved diesels and updated tech take the seven-seater SUV fight to Mercedes-Benz GLB and Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace

Land Rover has revealed yet another round of changes for the Discovery Sport seven-seater SUV, ushering in updated diesel engines, a switch to the brand’s Pivi Pro multimedia platform and improved safety.

Arriving in Australia later this year alongside the MY21 Range Rover Evoque that also shares the same Premium Transverse Architecture (PTA), the new Discovery Sport now costs $3250 more than before, from $65,700 before on-road costs.

It comes just nine months after the second-generation, L551-series was announced, as Land Rover simplifies and consolidates its model range into easier and more cohesive offerings that – according to a company spokesman – are more in line with consumer demands nowadays.

Some of the MY21 price increases are absorbed by the now-mandatory R-Dynamic trim, which is the sportier of the two styling-enhancement themes on offer (and previously available as an option costing upwards of $3000 depending on variant), bringing with it a body kit among other visual upgrades.

The Discovery Sport features now-mandatory R-Dynamic trim, which brings a body kit among other visual upgrades.

This move also partly explains the reduced model range, dropping from 10 to just five variants. The old S, SE and HSE grades continue.

Leading the changes under the bonnet are the revamped 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engines, now offered in 120kW/380Nm D165 (S) and 150kW/430Nm D200 (SE) states of tune, replacing the old 110kW/380kW D150 and 132kW/430Nm D180 units. With the aid of mild-hybrid technology featuring energy saved from regenerative braking, both are claimed to be cleaner and more economical than before.

Petrol powered Discovery Sports stick with the 147kW/320Nm P200 (S) and 183kW/365Nm P250 (in SE and HSE versions) 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo engines. All models employ a nine-speed torque-converter automatic transmission, sending drive to all four wheels.

Like the latest Evoque, the MY21 Discovery Sport adopts Jaguar Land Rover’s new electrical vehicle architecture, allowing the introduction of its new Pivi and Pivi Pro multimedia technology.

With their own battery power source and separate data plan, it switches on instantly and without delay, and was developed around the modern smartphone interface experience. This results in dramatically simplified menus built around three basic home-screen choices – Phone, Media and GPS. The upshot is faster, more intuitive operation, with features like predictive text, user-habit learning algorithms, over-the-air updates, two-tap maximum sub-menu access, in-car WiFi and eight-device connectivity – the latter being able to support two phones on at once.

The Discovery Sport introduces new Pivi and Pivi Pro multimedia technology.

On the safety front, a better and broader surround-car camera system is available, building upon the company’s ‘Clear Sight Ground View’ for under-bonnet virtual visibility for more secure progress over unknown terrain. Plus, JLR’s ‘Wearable Key’ watch has been improved to the point where the actual car key can now be left at home.

Finally, and following in the steps of the MY21 Evoque, cabin-air filtration system has been deployed, bringing air ionisation to improve air quality via Nanoe technology. There’s also an active carbon filter, and sensors designed to stop harmful particles entering inside.

Land Rover’s desire to streamline its model range for Australia means the Discovery Sport will pass up the all-new P300e plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) models for now. Pairing a 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine with an 80kW electric motor mounted on the rear axle, it is said to offer up to 62km of pure electric drive, average as little as 1.6L/100km and slash emissions dramatically.

Nor will we see the Discovery Sport Black Edition, which introduces the new P290 grade offering a 213kW/400Nm 2.0-litre turbo-petrol powertrain, capable of reaching 100km/h in 7.4 seconds.

As before, the MY21 Discovery Sport has three rows of seating as standard, set in a 5+2 design, with the rear-most pair suitable for people under around 165cm tall.

More information, including specific equipment listings for all the grades, will be provided closer to the fourth-quarter 2020 launch.

2021 Land Rover Discovery Sport pricing before on-road costs