Alternatives to LR Discovery Sport

[anonymous-user]

In short, what is the nearest rival?

Suppose I want a car up to a year old, decent steer for what it is, lots of space inside for people and luggage, proper autobox with gears (i.e. not a CVT), good ground clearance, reasonable 4wd system, less than £40k, yet don't want frequent dealership visits, what do I buy?

The Discovery Sport ticks all but one of the boxes, there's far too many horror stories. My LR FL2 ownership experience wasn't great and it was meant to be one of the 'reliable' Land Rovers.

[Davel]

I thought about the new Sport but instead bought a late 2017 Discovery HSE with under 10,000 miles for just over your limit.

Very impressed with mine.

[sie10110]

Jeep Grand Cherokee Diesel... 19 plate demos starting around 35k are a lot of car for the money. Had mine for 18 months with no dramas.

[prand]

Smaller SUV with 7 seats?

Mitsubishi Outlander
Skoda Kodiaq
VW Tiguan AllSpace

[ZX10R NIN]

Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit/Overland you have the balance of the 5 year warranty/Assistance plan as well as the 3 years free servicing.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Ford Edge Vignale

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

5008 GT Line

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/new...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/new...

Touareg R Line Tech

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

R Line

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Kia Sorento GT Line S

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/new...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/new...

[stevemcs]

I’d just go for a discovery sport, i’d Rather take my chances with one of them over a Jeep.

[anonymous-user]

Thanks for the replies.

I'd considered the Ford Edge as my sister has one in the Titanium trim with the diesel/autobox combo, having driven it I thought it was sluggish with a less than smooth gearchange.

I'd completely forgotten about the Touareg, don't see many of them around these days but I do like them, ditto the Jeep Grand Cherokee. Those are the two that interest me most from above.

And I have considered crossing my fingers and buying a Discovery Sport and hoping it's a good one, but I'm being a realist here as I'm very picky even about squeaks, rattles etc. I love the 'proper' Discovery suggestion but the thought of running one for a few years and it going outwith warranty terrifies me.

[Davel]

You could buy a Disco with a warranty.

Got two years on mine from Land Rover

[sunbeam alpine]

yellowbentines said:

Suppose I want a car up to a year old, decent steer for what it is, lots of space inside for people and luggage...

OP - have you actually been in a Discovery Sport? One of my friends has one, and I wouldn't exactly describe it as spacious, certainly not if you're in the back. Admittedly I'm 6'4",but I found it very cramped in the back - certainly wouldn't want to be travelling very far.

[prand]

sunbeam alpine said:

OP - have you actually been in a Discovery Sport? One of my friends has one, and I wouldn't exactly describe it as spacious, certainly not if you're in the back. Admittedly I'm 6'4",but I found it very cramped in the back - certainly wouldn't want to be travelling very far.

That's what made me think he was originally after smaller SUVs like Kodiaq & Outlander. Then all discussion is about Grand Cherokee, Edge and Discovery which are class sizes larger.

[anonymous-user]

I've not been in a Discovery Sport, no, as my thoughts are what could I buy that's close to one, but essentially not one. I looked again last night and if you get a 'Friday afternoon car' it seems they can be real lemons. My head is ruling and saying don't buy a LR product, warranty or not, I can't be bothered with repeat trips to dealerships.

I've driven an Edge and a Discovery though, and didn't think them in the same class tbh, the Disco felt much bigger, perhaps the Touareg and Grand Cherokee are also, I've not been in either.

I don't need 7 seats, in fact I'll rarely use more than 2. What I need is a large boot, seats up and down, and some good ground clearance. Space to put a dog and luggage, and head on long distance road trips. I also frequently carry 'stuff' with seats down, whether its doing tip runs, lugging furniture about, tools, you name it. The ability to cope with forestry tracks etc is where the ground clearance comes in as I live in Scotland and frequently heading up North hillwalking which involves driving off tarmac frequently.

For context I have a CLS shooting brake, and had 3 x E Class estates prior, which do the job admirably apart from being hopeless in snow, and having no ground clearance (ETA I did have a LR FL2, which apart from being back and forth from the dealer and the luggage space being slightly smaller than I'd like was pretty much ideal). When we're away the Mrs is now used to jumping out and ensuring the front lip isn't getting ripped off, and last weekend when hillwalking I couldn't get into the carpark at all as I'd have ripped the bumper off driving through the huge potholes. I'm also forever getting punctures as the tyres aren't ideal for some of the roads it travels.

I know an estate car with raised clearance is a good compromise, but Mrs will drive it too and wants an SUV as she's just over 5ft, and appreciates the higher driving position. She usually gets what she wants.

Edited by anonymous-user on Thursday 19th September 13:31

[stumpage]

Skoda Kodaiq Scout. 4x4

Ticks all of your boxes exept it has 2 fold up rear seats.

We test drove the Discovery Sport, but ended up woth the Skoda as is was better in so many ways.

[ninjag]

yellowbentines said:

I'm very picky even about squeaks, rattles etc

Have you considered the Porsche Cayenne? Quality and status is easily up there with LR. I believe they are actually very capable off-road (or snow) and the interiors are supposed to be very well screwed together so no rattles.

Surprisingly there's a 2017 one for under £40k: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Although if it were me I'd get this one which is two years older and get a decent used warranty with it, although preferably without red seats: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[Phil.]

My wife swapped her DS for an XC40 and loved it much more. It doesn’t have 7 seats but is a much better to drive. The tech is up to date and works. Very good depreciation too in comparison to the DS. Plus Volvo dealers tend to care about their customers far more than LR do!