Land Rover Discovery Sport PHEV…Electric power enhances the sheen

WHEN the retro-inspired Land Rover Defender burst upon the scene at the Frankfurt Motor Show on 10 September 2019, I was among the throng to witness the arrival of a model that looked for all the world like a spivved-up original Land Rover Defender but which in truth hid the underpinnings of the long-established Discovery model.

For sure, there was an element of risk attached to introducing a new model that positively dripped in retro styling detail, but the formula has worked a treat for JLR. Indeed, it wasn’t long before the cognoscenti in the automotive world were predicting the demise of the Land Rover Discovery as order books for the Defender bulged at the seams with potential new owners keen to be seen in the latest Brit off-roader that appealed so strongly to those who possibly shopped at Harrods having “deliberately” forgotten to take off their soiled gumboots!

Rear cabin is spacious with good seat recline

Well nearly five years later, and despite the cessation of production of a posse of models in the broader JLR stable, the Discovery still soldiers on. In truth, that description may well demean the Disco because as I write this ode to an electrified model about which more in a mo, JLR has just introduced a tarted-up 35^th Anniversary Discovery armed with a searingly potent new the 3.0-litre Ingenium six-cylinder diesel with 257kW – a 37kW increase over the outgoing D300. Torque is also increased to 700Nm, an uplift of 50Nm, helping the D350 accelerate to 100km in a mere 6.3 seconds!

But I’ve have gone a bit off-road with this epistle, so let me get back into paved road mode and give you the specifics on the Disco model delivered to me and which partly pays homage to what I’ll now call ‘the short-circuited rush into electrification.’ Its full title is:

LAND ROVER DISCOVERY DYNAMIC HSE P300e Ingenium 1,5 litre 3-cylinder 309PS Turbocharged Petrol PHEV (Automatic) All Wheel Drive

Now with a name like that, it’s sure to be conveying the landed gentry to the House of Lords and with that PHEV nomenclature, it will also escape the London “noxious fumes” tax. But such occurrences were far from my mind as I surveyed the Discovery before me and though how much it resembled all the other Discos I’ve enjoyed piloting on and off-road over so many years.

A close inspection though, revealed the presence of two “filler” flaps on opposing rear flanks. The right flap provides access to what politicians say is nasty, smelly, polluting 95 RON unleaded while the opposing flap hides a socket waiting to receive lovely clean neurons – or should that be ‘electrons?’ –  sourced from a domestic system or from faster commercial chargers.

What I didn’t appreciate until I exercised my Hercule Poirot-like investigative powers was that the Disco’s usual pair of tail-end Charlie seats were nowhere to be seen as the need to provide a petrol tank (57L), an electric motor and a battery pack clearly usurped the one significant differentiating factor of the traditional Discovery, that being its 7-seat capability.

LED lighting illuminates the rear

At the other end of this rather large SUV – it tips the scales at a couple of sardine cans short of 2,2 tonnes unladen – lurks a surprisingly diminutive Ingenium engine that has to deliver its wares with the aid of just three cylinders displacing a mere 1 498cc. The fact that it delivers a heady 147kW is most commendable for one so small and what it achieves driving the front wheels through ZF’s ubiquitous and still thoroughly convincing 8-speed torque converter auto is rather remarkable.

Because the test unit carried an HSE badge, the dash sported the latest upgraded Android Auto/Apple CarPlay-compliant Pivi Pro infotainment unit which addresses old problems of sluggish responses and illogical menus. Indeed, it has become one of the more pleasing units of its type and I have to say that my concerns about how to select my desired source of motive power were quickly addressed as the home screen clearly showed three options which encompass Hybrid, EV and heaven forbid, petrol.

A 15kW/h battery pack works with an electric motor to drive the rear wheels and when used in isolation, the combo is slated to deliver around 60kms and to take roughly 30 minutes to top up 80% of battery capacity on a typical commercial charger.

I used EV-only mode on all my visits to the nearby local mall and thoroughly enjoyed the silent and effortless performance but did note that battery range was closer to 50 km, possibly because the return journey home involves a continuous climb.

In Hybrid mode, the extra punch of the electric motor, which is seamlessly joined by the conventional power unit (combined outputs 227kW/540Nm) when real go is summonsed, is muscular enough to make reputable hot hatches work hard for their living.

Only the re-charge flap telegraphs the PHEV element

However, this Disco isn’t about leaving rubber behind but much more about  versatility in terms of blending economy with easy performance and a level of mechanical refinement in line with the asking price of the model. Some may then question the use of a small displacement three-cylinder engine, but there are no worries on this score as this engine delivers smoothly and quietly in everyday driving conditions and only telegraphs an audible coarseness when it has its neck wrung, a rare activity for most owners, I’m sure. For the record, this engine’s consumption appeared to hover around the 7L/100km mark, but that figure is more heavily influenced thgn usual by driving conditions.

Ride on the optional 225/55R20 rubber that wraps around gloss black alloys is nicely cushioned and assured, albeit that some body roll is evident in enthusiastic cornering. But that’s not a surprise given the 212mm ground clearance which, along with LR’s famous Terrain Response 2 system that tailors the drivetrain to deal with a multitude of surfaces, provides the Sport with incredibly effective off-road ability.

Steering the big machine is a doddle thanks to a powered system that’s easy on the arms in the urban jungle but which firms up progressively as speed rises. Sure, a measure of artificial feel is present, but never to the extent that responses to steering wheel movements are unduly anaesthetised. And the brakes always feel reassuring with a measured pedal feel that’s unusually “normal” for a car sporting electrical power.

Given that wind and road induced noises are well suppressed and that mechanical disturbances, other than when that three-cylinder engine is having its neck wrung, are pleasantly distant, refinement ranks very high which is quite an achievement. After all, this is a car that can switch from being a suave people carrying tourer to a near-uncompromised off-road beast at the flick of a switch.

Leather-faced seats have 14-way power

External finish in terms of evenness of panel gaps and alignment is very good and shows an improvement on models past. And the paint finish is nice and glossy and complements all the shiny black bits of the Sport configuration rather well. Inside, leather surfacing abounds in a cabin awash with niceties, not least 14-way auto adjustable front seats, 3D surround camera, every driver assistance and warning system known to man and woman, auto fully adjustable steering wheel, air bags in every nook and cranny, auto air con, a huge sunroof and so on and on.

Personally, I think Land Rover interiors are visually more inviting in paler colours than the anthracite hue that pervaded this cabin, but the overall ambience remains inviting even if close inspection in less obvious regions reveals quite a lot of scratchy plastic cladding.

In reality, the extent of the equipment that’s part of the Dynamic HSE model is so comprehensive that a visit to www.landrover.co.za is a very good idea. And at the same time, it will pay to scan the comprehensive options list. The test car, for example, was laden with R102 600 worth of options with the bulk of the spend going to Technology, Comfort and Towing Packs along with the excellent Meridian 3D Surround Sound System.

I guess this report is actually more about the PHEV configuration than the Discovery as a whole, most especially as the conventionally powered versions of this range stalwart are probably reasonably well known to most car buffs. So, what to make of the additional power source? I can say unhesitatingly that for anyone who regularly uses a vehicle over short distances, such as driving to work or to the shops, the hybrid addition is a boon. It’s soothingly quiet yet instantly responsive, it’s discrete in use and it doesn’t pollute. Most importantly, it can be fully charged at home to be ready for next day action. I do hope though that the maker’s clearly stated intent to address brand-specific reliability issues is bearing fruit.