@Alex M.- LOL! A Stock Discovery Sport v. a Discovery II..you clearly havent looked closely at a new D Sport. A DII and a DI would walk circles around it.

 

A troll is a troll I guess.
Clearly you didn't go back and watch the Freelander highlights from Camel Trophy. A Diesel Freelander with light modification proved eminently capable in that competition.

You're trying to compare different generations and classes of vehicles, all because you disagree with JLR's marketing branding decisions?

 

No need to name call. Let's see now, you mean the no low range option, no locking-diff Freelander? Why defend the Freelander? It was built as a compact SUV for around town driving. Land Rover threw it in Camel to help it sell. It spent most of its time being pulled out by the Defender. Probably didnt show those parts on the video.

 

I dislike the D3/D4 because they rely mostly on advanced computer systems to achive 4x4 awesomeness. Im also no to keen on their looks BUT at least they still retained afew Discovery cues and boxy structure. For a mid sized suv they had alot of space inside, plenty of headroom and looked sturdy. I do not like the Discovery Sport of the upcoming D5. I see no Discovery cues on these new models. Both models more closely resemble the modern trend that is "compact suv's". Smaller, more aerodynamic and contemporary. Compact SUVs have been out for awhile now and it must be a fierce competitive market now. I suspsect Land Rover wants to provide an entire lineup of upscale smaller compact suvs while scraping the traditional boxy structured models and cues of the past.

I does deeply saden me to see 2 new models with a Discovery badge on them. Seems like an insult to a legendary vehicle with a incrediable history. I feel that these new models to not honor the history of the model or the company as it once was. I dont like the direction Land Rover has gone. They no longer make trends instead they follow the trend. The new Discoveru models do not stand out on a street full of compart aerodynamic suvs. Most every major car manufacturer has a lineup of similarly shaped and porportioned vehicles. Jeep on the other produced the Renegade which stands out like a pink flamingo. Toyota 4Runner also stands out from all the compedition.

Land Rover Discovery was a legendary and iconic model that proved itself time and time again. Even today the Discovery 1 and 2 models are still respected, easiky reconized and their capabilities off road undisputed. But people to frequently point out the mechanical hardships many of which were operator/owners error for neglect of maintence. My 2004 Trail 1 edition with black leather and cold climate package cost only around $44,000 new. The people who bought these trucks when they were new, were not rich. Many were cheap and many neglected to take care of them. Then decades later we aquire them and struggle to fix all the long term damage done by original owners.

I think Land Rover should retain a lineup of boxy models that retain capabilities and cues while offering all new models that cater to the people looking for small rounded compact suvs with 20 inch wheels.

On a final note. Im impressed with the Terrain Response system and for anyone new drivers inexperienced in driving in bad weather it can probably be a live saver. But that does not make the vehicle more capable than the older generation models pre Terrain Response. I would be hesitant to declare that a suv with 4x4 functions 100% reliant on electronics, sensors and computers more capable than a suv with mechanical levers and shifters 100% reliant on the operator... In 10-20 years lets see how capable those computerized systems hold up if their still working that long... All the changes at Land Rover make me sad but at the same time all the more proud to own, build and operate a Discovery 2. Everyone here makes valid points and concerns and I respect them all even if I dont agree with everyones views. I dont think anyones opinion here on this subject is wrong, just an opinion.

 

I apologize, was busy when I typed that. I meant the new Discovery vs the D2; not the sport.