We drove the Land Rover Discovery Sport a few years back, on a trip to Kanatal. While driving in the Himalayas, the Disco Sport won us over with how comfortable it was, the design of its interiors and its dynamic capabilities. That turned out to be one of the better drives I’ve done over the year. Part of the credit goes to Kanatal itself, for being absolutely gorgeous and quietly quaint. But a lot fo the credit goes to the Disco Sport.

Well, now a new one is in town. In some ways, it’s a major upgrade over the previous car. In others, it seems to improve on the previous one in some key parameters. For starters, the new car looks better. There’s a certain sharpness to the design, even though the overall silhouette remains the same. The new lights are certainly sharper, and add a sense of dynamism to the car. There’s the usual large bonnet, with curled metal up front, and vents on the top. There are large door mirrors, and a flat tail gate that round off the cars stance. A lot of people take issue with the Discover’s non-centred number plate. Well, if you’re one of those people, you won’t have an issue with the Disco Sport. I also really like the red colour of this car. It’s striking and catches the eye.

On the interior, there is more good news. All JLR cars went through a refresh in this department. After hearing from multiple journalists that they lag behind in this area as compared to other German manufacturers. I’m happy to report that the design and quality have improved. But the fit and finish still have some way to go. I like the analog dials, I like the piano black finish to the centre console (even though it attracts fingerprints). I don’t like the centre screen as much. It’s responsive, but the landscape aspect ratio doesn’t suit. It would’ve been more user friendly if it were in a different form. The seats are comfortable, at the front and the back. But the Disco Sport also has a 3rd row of seats. It’s not the most comfortable place to sit in, but it gets the job done when required. Do keep in mind that once you put the 3rd row up, boot space is negligible.

On the Move, the Disco Sport excites. You sit higher up as compared to most other cars. This is a trade mark Land Rover seating position.You get a commanding view of the road around you, and always feel like you’re manoeuvring something substantial. It’s not like the car is difficult to drive, or feels bigger than it is. But it is a different experience as compared to the likes of BMW, which offers a lower, more sedan like driving position.

The car I was driving was powered by a 2.0L diesel mated to a 9 speed auto box with drive select and paddle shifters. The engine produces 178bhp and 430Nm of torque. It’s a fairly drivable unit. There’s power available across the range, though it does feel a bit constrained at higher RPMs. It’s a motor that likes to be driven in a relaxed manner. Push it, and it shows its lethargy. But it’ll happily dwindle around town and on the highway, without breaking a sweat.

There’s a lot of positives going for the Disco Sport. And it’s definitely caught up to its German competitors. Add to it Land Rover’s premium brand image, and you’ve got a winner on your hands.