Land Rover Discovery Sport

For a vehicle coming from the storied Land Rover brand, one would expect a more regal entry into the hot luxury compact SUV market segment. Instead, the Discovery Sport struggles in comparisons against even mass-market small SUVs. Power delivery from the turbo four-cylinder is spiky, with either too little or too much acceleration, and the transmission is neither smooth nor responsive. The Sport proved capable off-road, commendably ascending our rock hill. But the on-road ride is stiff, and handling is far from sporty. The austere cabin is rather plain for this luxury brand, and the infotainment system is slow to respond. To its credit, the Discovery Sport has a roomy rear seat. A stronger 286-hp engine is available.

The compact Discovery Sport is based on the Evoque, with seating for five or, with its tiny optional third-row, seven. It uses a 240-hp, 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder mated to a nine-speed automatic. Power delivery is uneven, either too little or too much, and the transmission is neither smooth nor responsive. The ride is stiff-legged. Available safety features include lane-departure, blind-spot warning, and emergency autonomous braking systems. A surround-view 360-degree camera system is offered, too. Land Rover's Terrain Response system provides some off-road capability.