Speedmonkey: 2015 Land Rover Discovery Sport

This is the 2015 Land Rover Discovery Sport which will replace the Freelander

2015 Land Rover Discovery Sport

It's named Discovery to create a distinct division in the Land Rover ranks between luxury (Range Rover) and utility but still quite luxurious (Discovery).

Land Rover calls it a "premium compact SUV" which means it's a similar size to the Macan, XC60 and Q5 but, unlike those, it's a 7-seater.

The Discovery Sport has been designed as both a capable off road car and a well mannered road car. At the rear is a new multi-link axle which allows for decent driving dynamics but also increased interior space, which is why it's offered as a 7-seater.

It also comes with a raft of safety features including autonomous braking, a steel and aluminium body shell and pedestrian airbag.

The engine available from launch is not from the new range that Jaguar Land Rover is developing, instead the Discovery Sport gets the 2.2 litre SD4 that's already in the Evoque. A 9-speed automatic or 6-speed manual transmission will be available.

The car weighs 1,817kg which is 50kg less than a BMW M4 convertible. Jaguar Land Rover's use of aluminium is paying dividends.

As a styling exercise the Discovery Sport certainly works, and it should end up selling more than the humdrum looking Freelander. It's taken design cues from the awkward looking Discovery Vision concept and successfully integrated them into a handsome package.

And handsome is what Land Rover needs. The Evoque may be a big seller but it is a bit feminine for rufty tufty types who want a mid-size Landie but don't want to buy into the whole Victoria Beckham thing.

The new Land Rover Discovery Sport SD4 will be on sale from January 2015 and will cost £32,395. A version with the new ED4 engine will be available later in 2015 and will cost under £30,000.