geriatric LR2

but really the birth of a whole new family of vehicles designed as a more versatile

alternative to the fashion focused Range Rover Evoque

its arrival to Mercedes GLK the Audi q5

and the BMW x3.

Although it's based on the Evoque Land Rover says that 50 percent of the parts

are new and it certainly looks different. Taking its design ques from the Vision conncept we saw

back in New York last April there's no denying it's a

good-looking SUV but for me I miss some of the chiseled utilitarian chic

of the larger discovery all

or the LR4 as it's known in the U.S.

The biggest change in here compared to the Evoque is the introduction of five-plus

two seating there really is room in here for five properly sized adults although the

two seats in the rear are

best left for kids. This middle row actually slides backwards and forwards

and Land Rover claims that with the seat in its rear most position

there's as much room in here as there is in the big-daddy Range Rover

Now that's impressive

Up front it's all very neat and functional and there's a much needed new

info-tainment system

that hooks up to your smartphone and at last drags Land Rover into the modern age although

don't expect see the stick shift

in the US

Under here you'll find a 2-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine

developing

237 horsepower and mated in the US

to a new 9-speed automatic gearbox ultimately there'll be a choice between

front orl two different kinds a all-wheel-drive system

helping the discovery sport stay true to Land Rover's off-road roots.

In time a discovery family will expand to include a replacement for the current

generation

LR4 for now though there's no denying that the new discovery sport marks a

significant step forward over the old

LR2 and we can't wait to drive it later

this year.