We should be talking about soft-tops in winter when, so the theory goes, their prices are lower, but who wants to wait until it’s too cold to put the roof down? In any case, the third-generation Mazda MX-5 that we found – a 2013/63-reg 2.0 Sport Tech with 62,000 miles – already looks well priced at £8870. Being a 2013 car, it has the later-style nose plus improved throttle response and brake feel. Meanwhile, the Tech part in the name means it has a TomTom sat-nav with touchscreen. We like the Mk3, and the later the better. Like all generations, it’s reasonably tough, and in comparison with the Mk1 and Mk2, it actually seems to be less prone to rust. Only ‘seems’, mind you: most early Mk3s have a spot of rust at the base of the front quarter window frame, where the black coating appears to be thin. It’s a reminder that for all its qualities, the model is not without problems, although most are down to poor maintenance. So we’ll check our chosen car’s oil quality and level and listen for a rumbly crankshaft. Just like the current Mk4’s gearbox, the Mk3’s feels notchy when cold, so we’ll go for an extended drive to warm the oil through, when the shift action should ease up. A gentle whine from the rear could be a wheel bearing or, worse, the rear differential. The Mazda’s pointy handling can surprise some people, so we’ll make sure panel gaps are regular, there’s no fresh or poorly applied paint and things like wing bolts are original. Finally, we’ll inspect the tyres for uneven wear and for bald inner shoulders, signs that it could be due a geometry check. Morris Marina 1.8 TC, £4450: As GTI is today, so TC (twin carburettor) was in days of yore. It means this 1974 Marina saloon puts out 95bhp – more than enough for its woeful chassis. Although it’s exempt from the test, our find has 12 months’ MOT and looks in decent nick. Sporty Legacys have always played second fiddle to hot Imprezas but should not be ignored. Which is why we bring you this, the 3.0 R with its 241bhp flat six and four-wheel drive. Our find is a 2009-reg with 109,000 miles and full service history. Nissan’s smoothly styled SUV still looks appealing. Early versions, such as this one – a 2005-reg with 108,000 miles – were powered by a detuned version of the 350Z’s 3.5 V6, teamed with a CVT gearbox. It’s thirsty but comfortable and well equipped. Audi Q7 6.0 V12 TDI quattro. In this age of downsizing, let’s hear it for the Q7 6.0, whose V12 musters 493bhp and 737lb ft for 0-62mph in 5.5sec. New, it cost £100k. Our find, a 2011-reg with 80,000 miles, is a quarter of that, leaving you change for its next set of carbon-ceramic brakes. Auction watch Few used cars look such value for money as an early Continental GT W12. Take this one, which passed through auction recently. It’s a 2005-reg with 69,000 miles and full service history – most of it Bentley – that went for £16,650. The last service included a new spoiler motor and four tyre pressure sensors, so no expense spared. However, you don’t need to risk all at auction to bag a bargain Conti. Around £17,500 will get you into a tasty private-sale car – such as the 2004-reg one we found with 78,000 miles and full Bentley service history – and you can drive it before you buy it. Future classic If the interest in the last air-cooled 911s is anything to go by, interest in the last flat six Boxsters before the arrival of the flat four 718 may one day be almost as strong. Certainly, values of the 981-generation Boxster, as it is known, are holding up. Our tip for future glory is the 311bhp S variant with the manual gearbox. The more common Tiptronic is good but experience shows manuals become more sought after. We found just such a car – a one-owner, 2012/62-reg with 74,000 miles and full Porsche history – for £25,500. Clash of the classifieds Brief: Find me a good family hatchback for £8000, please. Mark Pearson: I notice John has asked for a good family hatchback, but as my family are far from good, I thought I’d whip up something naughty instead. Take this immaculate 2009 Civic Type R with just 50,000 miles for £8k. Yes, I know it’s only got three doors, but it also has a 197bhp VTEC and sees off 0-60mph in just 6sec, so they’ll just have to climb into the rear through the front doors, won’t they? Max Adams: I, on the other hand, don’t have a family, but I think I’ve gone for the far more grounded choice. The Leon is the best buy at this price level because you get tonnes of equipment – sat-nav, LED headlights, cruise control and more – for a bargain price. My car is also much newer – 2016 – and will be inexpensive to run. I’d hate to think what the insurance would be on yours. MP: Think of their little faces as you introduce them to their first roundabout in the Civic Type R. It’s a thrill they’ll never get over. MA: Unlike the cripplingly firm ride that’ll induce car sickness during every journey. No, mine’s the better
Origin: Buy them before we do: second-hand picks for 20 September
Motor Mouth: Will Porsche’s Taycan challenge Tesla’s EV hegemony?
It just debuted two days ago, but Porsche has already taken some 30,000 deposits for its new Taycan. Not exactly Tesla numbers, but impressive nonetheless. Closer to home, more than 1,000 Canadians have plunked down $2,500 hoping to secure one of the first electrified Porsche four-doors to hit the street. Again, neither number rivals the multitudes that offered up deposits on Teslas Model 3, but Taycan does play in an entirely different snack bracket.A more appropriate context, then, might be to note that said deposits are roughly equal to the number of 911s that Porsche Canada sells in its best of years. In other words, September 4s worldwide launch of the Taycan was a very good day at the office for Porsche Canadas president and CEO, Marc Ouayoun.Now, never mind that a few of those chomping at the bit may well be put off by the Taycans price the base Turbo starts at $173,900 and the Turbo S is a wallet-stretching $213,900. If that means Porsche has finally brought profitability to the electric vehicle segment, so much the better.More important is that the company is depending on the Taycan to be successful, Detlev von Platen, Porsches executive board member for sales and marketing, telling the launch event attendees the company will be investing over US$6 billion in battery power over the next few years and expects more than 50 per cent of the companys cars to be electrified within the next decade. In other words, Porsche needs the Taycan to be successful.And more important than that is that the automotive industry needs the Taycan to be successful. So far, the electric vehicle segment has been all Tesla, the Silicon Valley upstart the only truly successful purveyor of battery power. Yes, I know Nissans Leaf remains the best-selling EV of all time, but, while semi-plentiful, its actually selling well below barely 10 per cent of initial projections what was predicted when it was introduced ten years ago.What the Tesla faithful don’t realize is their devotion is counter-productive to the propagation of EVsTesla, meanwhile, has become the poster child for planet-friendly motoring, Elon Musks decision whether it was brilliant insight or bulls%^t luck really doesnt matter to focus on the luxury segment proving to be providential. Whither goes Tesla, it now seems, goes the entire electric vehicle industry.The problem is that Mr. Musks influence and the cult-like devotion it has engendered is not good for anyone except Tesla shareholders.Whether youre a fan of long-range plug-ins or prefer fuel cells, it is not so much that Tesla is winning, but that Mr. Musk so dominates the conversation surrounding EVs that it stifles discussion into what a truly multi-platform zero-emissions future might look like.Now, to be certain, the company and man for they are one and the same deserve all the accolades they have received for a) creating the luxury EV segment where none existed and b) legitimizing the concept of the battery-powered car in the eyes of a formerly skeptical audience. For that, Mr. Musk will undoubtedly be lauded in history books as the founder of a movement.Um @Porsche, this word Turbo does not mean what you think it does Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 5, 2019The problem is that said worship has gone too far, creating disciples for whom any dissent, any mention of competitive brands is seen as traitorous. In my 35 years in this biz, I have see nothing not the Ford-versus-Chevy wars, not Jeep Wrangler aficionados, not even one-per-centers devoted to their Hogs to match the cult-like allegiance Tesla enjoys amongst its minions.Unfortunately, that deference is stifling competition. Despite the deception that traditional automakers are dragging their heels on electrification, nothing could be further from the truth. The problem they all face is that, any time they introduce a (costly-to-develop) EV, they are met with the mildest of mehs.Initially, they were decried as too ugly (Chevys Bolt), too slow (the Kia Soul) or lacking in panache (pretty much everyone). But, then Jaguar came out with the I-Pace, offering both pedigree and panache. Yet they too were greeted with another giant yawn. Too slow, said the disciples, ignoring the fact theres more to a sporty automobile than Ludicrous acceleration. So I-Pace sales have crashed. Audis e-tron? Better, but hardly all-conquering, especially considering that the Model X with which it competes is the weakest model in Teslas lineup.And thats why the Taycan is so important. It meets every single objection even the most devoted of Teslarati could dream up. Brand image? None is stronger than Porsches. Build quality? Ditto. Beauty? The Taycan is the four-door 911 that Porsche always promised the Panamera would be. Ludicrously fast? My Lord, yes. Toss in handling that is all but a match for the best of supercars and you have a car that is markedly superior to the Tesla Model S it ostensibly competes with.Oh, the haters will no doubt point to its price
Origin: Motor Mouth: Will Porsche’s Taycan challenge Tesla’s EV hegemony?
New Ford suspension kit answers ‘Do you even lift, bro?’ with ‘yes’
A first-ever offering from Ford, the off-road leveling kits bring FOX™ shocks, exclusive Ford Performance tuning, 2-inch front lift, new front coilovers, vehicle-specific upper front mounts and locking spring pre-load rings Despite the companys ardent refusal (or not?) to sell the Ranger Raptor in this country, Fords not been shy about taking the goods to its competition in other segments of the truck market.Theyve promised a Tremor package for Super Duty to take on Rams Power Wagon, along with the familiar FX4 trim which meets Chevys Z71 kit head on.Now, the Glass House has rolled out answer to the Silverado Trail Boss with a bone thrown to those of us who pine for a Ranger Raptor.From the Ford Performance Parts arm of the company comes an off-road levelling kit, one which includes Fox Shocks and a 2-inch front lift. Also in the box are new front coilovers and vehicle-specific upper front mounts. Locking spring pre-load rings are also on board to tie it all together.Ford Performance engineers worked with Fox to develop unique internal valving for the shocks, meaning the mighty Raptor isnt the only F-150 to wear a set of suspenders from that company. Both Ranger and F-150 will see improvements to front ground clearance measures, plus better approach and breakover angles, not to mention a more aggressive stance.The company estimates Ranger will see a 21-per-cent increase in approach angle and a 10-per-cent increase in breakover angle once the kit is installed. Big-bro F-150, with a 145-inch wheelbase, should get an approximate 22-per-cent increase in approach angle and seven-per-cent increase in breakover.If youre unfamiliar with off-road terms, this basically means the trucks can run over more stuff.Development and testing for the leveling kits included high-speed off-roading in California and low-speed Arizona rock-crawling. Expect to pay in the neighbourhood of two grand for the kit, which can be installed by dealers later this autumn on any 2019 Ranger 44 and 2015-2019 F-150 44
Origin: New Ford suspension kit answers ‘Do you even lift, bro?’ with ‘yes’
Amazon orders 100,000 electric vans from start-up Rivian
Internet shopping giant Amazon has given a further boost to EV start-up Rivian by placing an order with the company for 100,000 electric delivery vehicles. The fledging manufacturer is aiming to produce a range of go-anywhere 4×4 EVs built on its own bespoke platform, showcasing the R1 SUV and R1T pick-up at last year’s Los Angeles motor show. Rivian has attracted high profile investments from firms including Ford, with which it is working on future vehicle development, and Amazon. The internet retailer invested $440 million (£350 million) to lead a $700 million (£544 million) investment round in Rivian earlier this year, and has now furthered those links with the massive order, which it says is the largest ever made in an electric delivery vehicle. Amazon says that the first Rivan-built vans will go into service in 2021, with the plan to have 10,000 on the road by 2022 and all 100,000 in operation by 2030. The order was announced by Amazon as it unveiled the Climate Pledge, calling on signatories to reach net zero carbon by 2040, 10 years ahead of the targets set by the Paris Accord. Amazon said that the investment and vehicle order in Rivian would “accelerate the production of electric vehicles critical to reducing emissions from transportation”. While no details of the technical specifications of the van, preview images released by Amazon showed it badged with the firm’s Prime delivery service, and ‘powered by Rivian’ on the side sill. That suggests they could be made on Rivian’s bespoke EV platform to a body design specified by Amazon. The retailer has long been looking for ways to reduce costs and improve the efficiency of its delivery operation, particularly in terms of ‘last mile’ deliveries to customers in cities. Switching to electric vans would both cut fuel costs and ensure Amazon vehicles were not affected by low emissions zones increasingly being established in cities. There is no indication where the vans will be deployed, although they are likely to focus on major cities in the USA. The order is a huge boost to Rivian as it gears up to start production at a plant in Illinois, in a facility previously used by Mitsubishi. The plant has a capacity to produce 350,000 units per year, with Rivian’s initial goal to sell 50,000-60,000 of its premium electric off-roaders per year by 2025. With an increasing focus on car pollution in cities, and the costs of fuelling large van fleets, an increasing number of car firms are developing electric vans. Nissan has the e-NV200, Vauxhall is developing an electric Vivaro, and Mercedes-Benz is working on a new version of its e-Vito. Volkswagen is also planning a cargo version of its ID Buzz
Origin: Amazon orders 100,000 electric vans from start-up Rivian
Watch: Classic Ford truck goes up in flames in Ontario
An unlucky classic car enthusiast in Windsor, Ontario saw his vintage Ford F-150 almost burn to the ground after a small engine fire turned into something much larger.The incident, captured in a now-viral video post shared on Facebook by Firefighter World, involved an incredibly clean-looking classic 1980-to-1986-gen Ford F-150 Stepside pickup.Initially, the owner tries in vain to put out the flames with a pair of pants.The woman riding in the vehicle searches for a fire extinguisher or some water from nearby businesses, while the man frantically tries to put the fire out by himself.The owner can be heard repeatedly crying out I just finished it today!Eventually, he finds a fire extinguisher and tries to put out the growing blaze himself, but the fire had by then gone past the point of handheld extinguishers, and the man is forced to watch his truck burn until firefighters arrive to put out the blaze.The cause of the fire is not known, but being a likely carbureted classic truck, the engine may have backfired due to incorrect tuning and caused the air cleaner to catch fire. At one point the chrome air cleaner top is seen falling off the fender and onto the ground.Its also possible the fuel lines werent all tightened up properly, causing fuel to drip onto the exhaust manifold. This is a stark reminder of why classic car owners or any car owner really should carry a fire extinguisher in their vehicle. Theyre cheap, and in some cases can save you a phone call to your insurance provider.Commenters on the video have been mostly sympathetic, and our hearts cry for this guy, too, who doubtlessly poured his soul into this truck just to watch it go up in smoke. Somebody want to start a
Origin: Watch: Classic Ford truck goes up in flames in Ontario
Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus reveals hypercar for WEC
American manufacturer Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus has revealed its entry for the 2020/21 World Endurance Championship (WEC), and announced plans for a road-legal version. The SCG007 will race against the likes of the Aston Martin Valkyrie, Lamborghini Aventador and Toyota GR Super Sport in the new hypercar-based class of Le Mans racers. This replaces the LMP1 protoypes that have raced in the WEC since the early 1990s. Manufacturers are allowed to enter racing versions of concepts and exisiting hypercars, provided that at least 20 roadgoing models are created over a two-year period. The cars can be petrol-only or hybrid powered, but total power output is set at 750hp, with no more than 270hp coming from the optional electrical system. With a mandatory car weight of 1100kg, 3min 30sec laps of Circuit de la Sarthe are expected. Company founder Jim Glickenhaus said: “A car made in America hasn’t won first overall at Le Mans since the Ford MkIV in 1967. We think it’s time an American team wins again”. Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus showed initial images of the SCG007 last July. The new images show an altered, cleaner design that appears to take influence from Italian endurance racers of the 1960s. The SCG007 uses a twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 engine. Its origin hasn’t been confirmed, but the red-and-white livery and ‘telephone dial’ wheel design in the new images have sparked rumours that the unit may be a bored-out, upgraded version of the ‘F154’ unit used by the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio. The original developer of that engine, Ferrari, is yet to confirm any plans to enter the Le Mans hypercar class, having stopped attending meetings about its introduction, along with Ford, in 2018. Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus revealed in March that it has been working on a hybrid system for WEC cars, but it’s unclear whether the SCG007 features this. The company will run works cars as well as offering examples to customer teams, for a price of around $1 million (currently around £800,000). It also plans to build between 20 and 30 roadgoing examples. It previously stated in 2018 that these would feature an 800hp engine and a 200hp hybrid system and be priced at $2m (£1.6m). The WEC version of the SCG007 is scheduled to begin testing next July. Film maker turned financier Glickenhaus announced his eponymous brand in 2014, with the SCG003 (SCG001 beeing his own road-converted Lola Can-Am car and SCG002 his Ferrari Enzo-based Pininfarina P4/5 one-off). The SCG003 has competed in various endurance events since 2015; production of roadgoing versions began two years later in New York after Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus was approved by the US government as a low-volume manufacturer. Production of the SCG004 – a hypercar powered by the a 690hp twin-turbo V6 from Nissan – in race and road-legal forms, is due to begin at a new plant in Connecticut later this year. The SCG006, meanwhile, is a Ferrari 250-style sports car that’s due to arrive next year. Also planned is the Boot, a two-door soft-top off-roader that can be specced for the Baja rally or the road and uses a Chevrolet V8.
Origin: Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus reveals hypercar for WEC
Mazda developing ‘RX-9’ sports car, new patent suggests
A chassis design patent filed last week by Mazda suggests the company is developing a successor to the rotary-powered RX-8 sports car. As reported by Japan’s Motor Magazine, the ‘Vehicle Shock Absorption Structure’ appears to show a spaceframe-style structure unlike that currently featured on Mazda’s range of hatchbacks, saloons and SUVs. The report also highlights the presence of a performance-oriented double-wishbone front suspension set-up, used primarily by sports cars, with a prominent crossmember suggesting a front-mid engine layout. The resulting engine bay is relatively small, leading the report to suggest Mazda could be developing a compact new rotary motor, in keeping with the tradition started by the company’s iconic RX-7 and carried into its RX-8 successor. Lightness appears to be a priority as well, with carbonfibre-reinforced plastic and aluminium featuring prominently throughout. A source at Mazda told Motor Magazine that the RX-9 will sit atop a newly developed bespoke platform, not intended for use elsewhere in the company’s line-up. Earlier this year, Mazda acquired a patent for a new type of turbocharger designed with rotary power in mind, enhancing intake efficiency, improving performance and keeping soot and water out of the combustion chamber. Mazda design boss Ikuo Maeda has previously confirmed to Autocar that a production version of the 2015 RX Vision concept was still on the table. “When it is decided as a brand that we need a sports car, that’s when we will produce the car,” he said. “As you know, we already have the MX-5. If we need a more premium sports car, then we need to have a serious think about
Origin: Mazda developing ‘RX-9’ sports car, new patent suggests
SUV Comparison: 2019 Chevrolet Blazer vs. 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe
Welcome to Dude Said, Punk Said — a special series devoted to skewering the automotive ramblings of young punk Nick Tragianis with the infinite wisdom of old dude Brian Harper. This week, the duo see if Hyundai’s all-new Santa Fe can defend its title as the superior two-row family SUV against the reborn Chevrolet Blazer.Brian Harper: Ive said it before and Ill say it again: mid-sized sport-utes are the workhorses of the entire SUV market the high riding, trailer towing, wagon-shaped family haulers. They usually arent sexy; theyre not (with some exceptions) overpowered or overpriced. They just quietly go about their business.And it is one crowded segment, with about 20 nameplates Ford Edge, Hyundai Santa Fe, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Kia Sorento currently the most popular all fighting for market share. This field has been substantially increased in the past year or so with additions such as the Volkswagen Atlas, Honda Passport and Subaru Ascent, plus the Chevrolet Blazer, which we going to put up against one of the established players, the aforementioned Santa Fe. Initial thoughts, kid? Nick Tragianis: Its a crowded segment for sure, but while three-row family haulers are a dime a dozen, lets focus on a pair of two-row trucksters, specifically the Santa Fe and Blazer. Both are all-new for 2019 and both have the same mission statement to haul your family in relative ease and comfort but they go about doing so in very different ways. Were no strangers to the Hyundai; we recently pitched it against the Honda Passport and the Santa Fe came out on top, because its just a no-frills sport-ute that does what its supposed to very well, even if its a little uninspiring in the powertrain department.Depending on the trim, the Santa Fe comes with either a normally aspirated 2.4-litre four-cylinder with 185 horsepower, or a 2.0L turbo-four pumping out 235 horsepower and 260 lb.-ft. of torque. Our fully loaded Ultimate tester was equipped with the latter; its smooth and easy to live with on city streets, but when you need a burst of power to merge onto or pass someone on the highway, throttle response is dull. Switching the Santa Fes drive mode into Sport sharpens it a touch, but otherwise it feels a bit lackluster on the highway and thats too bad, because the Santa Fe is otherwise a fantastic cruiser. The eight-speed automatic operates smoothly and invisibly, the soft suspension soaks up bumps and rough pavement well, and wind noise barely filters into the cabin. As a family road-tripper, the Hyundai excels. Pun intended. So, whats so special about the Blazer, old dude?BH: Its not as though Chevrolet is lacking in SUVs and crossovers. God knows every niche of the entire segment has been filled, from the diminutive Trax to the large-and-in-charge Suburban. And if it doesnt wear a Chevy badge, one of GMs other divisions Buick, Cadillac, or GMC can pick up the slack. Yet, Chevrolet has seen fit to slot in a new, mid-sized sport-ute with an old name, splitting the difference in size between the Equinox and Traverse.This newest Blazer is nothing like the old Blazers neither the full-size K5 Blazer, based on the C/K pickup chassis and built from 1969 to 1999, nor the compact S-10 Blazer, based on the S-10 pickup and built from 1983 to 2005. No, this one is built on the same platform as the GMC Acadia and the Cadillac XT5. Power comes from either a 193-horsepower, 2.5-litre four-cylinder or an optional (and plenty punchy) 3.6L V6 with 308 horsepower, which was the engine we tested here. A nine-speed automatic transmission is standard; a twin-clutch AWD system is available. <img
Origin: SUV Comparison: 2019 Chevrolet Blazer vs. 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe
U.S. trend: Porsche owners trading in their cars for Jeeps
Its a Porsche thing you wouldnt understand. If that marketing tagline sounds a little familiar, so will the brand of vehicle many Americans who own Boxsters and Caymans are buying once its time to trade in their German sports cars.No, theyre not moving into BMWs or Audis, or even Teslas, according to Klaus Zellmer, Porsche North America CEO.The exec apparently told Autoblog that Boxster and Cayman owners who dont go straight into another Porsche product are most likely to opt for a Jeep Wrangler.It seems the executives in Germany just about lost their lederhosen when Zellmer told them about the buying habits of those crazy Americans, who are more than willing to go from Porsche precision to one of the roughest-riding sport-utes on the market. Autoblog suspects its because these folks primarily bought their low-slung Porsche sports cars as the familys third vehicle and only for its fun factor and once the lease is up, theyre out to try the next driving adventure on the bucket list.We think the blogs on to something. As it says, just as with the Boxster, you can still get a Wrangler with a
Origin: U.S. trend: Porsche owners trading in their cars for Jeeps
Nearly-new buying guide: Land Rover Discovery Sport
These days, if you want a family-sized SUV with five or seven seats, four-wheel drive, an economical diesel engine and a tidy driving experience, you’re spoiled for choice. However, only one model brings something of the great outdoors to the table and that’s the Land Rover Discovery Sport. It was launched in 2015 as a replacement for the popular Freelander 2, as well as a kind of cheaper and more practical alternative to the hugely successful Range Rover Evoque, launched in 2011. Today, 2015-reg examples of the Sport and Evoque start at around £13,000 for cars with 100,000-plus miles. At this money, they have the old-school 187bhp 2.2 SD4 diesel engine but the Sport has seven seats rather than the Evoque’s five and is four-wheel drive, whereas the Evoque is likely to be two. Unfortunately for the model’s early adopters, shortly after the Sport was launched, the 2.2-litre diesel engine was replaced by the new and improved EU6-compliant 2.0-litre Ingenium motor, available in 148bhp and 178bhp outputs. The 148bhp version was offered with a choice of two (badged eD4 as before) or four-wheel drive and a manual gearbox as standard, whereas the 178bhp 2.0 is four-wheel drive and available with an optional nine-speed automatic gearbox. This transmission is by far the most popular across the Sport model range. So equipped, the 178bhp 2.0 TD auto is our pick. Later on, a 238bhp version joined the line-up. On the matter of two-wheel drive, few eD4s were sold, which tells you all you need to know about this drivetrain’s suitability. However, it still looks the business, costs less to run and is cheaper to buy so may suit you, depending on circumstances. A petrol engine didn’t arrive until 2017. Also from the Ingenium family, the 2.0 Si4 petrol unit comes in 238bhp and 286bhp outputs. Both are rare but entertaining and, if you don’t do the mileage necessary to justify a diesel, worth considering. For many people, the Sport’s seven seats will be a big draw. They were standard on early models but, with the arrival of the Ingenium engine, became an option, albeit a popular one. Note, though, that Land Rover calls the arrangement 5+2, a hint not to expect much in the way of third-row space. The Sport was updated in 2017, when it received the car maker’s new InControl Touch Pro infotainment system with 10.2in touchscreen. Earlier this year, the model was given a much more comprehensive update and, by rights, should be called Discovery Sport 2 as it sits on a new platform inherited from the second-generation Evoque. But these 2017-on cars cost sky-high money and the real value is to be found at three years old with the balance of the optional five-year service plan – something like a mid-power, mid-spec 2016/16-reg 2.0 TD4 180 auto 4WD SE Tech seven-seater with 70,000 miles for £19,000. Need to know Where fitted and before you buy, give the car’s InControl Touch Pro infotainment system a workout. You’re checking for bugs. If you find any, the good news is that Land Rover released a fix in March 2018 called 17c or 3.5 that should nail ’em. Owners of diesel-powered Discovery Sports have reported fuel-oil dilution problems relating to regeneration of the diesel particulate filter. The message is, if considering a Discovery Sport, be sure your driving routine satisfies the operating criteria described in the handbook. Land Rover offers a five-year service plan on new cars so check if the vehicle you’re interested in was sold with this cover since its benefits are transferable to subsequent owners. Our pick Discovery Sport 2.0 TD 180 SE Tech Auto AWD: Mid-power version offers strong performance with good economy and refinement. SE Tech brings items such as sat-nav, auto lights and a powered tailgate. Wild card Discovery Sport 2.0 Si4 240 SE Tech Auto: If your mileage is low and you fear DPF hassles, bag a petrol Disco Sport. They’re rare (we found a 2018-reg with 14,000 miles for £29,995) but fun to drive. Top spec pick HSE Dynamic Luxury: To HSE Luxury’s Park Assist technology, cooled front seats and heated rear seats, Dynamic adds Narvik Black exterior details, a bodykit, 20in gloss black alloy wheels and special colours. Ones we found 2015 Discovery Sport 2.2 SD4 190 HSE 4WD 7st, 110k miles, £13,500 2016 Discovery Sport 2.0 TD4 150 SE Tech, 60k miles, £16,400 2017 Discovery Sport 2.0 TD4 150 Pure 4WD, 33k miles, £18,995 2018 Discovery Sport 2.0 TD4 180 4×4 SE Tech, 15k miles,
Origin: Nearly-new buying guide: Land Rover Discovery Sport
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