Land Rover Discovery Sport Review
2017-2023
The Land Rover Discovery Sport (L550 Series: 2017–2023) is Land Rover's best-selling premium family crossover in Kenya. Sized perfectly between compact SUVs and full-size tourers, it offers optional 5+2 seating layout, 212 mm ground clearance, and Terrain Response 2 AWD. Powered by 2.0L Ingenium Petrol (200–249 hp) and Clean Diesel (150–240 hp) engines—plus the advanced 1.5L P300e PHEV variant (309 hp combined)—all models stay strictly under 2,000 cc to qualify for Kenya's lower 25% excise duty tax bracket.
*This score is awarded by our team of expert reviewers after extensive testing of the car
What’s good
- Sub-2,000 cc & Sub-1,500 cc KRA tax advantage: 1.5L and 2.0L engines qualify for standard 25% excise tax bracket.
- 55–60 km Pure EV Range: Allows zero-emission daily commuting in Nairobi traffic without using a drop of petrol.
- 212 mm ground clearance & Terrain Response 2: Easily handles unpaved upcountry tracks and deep potholes.
- 309 hp & 540 Nm combined output: Rapid 6.6-second 0–100 km/h performance.
What’s not so good
- Highway fuel consumption drops when battery is depleted (~8.5 L/100 km / 11.8 km/L).
- Battery charging on the move via engine increases fuel consumption.
- Compact 3rd-row legroom: Third-row seats are best suited for children or short city transfers.
Most popular: Discovery Sport 2.0 TD4 / D180 / 1.5L P300e PHEV
5 doorsPetrol, Diesel, Plug-in hybridAutomatic
At a glance
- Model
- Land Rover Discovery Sport (L550 Series)
- Production years
- 2017–2023
- Body type
- 5-Door 5+2 Seater Premium Crossover SUV
- Seating capacity
- 5 or 5+2 (7 seats)
- Fuel types
- Clean Diesel (TD4 / D180), Petrol (Si4 / P200), PHEV (P300e)
- Engine sizes
- 1,497 cc (1.5L PHEV) / 1,999 cc (2.0L Diesel / Petrol)
- Transmission
- 9-Speed ZF Automatic / 8-Speed Automatic (P300e)
- Drivetrain
- Efficient Driveline AWD with Terrain Response 2
- Ground clearance
- 212 mm
- Source market
- UK / Japan (RHD)
Trims & variants
SE R-Dynamic / HSE R-Dynamic
- Setup
1.5L 3-cylinder turbo (200 hp) + rear electric motor (109 hp) producing 309 hp / 540 Nm, 15 kWh lithium-ion battery. Returning 50.0 km/L equivalent combined with a charged battery; expect far less once it is flat.
- Why it gets shipped
Sub-1,500 cc KRA tax valuation, high 540 Nm combined torque, and zero-emission Nairobi commuting.
Fuel consumption
Figures for the 1.5L P300e Plug-In Hybrid (1,497 cc AJ200P3 + Electric Motor). Tank: 65 L (about 3250 km combined). Real-world use varies with load, traffic and altitude.
Running cost
- City driving
- KES 535 / 100 km
- Highway driving
- KES 405 / 100 km
- 1,000 km a month
- KES 4,539
- Full tank (65 L)
- KES 14,752
Based on petrol at KES 226.96/L, 15-10-2026 to 14-11-2026. Combined economy unless stated.
Work out a trip cost →Package tiers
| Package | Level | Key features |
|---|---|---|
| Pure / S | Base Executive | 18-inch alloys, Grained Leather seats, 10-inch Pivi Pro screen, Lane Keep Assist. |
| SE / R-Dynamic SE | Mid Luxury / Sport | Premium LED headlights, Meridian Audio, 19-inch dark alloys, R-Dynamic body kit. |
| HSE | Pinnacle | Windsor leather, 14-way memory seats, Fixed Panoramic roof, 20-inch diamond alloys. |
About the Land Rover Discovery Sport
Kenya enforces an 8-year age limit from manufacture month and right-hand drive compliance. In 2026, 2019 to 2023 facelifted models (featuring the MHEV architecture, Pivi Pro infotainment, and P300e PHEV option) sit comfortably inside the direct import window.
By keeping engine displacement at 1,999 cc (2.0L Ingenium) or 1,497 cc (1.5L P300e), the Discovery Sport saves over KSh 1,400,000 in import duties compared to 3.0L V6 crossovers.
Disclaimer
Tax figures are estimates based on October 2026 KRA schedules. Always verify specific chassis CRSP entries with your clearing agent prior to purchase.
