Which Land Rover Discovery Sport is better: diesel or petrol?

Designed in-house and featuring plenty of up-to-date technology, the Ingenium engine range is designed with an eye on hybridisation, and with a basic architecture which can be applied to both petrol- and diesel combustion. In other Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) group products, various power output levels are achieved to suit different applications, but only two of these variations are employed in the local-market Discovery Sport. 

Related: Land Rover Discovery Sport trims head-to-head: here’s our winner.

These two engines are available in all trim levels, but it’s interesting to note that the diesel versions generally have list prices about R 15 000 lower than their petrol-powered counterparts. This is likely due to the (much) lower power output of the diesel unit, as it probably wouldn’t make much sense to price the slower version above the more-potent one. 

Common to all (local) Discovery Sports are all-wheel drive and a 9-speed torque converter automatic gearbox, although different powertrain combinations (including FWD) are available in other markets.

Related: Is the Land Rover Discovery Sport good for families?
 

	Land Rover Discovery Sport D180	Land Rover Discovery Sport P250
Engine Type	2.0-litre, 4-cylinder, single turbo diesel	2.0-litre, 4-cylinder, single turbo petrol
Power/Torque	130 kW/430 Nm	184 kW/365 Nm
Performance Data *	0-100 km/h in 9.7s, 202 km/h	0-100 km/h in 7.6s, 225 km/h
Fuel Consumption *	5.8 ℓ/100 km	8.0 ℓ/100 km
Price **	From R 795 966	From R 811 344

* Manufacturer’s claimed figures for performance and average fuel consumption.
 ** Prices were accurate at the time of writing, but may change without prior notice.

 

Which engine is right for you?

If purchase price and running costs are your prime concerns, the D180 (diesel) is the default choice here. Not only is it less-expensive to buy, but its claimed average fuel consumption of 5.8 ℓ/100 km is markedly better than the P250 (petrol)’s claimed figure of 8.0 ℓ/100 km. Of course, neither car will achieve those official numbers in real-world driving, but the diesel will nonetheless still achieve lower consumption in mixed-cycle use.

Related: Find out more about the Land Rover Discovery Sport D180 in our video review.

However, the D180 is markedly slower, reaching 100 km/h from rest in a claimed 9.7 seconds as opposed to the P250’s 7.6 seconds for the same benchmark test. These figures don’t tell the whole story, though: while the P250 is quicker in a straight line, the D180 has a significant torque advantage of 65 Nm. 

And, not only does the D180 have more torque, but that torque also arrives lower down the rev range. This will make for easier overtaking and less effort to get moving while towing, or when carrying a full complement of passengers and their luggage. Consequently, the D180 will be quite at home on the open road and more suitable for load-lugging, as well as a whole lot more economical.

Related: How much are car repayments on a new Land Rover Discovery Sport?

 

The Verdict

While there’s certainly a case to be made for the stronger acceleration on offer in the Discovery Sport P250, that added performance comes with a double cost penalty: it’s more expensive from the outset, and it drinks quite a lot more enthusiastically as well. Then there’s the question of the relevance of traditional performance data in a car of this type: very few buyers will care about standing-start sprint statistics, but most will appreciate an extra helping of mid-range torque on the open road. 

Seen in this light, and given its superior fuel economy and lower purchase price, the smart money will go to the Discovery Sport D180 every time. And, going on the dearth of new-ish petrol-powered Disco Sports in our listing pages, the majority of buyers agree with this assessment.

 

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