Land Rover has launched a new model year update for the Discovery Sport in the U.S. For the 2026 model year, the compact SUV ups the ante with updated exterior styling and two new trims named Landmark and Metropolitan. On paper, the updates look great-new gloss-black trim on the base Dynamic S model, and lifestyle accents on the upgraded versions. Inside, owners are treated to the new Pivi Pro infotainment system with an 11.4-in. curved glass touchscreen, a fully digital gauge cluster, and steering-wheel paddle shifters. These seem like tangible upgrades … until you remember that the Discovery Sport still rides on a platform as old as 2014. Yes, this mid-cycle refresh disguises a car that has bones more than a decade old.
Stylish Trims with Different Personalities
Land Rover has introduced two new bold trim levels to provide buyers a bit of flair: Landmark and Metropolitan. Landmark trim is nautical, with a puddle light with a mountain logo, a panoramic roof, sliding/reclining seats, Click & Go tablet holders, surround-view cameras, roof rails, a 3D camera for tight turns and back-ups. Metropolitan is urban sophistication, with Windsor leather heated/cooled seats, a 650-watt Meridian speaker system, cabin air purifying, a digital rearview mirror, and 20-inch diamond-turned wheels with silver accents. Families get custom options between the two trims - a weekend beach gear package, beach road trip pack, and winter-ready packages - but it is still built on an architecture that was introduced to the market more than a decade ago.
Same Powertrains, Familiar Feel
The nuts and bolts remain unchanged. You have the option of 48-volt mild-hybrid diesels (either 161 or 201 bhp) or a plug-in hybrid petrol that puts out around 265 bhp and gives about 36 miles of pure electric range to find your clean daily driving under way. Of all of them came standard with all-wheel drive. Therefore, improved cabin tech and look, but all of them still perform like they technically came from half a generation ago with regard to the actual driving experience, with respect to suspension feel, platform stiffness, and ride comfort. In LA traffic or barreling down the Florida Turnpike, if you don't consider the age of whether it is 'old or new, it is a well-built Land Rover. Per a professional, the chassis and style show with respect to the newer compact luxury SUVs but the chassis and the mechanics show their age as one element compared with newer compact luxury SUVS.
Why This Update Matters—but Only a Little
The 2026 Discovery Sport refresh provides buyers on a budget with a similar level of premium feel and lifestyle elements without the cost of buying a new model in the Land Rover family like the Defender Sport which is expected to follow in the 2026-27 time frame. The refresh is a stop-gap, keeping the Disco Sport in the lineup as Land Rover works on a successor. And for buyers looking for next-generation architecture, more contemporary ride quality, or future-proofed design, you may be better off waiting for a Defender Sport. This is only a pleasant refresh—not a reinvention.
Tech & Features Table
| Category | Discovery Sport 2026 Highlights |
| Infotainment | 11.4″ curved glass touchscreen, Pivi Pro, wireless CarPlay/Android Auto |
| Instrument Cluster | Fully digital display, paddle shifters |
| Landmark Trim Features | Mountain-logo lights, panoramic roof, tablet holders, 3D camera, reclining seats |
| Metropolitan Trim | Windsor heated/cooled leather seats, 650W Meridian audio, air filtration, digital mirror |
| Powertrain Options | Mild-hybrid 2.0L diesel (161/201 bhp), PHEV petrol (265 bhp, ~36 mi EV range) |
| Drivetrain | All-wheel drive standard |
| Platform | Same JLR PTA/D8 architecture from 2014, underlying structure unchanged |
Conclusion
The 2026 Land Rover Discovery Sport retains the look of a model that is not overly confident of its modernity, despite a refresh of its exterior and trim. It has a new, sleeker interior, new technology (including the Pivi Pro infotainment), added plug-in hybrid power to remain relevant, but at an underlying surface it still feels entirely old and old plastic - it has been given the facelift of the decade. Think of it as putting a case on an old phone, it looks good but the informed shopper can still pretty much tell what the phone itself is. But for the loyal Land Rover enthusiast, or for someone who just wants to dabble with Land Rover's premium SUV experience in some capacity, the Discovery Sport presents a reasonable, but not the newest- soft playing, option choice.
Source(Image / Thumbnail): carscoops
