Land Rover Says Goodbye to Discovery Sport, Hello to a New Defender Sport

Land Rover is putting the Discovery Sport out to pasture. Production will cease this December, a move the company says is in line with standard product lifecycles. A spokesperson told Autocar that certain markets will see a phased wind-down ahead of that date. While the official line points to natural timing, the timing also aligns with Europe’s new General Safety Regulation 2, which would have required costly updates to keep the aging model compliant.

The Discovery Sport debuted back in 2014 as a spiritual successor to the old LR2. But let’s be honest: most people forgot it existed. The last time Jalopnik reviewed one was at launch, 11 years ago. 3% ditching it within the first year. Not exactly a glowing legacy.

But Land Rover isn’t leaving the slot empty for long. A new Defender Sport is on the horizon, expected sometime in 2027. It will ride on the company’s new EMA platform, shared with the upcoming Range Rover GT. Powertrain choices will start with a hybrid, with a full electric version to follow.

Spy shots hint at a scaled-down Defender: boxy proportions, familiar styling cues, but smaller, lighter, and more affordable. Think of it as Land Rover’s answer to Mercedes’ baby G-Wagen. The Disco Sport is done, but something far more appealing is taking its place.