The Land Rover Discovery Sport Has Been AxedLand RoverLand Rover is killing off the Discovery Sport, the company confirmed to Car and Driver.The Discovery Sport first showed up in 2015 as a replacement for the LR2, and received one refresh over its decade-plus-long run.The upcoming Defender Sport, a boxy compact off-roader, is expected to effectively take the place of the Discovery Sport.One of Land Rover's smallest models is set to say goodbye. Production of the Discovery Sport will end later this year, as initially reported by Autocar and confirmed to Car and Driver by a Land Rover representative.In a statement, Land Rover said that "production will end in December 2026 in line with normal product lifecycles as Halewood transitions to building JLR's next generation models." This will make the 2026 model year for the compact SUV its last.Land RoverThe Discovery Sport first arrived in the United States for the 2015 model year as a replacement for the LR2, which had been sold as the second-generation Freelander overseas. Over its decade-plus-long run, the Discovery Sport underwent one major facelift in 2020, when it also received a new four-cylinder engine and a hybrid powertrain. Since then, the Discovery Sport has trudged on, receiving little attention from Land Rover.AdvertisementAdvertisementAlthough the official line from Land Rover is that the Discovery Sport is ending production due to the typical product lifecycle, Autocar reports that its discontinuation coincides with the implementation of new regulations in Europe. The European Union's General Safety Regulation 2 (GSR2) rules require several safety features not found on the Discovery Sport, and rather than update the SUV, Land Rover has decided instead to ditch the model. Porsche recently made a similar move with the gas-powered Macan.Sales of the Discovery Sport dwindled after a strong start, with Autocar reporting that it was the slowest-selling Land Rover in 2025. While the Discovery Sport is on the way out, Land Rover will have a new compact SUV to fill the space in the near future. The automaker is working on a new Defender Sport, a smaller off-roader in the same vein as the full-size Defender. A new, low-slung Range Rover GT will also help plug the gap, albeit with a presumably higher price tag.➡️ Skip the lot. Let Car and Driver help you find your next car.Shop New Cars Shop Used CarsYou Might Also LikeGift Guide: Best Ride-On Electric Cars for KidsFuture Cars Worth Waiting For: 2025–2029
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