USA - Land Rover Discovery Sport names Digital Trends 2015 SUV Of The Year.

• Land Rover's versatile premium compact SUV, the Discovery Sport is the first member of the new Discovery vehicle family and features a 240hp turbocharged 2.0-liter engine and 5+2 seating option
• Discovery Sport goes on sale starting May 2015

Land Rover North America announced today that the 2015 Discovery Sport compact SUV has been named "SUV of the Year" by leading consumer technology publisher Digital Trends.

Digital Trends compiled their three favorite vehicles from five different categories: Car, SUV, Performance, Luxury, and Alternative Energy, and spent four days in Palm Springs, California comparing them against one another, narrowing down each category into one single winner. 

The award methodology factored in technology, style, safety, value, driving dynamics, efficiency and performance.

The Discovery Sport was chosen for its concept-car styling, midsize stature, efficient and peppy turbocharged four-cylinder, plethora of technology, and stylish and versatile interior. With the smart use of technology, the Discovery Sport also won points for shedding the weight of its predecessors without losing its river-fording abilities.

"An ever-tightening Federal fuel economy standard doesn't mean Americans have lost any love for the SUV," wrote Nick Jaynes, Digital Trends Automotive Editor. "And, delightfully, vehicles like the Land Rover Discovery Sport prove they don't have to. This machine truly represents the compromise-free future of SUVs."

"We're thrilled to have the Discovery Sport named Digital Trends' 'SUV of the Year'," said Kim McCullough, Vice President, Marketing, Jaguar Land Rover North America. 

"To be recognized for our capability and technology in such a competitive segment shows how truly special this vehicle is and we're so excited to see it arrive in retailers across the country in a few weeks."

The 2015 Discovery Sport delivers a highly refined combination of performance, safety and efficiency thanks to a body shell of high-strength steel and lightweight aluminum, a 240hp turbocharged 2.0-liter engine, nine-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive.

The progressive new design approach of the Discovery Sport defines the new Discovery family with optimized volume, proportions and stance. Its design leadership combines with engineering integrity to result in a dynamic profile, the ultimate use of interior space and 5+2 seating configurability.

The Land Rover Discovery Sport will go on-sale next month in North America. Pricing begins at $37,070¹.