Land Rover Range Rover Sport : AWFULLY VERSATILE

Expert Rating:

With its more dynamic outlook, the Range Rover Sport might be the true all-terrain vehicle. Steve Walker reports.

Land Rover's Range Rover is a lot of things but sporty? The towering luxury off-roader is far too posh to press-on down a twisting B-road: it rewards much more sedate progress. That doesn't mean car buyers seeking a plush 4x4 that's also light on its feet need to turn their backs on the Land Rover stable. In the Range Rover Sport, the marque has a product that combines the Range Rover's imposing looks and dauntless off-road ability with a bit of extra hustle.

Beneath the skin, the Range Rover Sport owes more to the Discovery than to the imperious Range Rover. Both ride on a monocoque chassis and double wishbone suspension that offers far better on-road ride and handling than any previous Land Rover products could lay claim to. It's also a considerably more affordable proposition than the Range Rover, occupying a perch in the Land Rover model hierarchy between its posh big brother and the more family-focused Discovery. In market terms, the Range Rover Sport locks horns with the lesser versions of luxury 4x4s like BMW's X5, Audi's Q7 and the Mercedes M-Class, leaving the Range Rover free to face down the sector's biggest guns. Today's Range Rover Sport has a better chance than ever of doing a number on the premium brand competition, thanks in the main to its latest engines. The famous British brand no longer has to play second fiddle to its Teutonic rivals in the engineering department, with the 242bhp 3.0-litre twin turbo diesel, the familiar 3.6-litre TDV8 diesel and the 503bhp 5.0-litre supercharged petrol units on its books. Both were developed in-house in partnership with Jaguar. The diesel uses sequential turbochargers to provide a smooth flow of power and torque from low down in the rev range delivering a huge 500Nm from idle and 600Nm by the time it gets into its stride. The petrol option pumps our 625Nm with the aid of its twin-vortex supercharger and advanced variable camshaft timing system. Both must now rank amongst the best powerplants of their type in the world.

"If you're after a car that really can deliver excitement on the road and capability off it, the Range Rover Sport is a decent place to start."

The output of the engines is fed through the Range Rover Sport's six-speed automatic gearbox which has been revised to achieve faster shifting and take advantage of the increased engine torque that's generated by the latest models. The gearbox features an intelligent Sport mode which adapts to driving styles and has wheel-mounted paddle shifters to bring an even greater level of control. The ride and handling of the car are governed by its Adaptive Dynamics system which continually optimises the settings of the adjustable dampers according to the road conditions to achieve the best possible levels of comfort and body control. Engineers have also tweaked the braking and steering systems on the latest Range Rover Sport with the aim of increasing feel and driver involvement. There isn't too much scope for changing the look of the Range Rover Sport, the car's styling operating within the confines of the highly distinctive Range Rover house style. Having said that, while the uniform lines and upright stance remain, designers have worked to inject extra drama through the detailing. The front lights now use the latest LED technology in an interlocking circle design as seen on the Range Rover. The thin grill features twin bars fashioned from aluminium mesh and an enlarged air intake in the grill below helps the engines breathe. At the rear, there are also redesigned lights and the bumpers integrate more fluently with the flanks of the car at both ends. The desired effect of a more athletic appearance for the Sport looks to have been achieved. The cabin design of the Range Rover Sport once appeared to be more closely aligned with the Discovery than the Range Rover but no longer. The dashboard still slopes down to merge with the centre console to create the trademark cockpit feel but the materials used and the clean lines of the controls have a far more upmarket effect. With high-tech infotainment systems controlled through a neat touchscreen interface, the Sport's complex systems should be more accessible. A neat display screen is also included on the instrument cluster, giving an at-a-glance rundown of key information for the driver. Whether you go for the six or eight cylinder diesels or the supercharged V8 petrol model, equipment is not in short supply at any level of the Range Rover Sport model range. Whether you go for the six or eight cylinder diesels or the supercharged V8 petrol model, equipment is not in short supply at any level of the Range Rover Sport model range. All variants get alloy wheels, Dynamic Stability Control, a diesel misfuel protection device, touch-screen hard-disc drive navigation with a 4x4 interface and voice control, a nine-speaker harman/kardon audio system, an iPod/USB connectivity module, a Bluetooth phone system, and leather seat facings. However, the most crucial single feature has to be the standard Terrain Response system. At least, it is for owners who intent to use the Range Rover Sport as its manufacturer intended. This is virtually akin to having a driving expert sitting alongside you, helping to get the best out of the vehicle, on or off road. The driver chooses one of five terrain settings via a rotary knob mounted on the centre console. There's a general driving programme plus one for slippery conditions (dubbed `Grass/Gravel/Snow') and three specialist off road modes (`Mud and Ruts', `Sand', `Rock Crawl'). The latest system on the Range Rover Sport also includes a Dynamic mode designed to optimise performance on the road with sharper steering and firmer suspension with enhanced body control. Land Rover has had its attention focused on environmental issues in recent times and the Range Rover Sport is reaping the benefits. The engines are very efficient for their size and power outputs and considering they're fitted to a vehicle of the Sport's size and capability. The combined fuel economy for the 3.0-litre diesel engine is over 30mpg and that comes with CO2 emissions of 243g/km. The 5.0-litre engine is predictable less thrifty with 353g/km emissions. If you're after a car that really can deliver excitement on the road and capability off it, the Range Rover Sport is a decent place to start. The car's performance and economy have been improved dramatically by the introduction of the latest engines, while alterations to the cabin have thrust it in an upmarket direction.

Facts At A Glance
CAR: Range Rover Sport range
PRICES: £44,895-£61,995 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 13-17 [est]
CO2 EMISSIONS: 243-353g/km
PERFORMANCE: [V8 Supercharged] Max Speed 140mph / 0-60mph 6.8s [est]
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [TDV6] (urban) 23mpg / (extra urban) 37mpg / (combined) 30mpg [est]
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front and side airbags, ABS, ETC, EBA, DSC.
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height 4695/1915/1891mm [est]