Introduction More Rover, more Sport, that’s what the boffins at Range Rover are claiming, and they have a point. The previous Range Rover Sport was a sheep in wolves clothing but this car is the real deal. Previously, the Range Rover Sport was made-up of a Land Rover Discovery chassis and weighed around three tonnes – not very sporty or let’s be honest even much of a Range Rover, was it? The new generation, is a whole new ball game. The Range Rover Sport closely follows the latest Range Rover that was introduced at the turn of the year. Now based on the 2013 Range Rover, it has shed 420kg, like for like when comparing the TDV6 engine to the previous generation. This means the Range Rover Sport feels more agile and more driver focussed. More Rover, more Sport, that’s what the boffins at Range Rover are claiming, and they have a point. The previous Range Rover Sport was a sheep in wolves clothing but this car is the real deal. With prices starting at just under the £60,000 mark, this new model should find its way on the driveway of numerous Premiership footballers. Performance 4.5/5 Two engines are available on the Range Rover Sport line-up. There is a 288bhp SDV6 turbodiesel and the flagship 5.0-litre supercharged petrol V8 engine producing 503bhp. On test we drove the 288bhp SDV6 turbo diesel engine. This will be the most popular engine in the UK but don’t worry it’s not exactly slow. Keep in mind that this is a two-tonne car and you’ll be impressed with the benchmark sprint time of 6.8 seconds and it has a top speed of 130mph. As you can see this is much more ‘Sport’ than the previous generation ever was. Right across the power band there is plenty of torque, so no matter what gear you are in there is always plenty of oomph to allow you to pass slower moving traffic. Ride & Handling 4.5/5 Firmer, faster and more enjoyable to drive. Land Rover has at last made the Range Rover Sport what it should have been when it was first introduced way back in 2005. When driving enthusiastically the agility of this two-tonne Range is truly impressive. Land Rover has worked hard and this new iteration has received a quicker steering meaning that cornering is now good fun. With a car as high as the Range there is always going to be some body-roll, however, it is largely kept in check thanks to it is multi-adjustable air suspension. Ride comfort has always been very good, it deals with undulations well but if you have owned the previous generation then you will notice that this new car is much firmer. The Porsche Cayenne is still better to drive but the Range Rover Sport has narrowed the gap. Practicality 5.0/5 Whether you take the Range Rover Sport on or off-road the new generation has it all. It is adept on tar or when there’s a need for mud-plugging. The maximum ground clearance has been increased to 278mm (+51mm) and the upgraded air suspension system automatically varies between two ride heights, while the next generation ground-breaking Terrain Response 2 system automatically selects the most suitable terrain programme. The re-engineered air suspension system with its new +35mm intermediate setting means that you can drive at faster speeds when off-road as the system remains available at speeds up to 50mph. It's practical too, the Range Rover Sport has an electric powered double tailgate – a boon when in cramped car parks. With the seats in place the Range Rover Sport has a cargo area of 958 litres of space and this extends to a massive 2,013 litres when folded flat. One of the coolest features on the Range Rover is the new Wade Sensing feature that provides ‘depth’ information when driving through water. This is even more beneficial to the driver now that the Sport’s maximum wading depth has increased by 150mm over the previous model to 850mm. Running Costs 4.0/5 You’ll get a good amount of kit for your money even on the entry-level car. Standard equipment includes a powered tailgate, keyless entry and stop/start technology, 14-way power adjustable front seats, reclining rear seats, an eight-inch dual view touchscreen mounted in central dash, soft door close, plus heated front seats, steering wheel and windscreen. The new Range Rover Sport offers a comprehensive connectivity package allowing the driver to check the status of the vehicle via an App installed on their smartphone. It also provides support features such as Stolen Vehicle Tracking, Emergency Call and Land Rover Assist Call. Finally, a high bandwidth Wi-Fi Hotspot can be installed in the vehicle so that passengers can use the internet and get the best data connection for their smartphones or tablets. The Range Rover Sport powered by the 288bhp SDV6 turbo diesel emits 199g/km of CO2 (down 13 per cent on the previous generation) emissions placing it in band J costing £260 per year. Motortorque Verdict 4.5/5 The Range Rover Sport is exactly what it now states – much more Range Rover and is incredibly sport for a two-tonne vehicle. Our test car powered by the SDV6 turbodiesel started from a price of £59,995. You can buy cars that are much more affordable but few have the prestige to match the Range Rover Sport.
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