By Jim Prueter
MotorwayAmerica.com

(August 21, 2017) It seems most auto reviews I have been writing of late have been about SUVs of one sort or another. With rocketing sales, they now easily outsell traditional sedans. It seems automakers can’t build enough to satisfy consumer demand.

The term “SUV” was born sometime in the mid-1980s, right here in the U.S., and automakers take great liberty with it. Almost any vehicle with four doors, a rear-opening hatch, and black plastic cladding around the wheel openings and lower body moldings is referred to as a sport utility or crossover utility vehicle.

What most people don’t know, however, is that the concept for the luxury SUV was devised at the Solihull manufacturing plant, near Birmingham in the United Kingdom, by the folks at Land Rover, who wanted to offer more than just ruggedness in a supremely capable off-road vehicle. They’ve been nothing short of a smash hit with buyers ever since, with every one built being sold to a waiting list of people more than willing to pay the full window-sticker price.



The Range Rover Sport tested here delivers all the off-road capabilities of its larger sibling, the Land Rover Range Rover, but with a less expensive, slightly sleeker, smaller, sportier edge. It competes with excellent vehicles like the Porsche Cayenne, BMW X6 and Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe.

For 2017, the Range Rover Sport is mostly a carry over vehicle with a few changes from last year. There’s a new trim level for 2017 known as the HSE Dynamic that takes the place of the limited edition HST. Land Rover has also updated the infotainment system and included a suite of integrated driver-assistance systems.

Ranger Rovers are sold around the world, and fully half of them are equipped with diesel engines. In the Queen’s motherland, that number soars to fully 90 percent. Last year, for the first time, the engineers at Land Rover introduced diesel powertrains to the U.S. market for the first time ever. Land Rover expects 15 to 20 percent of buyers here to choose the diesel option.

Known as the Td6, it’s nothing short of spectacular. I’m talking about the diesel engine performance, but the same can be said of the Range Rover itself. It isn’t without a few nagging flaws, but overall is as close to a perfect a vehicle as one can get.

The 3.0-liter turbocharged diesel engine develops 254 horsepower and, more importantly, a massive 443 lb-ft of torque connected to a quick-shifting eight-speed automatic transmission. It promises 32 percent better fuel efficiency over the V-6 gasoline engine, delivering a combined 24 miles per gallon. With that amount of torque, the vehicle gives you the feeling that you easily handle any driving situation, either off road or on paved surfaces. Other than the small “Td6” badge attached to the lower corner of the tailgate, there’s nothing to let you or anyone else know you’re driving a diesel-powered vehicle. No noisy diesel clacking from the engine or belching massive clouds of black diesel exhaust smoke under acceleration.

Appearance wise, the Range Rover Sport certainly isn’t short on visual impact. It commands the same stage presence the Land Rover Range Rover with ample luxurious appointments and jewel-like LED lighting. But with the Sport, exterior lines of the vehicle are stretched back to suggest a more spirited, vigorous, racier type of vehicle. The windshield is more steeply raked and the roofline slants away at the back. It’s a vehicle that truly stands out in any crowd.

Inside, the Sport is a delight to the senses. Everywhere you look there’s luxuriously stitched leather surfaces, sculptured metallic trim and switchgear, interesting textured surfaces – a treat for the human ophthalmoception and tacitoception sensory receptors. Even the Oxford perforated leather seats emit a smoky-sweet, intoxicating aroma that has a tendency to send our imagination to a faraway place with rugged terrain, wide-open spaces and a wild adventure. This is the personification of casual luxury. Did Land Rover do that intentionally?

A standard touch-screen system handles all operating functions – navigation, Bluetooth connectivity, infotainment, climate control – and feels high-tech. We thought it a bit fussy, and not as intuitive or logical as we would have liked and the response was often too slow. 

Seats are exceptionally comfortable, roomy and supportive. The back seat is large with room for three adults to sit comfortably. For those who need even more room, there’s a third row option ($2000) that adds two additional power folding seats. But these are extremely small, tricky to get in and out of, and best left for small children and then only for short trips.

The brain, or central control, of the Sport is Land Rover’s exceptional Terrain Response System that has been tweaked for 2017. Terrain settings include mud and ruts, grass gravel snow, rock crawl, sand, or auto. When twisted, a dial on the center console sets the vehicle to the chosen terrain. Auto driving mode is for everyday use on smoother surfaces and maximizes fuel economy.

A hill descent control option allows you to take your foot off the accelerator and/or brake pedals and the vehicle automatically uses the gear ratios to slow you down. The system works up to 35 mph.

Overall, the diesel Range Rover Sport is a hugely rewarding vehicle to drive, with massive amounts of power, excellent grip and body control, with sharp handling and responsive steering. And for ride comfort and a quiet cabin, the Sport simply can’t be beat. It feels wonderfully smooth, stable and refined. We felt the Sport rewarded the driver every time we ventured out on a trip.

The Range Rover Sport, while not inexpensive to own and operate, is simply everything you could want in a sport utility vehicle. For those who can afford it, empowerment comes with the seduction of owning and driving the finest of British luxury. This should be at the top of your shopping list. Royalty must be served.

Essentials
Base Price: $67,650 - $72,650
Price as Tested: $89,977
Seating: 5 up to 7
Engine: 3.0-Liter turbocharged V6 diesel
Horsepower: 254 hp
Transmission: 8-Speed automatic
Fuel Economy: 22-MPG City – 28-MPG Highway

Fab Features
Powerful, quiet, fuel-efficient diesel engine
World-class luxury
Terrain Response® System

Competes With
BMW X-6
Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe
Porsche Cayenne