WASHINGTON — When the Range Rover was redesigned, it became a much better vehicle. Can Land Rover achieve the same success with the smaller, redesigned Range Rover Sport?
The short answer is yes. The previous Range Rover Sport was too heavy and didn’t ride well. You felt cramped if several people rode with you. A friend of mine dumped his Range Rover Sport after just a year and went to Porsche.
Times have changed.
My view changed after a week with the new Range Rover Sport V8 Supercharged.
The V8 Supercharged begins at $79,100. You can save money and get better fuel economy with the SE trim level, supercharged V6. Base price: $64,000. I know you’re thinking about getting the V6; the new Range Rover Sport weighs 800 pounds less than it did before.
The weight loss, combined with a 510-horsepower engine, makes the Supercharged V8 a very sporty SUV that can tackle off-road trails. That vehicle is $93,910.
Other than parking on a field for an event, I kept the SUV on the pavement, so I never used the terrain response system that allows you to choose the type of off-road driving you’ll do (from there, the response system sets the car for you).
The acceleration is very strong, though. Push the pedal, and you’ll hear a great-sounding V8 engine. Also, there’s a smooth eight-speed automatic that shifts quickly when you hit the gas. The stop/start feature helps a bit with the fuel economy. The V8 Supercharged Sport is rated 14 miles-per-gallon in the city and 19 miles-per-gallon on the highway. I managed 16.3 miles-per-gallon with premium fuel over 245 miles of mixed driving.
The new Range Rover Sport is much better at handling as well. The old model’s big lean-in turns are gone, and the Sport is willing to be pushed if you fancy some turns. Though it’s more forgiving over bumps, you’ll notice the bigger ones. Then again, it could be the large 21-inch wheels my tester had. The electronic air suspension probably has a good deal to do with the improved handling.
The interior is nicer than before, aided in large part by the $13,000 in options, including 16-way, heated power seats and a 19-speaker Meridian audio package. The Shadow Zebrano wood trim really set off the interior, and the dash was wrapped in soft touch material.
But while the rear seats were comfortable, I wanted a little more leg room. I used a car seat that forced me to move the front seat up a little. You can now get an optional third row of seats in the Range Rover Sport, with the large panoramic roof that opens the interior. The NAV system has a big eight-inch screen, but I have no idea where it sent me a few times.
The new Range Rover Sport V8 Supercharged is a big improvement with the use of Aluminum, which helped it drop 800 pounds and perform better. It’s become a more upscale go-anywhere SUV.
Drive with the windows open and hear it sing. It’s a nice noise.
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