Land Rover Range Rover Sport – Mandy Ison’s Driving Impressions:
Land Rover is one of those automotive makes that bring to mind the 90’s song “Things that make you go Hmmm." Land Rovers are common on the Discovery Channel as paleontologists drive them through remote deserts in search of the next great dinosaur discovery. These rough and tough cars of choice are synonymous with adventure a la Indiana Jones. But as a luxury SUV, the majority of which will never see a muddy waterhole or a hint of rocky terrain, what exactly is the purpose of owning a Land Rover other than as a bit of ego stroking? Despite my skepticism, I couldn’t suppress an excited twinge at the prospect of driving one for myself.

While the guys took the Land Rover Range Rover Sport through its 4WD paces, my sedate spin on city streets and congested highways proved disenchanting for reasons other than the way it drove. The handling, braking, and acceleration are its only sterling qualities. As I backed the Land Rover out of its parking space, I was pleased with its nimble turning and ability to maneuver in a crowded parking lot. It was by no means as maneuverable as a Volkswagen Jetta, but for its size and purpose, it handled well. Braking in crowded street traffic was a breeze, though its size necessitated cautious maneuvering among hair brained commuters.

Steering was also pleasantly responsive, not too stiff or too sensitive, while getting up to freeway speeds was as easy as applying pressure to the gas pedal. Merging in and around traffic was not a problem, though the ride quality was stiff if not unexpectedly so. On twisty roads, the Land Rover Range Rover is rock steady around sharp turns with absolutely no discernable body lean. Overall, the SUV inspired confidence in its ability to take on any driving situation.

Land Rover Range Rover Sport – Ron Perry’s Driving Impressions:
I’m afraid I was expecting a lot more from the Range Rover Sport. For north of $70K, there are things that definitely need improvement for a vehicle with this reputation and distinction. To start off, a smoother ride is a must have. The Range Rover Sport roughly transfers the irregularities of the road to the cabin and the likely culprits are the twenty-inch wheels shod with low profile rubber. The cabin is well insulated, keeping wind and tire noise to a minimum, thus providing a quiet environment. Dip into the go pedal and the supercharged engine comes alive but doesn’t launch the Range Rover Sport with the expected veracity. Steering is right on but the big Brembo brakes seemed a bit too grabby. Entering the freeway on a 360-degree on-ramp, the Range Rover Sport held its own, cornering flatter than most SUVs, but don’t plan on challenging the Nissan 350Z in the next lane. I also feel that for this kind of money you should get electric folding rear seats, an electric tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, and an electric tailgate. The tailgate is heavy and if you weigh less than 125 pounds you’ll likely find yourself hanging from it as you attempt to pull it down. I also hated the heating wires implanted in the front windshield. I can’t believe buyers will stand for this distraction; it gave me a headache. I was also appalled at the awful fuel economy

Land Rover Range Rover Sport – Christian Wardlaw’s Driving Impressions:
On pavement, the Land Rover Range Rover Sport’s optional supercharged engine builds adequate power, transferred to the road surface through an automatic transmission and full-time 4WD system. Shift the automatic for yourself, and the Range Rover Sport proves to be a lively machine – otherwise, you may find yourself wishing for more oomph. Brembo brakes scrub speed, but pedal feel doesn’t inspire confidence upon application, and I thought the system added progressive, and unexpected, levels of braking even with steady pressure applied to the pedal. The brakes take some getting used to. Steering is slow and sloppy, which is good for four-wheeling but not when maneuvering about the parking lot at Ralph Lauren. I liked the thick steering wheel and the syrupy assist level, though.

In terms of handling, the driver is constantly aware of how heavy and tall this vehicle is, and because it rides on 40-series rubber, the ride is stiff. Thankfully, the tough underpinnings filter most of the road rash before it reaches the cabin. I took our Range Rover Sport off-roading, and it tackled difficult terrain that would have rendered most other vehicles useless. After a performance like that, it’s easy to change your tune about this luxury SUV. The question: is a stellar off-roading experience worth the trade-offs in terms of on-road handling and fuel economy?