2014 Land Rover Range Rover Sport: All-Terrain Land Missile

When the original Land Rover Range Rover Sport first appeared on the scene in 2005, the vehicle was a reaction from a company looking to snag a piece of the performance SUV action that had unexpectedly swept across the luxury segment.  As with any response formulated under duress and in pursuit of dollar signs the Range Rover Sport was saddled by compromise, a fast sport-utility vehicle to be sure but one which did not reflect the full scope of the brand’s talented engineering staff.

Enter the 2014 Land Rover Range Rover Sport, an all-new effort that significantly improves its on-pavement acumen without leaving too much of its all terrain credibility behind.  I was able to drive the 2014 model in its natural element – throughout the English and Welsh countryside – and came away impressed by the way that the fresh Range Rover Sport sheds many of the ghosts of yesteryear on its way to presenting well-heeled buyers with a startlingly potent family conveyance.

• Also: Range Rover & Range Rover Sport Hybrids
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Hitting The Gym

One of the biggest benefits of moving the 2014 Land Rover Range Rover Sport off of its full-frame and onto an aluminium monocoque-style platform is the crash diet that has seen the previously portly SUV shed a full 340 kilograms.  With its weight now down below the 2200 kilogram the Range Rover Sport feels about as nimble as any full-size people mover can reasonably claim – and certainly light-years above the more plodding architecture of the first–generation model.

Aiding and abetting the Range Rover Sport’s new willingness to dance are a set of wheels that can measure up to 22 inches, torque vectoring for improved corner control. an air suspension system that can drop the SUV down to a more tarmac-friendly cruising altitude, and new adaptive suspension setups front and rear that can dynamically vary chassis response in real time according to road conditions.

Passport To Adventure

There’s no denying that the 2014 Land Rover Range Rover Sport is compelling to drive even when hustling its hulking sheet metal down narrow and twisting British lanes.  The Land Rover badge, however, forced me to ask how well this rig would handle the rough stuff that one typically associates with the brand.  Could the revamped, and dare I say it ‘civilized’ Range Rover Sport still shine where other luxury SUVs fear to tread?

A simple glance at the spec sheet helped quell my doubts, as the updated Range Rover Sport has been configured to wade through nearly a metre of standing water, offers 68 mm of total lift from its adjustable air suspension, and comes with hill descent control as well as the choice of either single or dual-range full-time four-wheel drive systems.  A next-generation version of the car’s Terrain Response feature, which configures vehicle settings such as engine and transmission response, differential locking, and stability management to handle specific driving surfaces like rocks, gravel, and mud, is also included with the vehicle.

The ultimate test of the 2014 Land Rover Range Rover Sport’s off-road competence came at the company’s Eastnor Castle proving grounds, where a wide variety of obstacles, trails, and challenges awaited me and my willing steed.  The Range Rover Sport deftly climbed up rutted, muddy hillsides and confidently surged across waist-deep waters without so much as spinning its street-spec tires.

Select Your Supercharged Engine, Please

The 2014 Land Rover Range Rover Sport presents a pair of precocious engine options, each with its own unique character despite sharing the same eight-speed automatic transmission.  Its entry-level 3.0-liter V6, which features the same supercharged 340 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque that it does when found under the hood of a Jaguar sedan, can be counted on for good acceleration as well as a pleasing note at full throttle.

The much more raucous 510 horsepower, 5.0-liter supercharged V8 that tops the Range Rover Sport line-up is better at exposing the talents of the vehicle’s chassis.  The eight-cylinder’s 461 lb-ft of torque help to launch the SUV to 100 km/h in a scant five seconds, all the while producing a satisfyingly primal growl.  In fact, one of my favourite aspects of this motor’s automatic start/stop system was the way its dual exhaust tips barked at surrounding traffic and pedestrians when coming to life again, announcing my intimidating commitment to ecologically-friendly driving.

Lap Of Luxury

It’s quick, it’s assertively styled (in the same vein as the current Range Rover, but with important Evoque-esque elements included), and it’s undeniably capable once the pavement disappears.  Filling out its final important criteria, which is providing an opulent experience for all occupants, is the final feather in the 2014 Land Rover Range Rover Sport’s cap.  A longer wheelbase provides improved second row legroom, but it also enables the Sport to feature an additional set of accommodations at the very back of the vehicle.  The available seven passenger seating option includes a small bench that folds into the floor automatically (replacing the spare tire), and while not intended for full-time adult occupation, the back row is a welcome addition for buyers with young children or those who need to haul more than five in a pinch.

The Range Rover Sport’s interior trappings are suitably upscale, and the soft leather of its two-toned seats (and door panels) was extremely comfortable.  An absence of wood highlights the modern character of the Sport’s design, and controls are simple and centrally located on the vehicle’s console and dashboard.  Not as ornate as one might expect, the dash itself is somewhat plain on the passenger side and surrounding the vehicle’s touch screen.  I was also unable to lower the steering column to a comfortable height while driving, which is unusual for such an eager-to-please automobile.

The Complete Package

The 2014 Land Rover Range Rover Sport is a performance SUV that has come into its own.  Finally able to express the true vision of the Land Rover design team, rather than one filtered through existing products by way of market pressures, the Sport proves that it’s possible to stay true to your roots while still offering an embarrassment of riches when the loud pedal is pushed to the floor.  The Range Rover Sport is now the master of its domain whether one is screaming down the highway or climbing up a rock face.  English luxury has put its Teutonic rivals on notice.