2016 Range Rover Sport Td6: Top of the Food Chain

I was very excited to get behind the wheel of the new diesel-powered, 2016 Range Rover Sport particularly since the brand represents the epitome of the luxury SUV and I’ve always been an SUV guy. The competition is stiff here with just about every high-end manufacturer throwing their hat in the ring for a piece of the pie, including Porsche, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Lexus, Infiniti, Acura, Cadillac, Lincoln and newcomers Bentley and Maserati.

For 2016, Land Rover introduced a new Range Rover Sport HST Limited Edition along with a range of enhancements to the 2016 Range Rover Sport, with an emphasis on improved connectivity and capability. For instance, the Land Rover InControl Remote app enables customers to interact with the vehicle using a smartphone. With the app, vehicle owners can see how much fuel is left in the tank and confirm whether the doors are locked or windows left open. The app also enables the driver to remotely lock or unlock the car and receive alerts if the alarm sounds, with the option to reset it.

• Also: 2016 Range Rover HSE Td6: The Best of Many Worlds
• Also: 2016 Range Rover Sport Td6: The Renaissance Diesel

Also new is the Td6 turbo-diesel, 3.0-litre V6 in North America, making 254 horsepower and 440 lb.-ft. of torque. Fuel economy figures for the Range Rover Sport Td6 come in at an estimated 10.5 L/100 km city, 8.0 L/100 km highway with my average being about 10 L/100 km. Naturally, many people will want that impressive torque to pull a boat or trailer and aren’t necessarily concerned with fuel economy, but it’s still excellent—not just for this type of vehicle, but compared to many midsized sedans. By the way, the engine’s torque is capable of providing all the acceleration power—particularly at the low end of the power band where it’s most noticeable—anyone would need.

The look of the Range Rover is unmistakable and carries with it that aura of success. Even people who don’t know anything about cars probably know that the Range Rover is a kind of a big deal. Consequently the vehicle is often the choice of movie stars, superstar athletes or your run-of-the-mill billionaire.

The interior luxury is among the best money can buy with high-quality leather, brushed aluminum and wood paneling. The Meridian audio system with 19 speakers and an output of 825 watts is simply amazing, with crisp wonderful sound. The Brits certainly do have a knack for building luxury vehicles.

Driving the new Td6 was a real treat. You’d think that with the off-road capabilities that Range Rover is known for, the drive might wind up being a little too truck-like, but this isn’t the case. As a result of drive modes designed for any eventuality and aided by the adjustable air suspension, the vehicle is as much at home cruising the strip as it is in the backcountry. A new feature is called All-Terrain Progress Control which automatically maintains a set speed during off-road conditions and automates all other settings to keep the driver focused on the road.

Gadgets are aplenty on the Range Rover and one of my favourites is the Auto Access Height system, which automatically lowers the vehicle to access height when needed in order to make entry and exit easier for the occupants. Another very handy one is the Hands-Free Gesture Tailgate (now standard) which opens automatically by simply pointing a foot underneath one of two sensors at either rear corner of the vehicle. The system is fully compatible with a tow bar.

I’m trying to think of something that I didn’t like in the Range Rover Td6 and I’m drawing a blank. We have here a great-looking, luxurious, off-road SUV which remains comfortable for daily driving and receives fuel economy on par with your average family sedan.

Starting at $82,990, The Range Rover Td6 is at the higher end of the price echelon compared to some of its competitors, but the premium is warranted and it rests comfortably at the top of the food chain.