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TheCarConnection.com's editors took the wheel of the new Land Rover Range Rover Sport to bring you an expert opinion along with thorough research from around the rest of the Web to help you make a complete, informed decision.
Likes:
- Lots of standard equipment
- Great seating position
- Powerful acceleration
- Surprisingly good handling
Dislikes:
- Somewhat harsh ride
- Heavy, overweight feel
- Lack of cabin space
- Fuel economy no better than roomier Range Rover
The 2010 Land Rover Range Rover Sport melds a sleeker, more defined profile than its bigger brother the Range Rover with a chassis tuned for on-road performance over hard-core off-roading. That's not to say it isn't ready for woodsy trails or dusty deserts, and it looks the part, too, recalling the look of earlier Range Rovers with its thin roof pillars and upright, bold presence. Major interior revisions improve the look and feel throughout the cabin.
The Range Rover Sport delivers its impressive performance in two models: the Range Rover Sport HSE and the Range Rover Sport Supercharged. With new 5.0-liter engines for 2010 replacing the previous 4.4- and 4.2-liter naturally aspirated and supercharged units, power is up to 375 horsepower and 375 pound-feet of torque for the HSE and a massive 510 horsepower and 461 pound-feet of torque for the Supercharged. That's enough to get the big SUVs up to 60 mph in a hurry: 7.2 seconds for the HSE and a sports car-like 5.9 for the Supercharged model. Both engines are paired with a revised six-speed automatic transmission with manual shift mode. Big disc brakes help both models handle all that power, while an updated and retuned Dynamic program takes advantage of the upgraded suspension elements and chassis stiffness also introduced this year. Despite weighing more than 5,500 pounds, the Range Rover Sport delivers impressive handling, though the hefty curb weight does mean fuel economy is poor, with the HSE rated at 13/18 mpg city and highway, and the Supercharged rated at 12/17 mpg.
