2008 Range Rover Sport
by Jim Prueter -04/2008

Cool looks for urban adventures

(This review was originally written in October 2005 about the 2006 model. Little of substance has changed and this review has been updated to include model years 2007 and 2008)

The first Land Rover I ever saw was on the big screen. John Wayne was fending off a charging rhino from the passenger seat in the 1962 movie Hatari. Other movies had Range Rovers driving scientists to visit Tarzan in an otherwise impenetrable Amazon jungle.

It wasn’t until 1987 that you could buy one in the U.S., becoming one of the very first SUVs available, along with the Jeep Grand Wagoneer. Few, if any of us, could have imagined the cult following and status symbol Land Rover would become. A favorite of pro athletes, celebrities and the well heeled, a Range Rover is more likely to be found battling for a parking spot on Rodeo Drive than charging across the Serengeti.

In Land Rover offerings, the Sport, our tested vehicle, is the second with the Range Rover name. The Sport slots between the luxury flagship Land Rover Range Rover and the LR3.

The LR3 was the first newly designed and engineered model since Ford acquired the Land Rover from BMW. The Sport, which is built on the same architecture with a shorter wheelbase, is the second. The exterior appearance couldn’t be more different with the LR3 featuring a minimalist boxy theme, and the Sport a contemporary, athletic look with ground effect spoilers, louvered vents on the front fenders, multi-element headlamps and tail lamps, rear spoiler and flat-black trim for mirrors, door handles, lower front, side, rear body molding and around all glass surfaces.

Speaking of glass, Land Rover has again chosen to imbed its array of micro-size heating element wires in the windshield. Their sparkling reflections impede visibility in the sun and blur vision in the rain. I have this gripe with all Land Rover products.

The first thing you notice upon entering the Sport is that it isn’t a Range Rover cabin. Gone is the luxury-sedan look and feel of the Range Rover, replaced with lots of brushed metal, grained plastic and leather surfaces. I think it looks to “mission control” like. On the positive side, the instrument panel features intuitive placement and operation of controls. Bluetooth connectivity was added as standard equipment for 2007 models.

For 2008 the Sport has added power-folding exterior mirrors, eight-way power seats, power tilt-telescoping steering and sight interior detail improvements.

The standard GPS off-road-enhanced DVD navigation system uses a touch-screen interface that’s fairly easy to use. Thankfully, it isn’t necessary to page through numerous screen displays to adjust audio or climate control systems. Those knobs and dials are located just below the screen for ease of use.

Seats are comfortable, with pull down armrests and a commanding view for the driver. Even shorter drivers can see most of the hood with good sightlines out the front and out the back. A front and rear audible park-assist sensor adds to the ease of driving and parking in a crowded Scottsdale shopping center.

The rear seat will accommodate three adults, each getting their own headrest and a command view from the slightly raised seats, but expect a tight fit. The seats flip and fold to create additional cargo space. The tailgate is two-piece with a separate operation for the glass so you don’t have to always lift the entire door — which desperately needs a power-lift option.

For 2008, the Sport is available in two models: a 390-horsepower Supercharged with a base price of $72,450 and the 300-horsepower HSE starting at $59,000. Prices include shipping. Both models use the same six-speed automatic transmission. I tested a well-equipped HSE with the optional Luxury Package and satellite radio, which elevated the MSRP to $62,400.

As one would expect, the Sport comes with a long list of standard features, including the Land Rover Terrain Response system and hill decent control. These features electronically adjust the vehicle’s stability, traction control and related systems to handle any on- or off-road surface, including deep sand, snow and rugged rocks and boulders. Although, I expect to see few of these luxury utes plying Arizona’s desert and off-road terrain.

Ride, acceleration and handling are all excellent, at least on paved surfaces. I didn’t get an opportunity to take the Sport off-road, although I would expect it to perform similarly to the LR3, which is superb.

All the safety stuff is there: traction and stability control, electronic brake assist, six air bags, anti-rollover protection, LATCH system for child seats — everything world class here. There are no crash test results for the Sport as of this writing.

I liked the LR3 and don’t think the Sport has a lot more to offer unless you prefer its sportier athletic look and the burbling exhaust notes that go with the appearance.

But as is the case with all Land Rover products we’ve tested, they’re seductively appealing. I love driving them and being in them; the look, feel and smell are addictive. They’re way more vehicle than anyone would hope to need but there’s just something about Land Rover products that appeal to the American desire to have more than you need.