A while back someone who knows and enjoys high performance cars emailed me asking what I thought of the Range Rover Sport. Well, I didn't think of it much at all. But it struck me as a strange vehicle for someone like himself. It couldn't possibly be much fun to drive. Or could it? I recently dropped by a Land Rover dealer to find out.

My friend was interested in the 390-horsepower Supercharged model. But that one starts at seventy large. So I test drove a $61,000 300-horsepower HSE instead.

Styling

The Range Rover Sport (RRS) is certainly the sportiest-looking Land Rover to date. But such things are relative, so this isn't really saying much. It looks much like the range-topping Range Rover, but with a few inches trimmed from the length, width, and height and a more raked rear window. Sporty details include large grilles in each front fender and aero-style cladding along the lower part of the body. If you like the classic Range Rover look, you'll like it even more here.

I drove an LR3 last year and found its interior rather stark. At the LR3's lower price point black plastic replaces the wood and chrome trim of the senior models. In contrast, the RRS cabin when outfitted with the optional Luxury Package looks and feels like a Land Rover's interior should, although the matte-finish cherry trim could look and feel more like the real wood it is. Both very British and cutting edge, this interior is likely a key reason the dealer had few Sports on the lot.

Accommodations

Getting in and out is not a challenge despite the lack of running boards. As in other Land Rovers, you sit very high, both relative to the ground and to the instrument. Figure a large, firm, comfortably shaped seat into the mix and "throne" comes to mind. So who wants to play King of the Road? One odd detail: the tilt and telescoping wheel lacks power adjustments, which are common at this price.

The rear seat provides just an adequate amount of space for adults. Those adults do get their own audio controls, though. No third row is available; this is the driver-oriented Land Rover, after all.

Similarly, cargo volume at 71 cubic feet is good but down 20 cubic feet from the less expensive LR3. Some function has been traded off for style, but not a tremendous amount.

On the Road

When I drove the LR3, my impression was that 300 horsepower had never felt so ineffectual despite the assistance of a six-speed automatic. The RRS uses the same powertrain and weighs a bit more, yet the engine felt reasonably peppy this time around. Perhaps because my expectations were low? Those seeking a fast SUV will want the Supercharged, but the HSE performs adequately. The V8 could make more sophisticated noises, though.

Even pulling out of the dealer's lot I could tell that ride was considerably lumpier than you'll find in the average luxury sedan. The sensation is of a considerable amount of unsprung weight clomping and jiggling over every bump in the road. The impacts are distant and muted, but as a result the SUV doesn't feel settled. And this was with the standard 18-inch treads. The optional 20s likely ride worse. Perhaps SUV buyers are used to this. The trucky ride would be worth it if the RRS' handling were stellar.

Unfortunately, handling is a major disappointment. The RRS I drove had the base suspension and 18-inch tires. Understeer is quite heavy for a vehicle with a fairly balanced weight distribution, and the outside front tire squealed at the slightest provocation. The Supercharged model's higher performance tires on 20-inch wheels are optional on the HSE, and they no doubt help here, but they cost $4,000. Ouch.

Not wanting to attract unwanted attention, I kept the speeds through my usual handling course relatively low. Even then the Range Rover Sport leaned considerably--if less than the LR3--and bobbled over the bumps when taking turns. Chassis composure and body control are far off the mark set by BMW's SUVs. The active stabilizer bars of the $2,000 Dynamic Response Package should reduce lean, but they probably don't do much to improve the suspension's composure. To top it all off, the steering isn't quick enough to feel sporting, though it does provide a marginal amount of feedback. Driven even moderately hard the base HSE feels sloppy and unsophisticated.

Range Rover Sport Pricing and Price Comparisons

The two most popular comparisons (base to base, no rebates, adjusted for feature differences):

Escalade: Near zero at MSRP, about $800 more at invoice

Cayenne: $7,100 more at MSRP, $4,200 more at invoice

Prices change frequently, and differences will vary based on feature level. To quickly generate these and other comparisons with the specific features you want, visit my Web site, www.truedelta.com. (It's the only site that provides true "apples-to-apples" price comparisons.)

TrueDelta's page for the Ranger Rover Sport:

http://www.truedelta.com/models/Range.php

Last Words

I approached this test drive expecting an X5 competitor. But the Range Rover Sport doesn't come close to the BMW in handling prowess. Add in an engine that isn't all that powerful and the lesser functionality compared to an LR3, and I'm not sure what the point of the Sport is. Just to provide a slightly less expensive, slightly smaller variation on the regular Range Rover? I suppose so.

A note on Land Rover Range Rover Sport Reliability

I cannot practically cover reliability within the context of this review. However, many people are interested in such information, so I've started collecting my own data. Results, once they are available, will be posted to my site, www.truedelta.com, with updates every three months.

Unlike other sources, TrueDelta will clearly identify what difference it will make if you buy a Range Rover Sport rather than another vehicle by providing "times in the shop" and "days in the shop" stats (among others). You will be able to specify the number of years, annual miles, and types of repairs to include in Land Rover Range Rover Sport reliability comparisons.

Before I can report results, I need data on all cars--not just the Range Rover Sport--from people like you. To encourage participation, those who help provide the data will receive free access to the site's reliability information. For non-participants, this access will cost $24.95.

For the details, and to sign up, visit www.truedelta.com.

A link to this website and alphabetized links to my other vehicle reviews can be found on my profile page.

If you're a member, and you want to receive an email when I post a new review, click here.

Some of my reviews of related vehicles:BMW X3 review
BMW X5 review
Land Rover LR3 review
Volvo XC90 review