Used 2018 Land Rover Range Rover Sport

In sharp contrast to the market’s many curvaceous luxury SUVs, the 2018 Land Rover Range Rover Sport’s square-edge styling conveys a message of solidity, ruggedness and pedigree fit for Royals and Rap stars alike. Unlike its more sleekly styled competitors, the Range Rover Sport can actually venture over some of the most unforgiving terrain on the planet, all while surrounding its occupants in the finest leathers, woods and touchably-soft cloth and suede materials one can imagine. And while we know most Range Rover Sports will never leave the paved road, one can take comfort in knowing the premium paid over a comparably equipped Audi Q7 or BMW X5 does permit one to roam, if you want to.

We’ve had the rare opportunity to test both elements of the Land Rover Range Rover Sport in none other than England itself. An off-road trail let us push the Sport’s 4-wheel-drive setup to the limit as we ventured over rutted English back roads, through deep bogs and into water deep enough to make us wonder if we’d be using the sunroof as an escape hatch; ultimately it was drama-free, with the Range Rover Sport pulling through with flying colors. With its off-road chops verified, we were turned loose on an airport runway, taking the Range Rover Sport to an impressive 145-mph straight-line speed, which it handled with all the stability and calm as if it were loafing down the Interstate. Around town, the 2018 Range Rover Sport impresses with its sophistication, responsive drivetrains and comfortable interior.

The beauty in the Range Rover Sport’s interior isn’t just what the design says, it’s in the way the designers allow the customer to arrange colors, materials and trim. Hard plastics and cheap vinyl are nowhere to be found, replaced by the highest-quality leather with wood, metal or carbon fiber serving as accents. Intricate stitch patterns on the seats and door panels are simple yet elegant. Indeed, the entire Range Rover Sport’s interior is devoid of the hectic and often overwrought theme that makes sitting in some luxury SUVs feel more like manning the controls of an advanced fighter jet.

There’s no mistaking the 2018 Land Rover Range Rover Sport for anything but a Land Rover vehicle. Its electric-razor style grille, slab sides and signature narrow headlights are both defining and yet modern, creating a mystique that exudes the British idea of luxury and good taste. Variations on the exterior depend on the trim. The Autobiography model, for example, has lots of shiny bits, whereas its 575-horsepower SVR counterpart tones it down a bit. While some paint color options can cost thousands of dollars, for us it’s the little things, such as the Range Rover Sport-shaped approach lighting beam, that make this SUV so special.

TORQUE VECTORING
When equipped with a V8 engine, the Range Rover Sport includes a unique torque-vectoring system that, during turning maneuvers, shuttles power to the outside rear wheel. This action permits better control in tight turns both on- and off-road.

3.0-LITER TURBODIESEL ENGINE
Where Audi and Mercedes-Benz have dropped their diesel engines, the Range Rover Sport still offers the option. With 440 lb-ft of torque, the diesel provides nearly as much thrust as the V8 models, yet attains nearly 28 mpg on the highway.

The base-model Range Rover Sport SE comes standard with a leather interior and 14-way-power front seats, air suspension, multi-mode selectable Terrain Response, 60/40-split rear seat, front/rear parking sensors, and new this year, the InControl Touch Pro Duo infotainment system with twin 10-inch touch screens. Also included is Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, remote-sensing unlocking and push-button start, and an Automatic Access Height lowers the vehicle’s air suspension when placed in Park. All that, along with dual USB ports, 14 total power points and a hard-disk navigation system, makes one wonder what else there is to add. Well…

There are multiple engine options from supercharged V6 and V8 engines to a turbocharged V6 diesel, as you work your way from SE, through HSE, to Supercharged and ultimately Autobiography and SVR models. The top-line 2018 Range Rover Sport SVR comes with a 575-horsepower supercharged V8 engine, plus adaptive cruise-control, "automatic" parallel parking, advanced blind-spot monitoring, traffic-sign recognition, a surround-view camera system and a full LCD instrument panel. For off-road capability, there are a 2-speed transfer case, All-Terrain Progress Control, torque vectoring and Terrain Response 2 Auto. For luxury, consider a panoramic moonroof, 3rd-row seat and 1,700-watt, 23-speaker Meridian audio system.

The 2018 Land Rover Range Rover Sport offers a choice of three engines, all of them either supercharged or turbocharged. Toward the bottom end is a 340-horsepower supercharged 3.0-liter V6, which is also available in a more powerful 380-horsepower version. The 254-horsepower 3.0-liter turbocharged diesel V6 makes a whopping 440 lb-ft of torque, nearly as much as the V8 engines. About those, there’s a 518-horsepower 5.0-liter V8, or a high-performance version that puts out 575 horsepower in the Range Rover Sport SVR. All of the engines come with an excellent 8-speed automatic transmission, and all Range Rover Sport models come standard with 4-wheel drive. While the V8 engines obviously win on power, the V6 versions actually offer plenty of power.

3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 (SE, HSE)
254 horsepower @ 4,000 rpm
440 lb-ft of torque @ 1,750-2,250 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 22/28 mpg

3.0-liter supercharged V6 (SE, HSE)
340 horsepower @ 6,500 rpm
332 lb-ft of torque @ 3,500-5,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 17/23 mpg

3.0-liter supercharged V6 (HSE Dynamic)
380 horsepower @ 6,500 rpm
340 lb-ft of torque @ 3,500-5,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 17/23 mpg

5.0-liter supercharged V8 (Supercharged, Autobiography)
518 horsepower @ 6,000-6,500 rpm
461 lb-ft of torque @ 2,500-5,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 14/19 mpg

5.0-liter supercharged V8 (SVR)
575 horsepower @ 6,000-6,500 rpm
502 lb-ft of torque @ 2,500-5,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 13/19 mpg