EFTM Garage: Range Rover Sport Review

It’s difficult not to see the allure of the Range Rover Sport – it’s a sleek (and slightly more affordable) take on the iconic Range Rover and fits the modern SUV lifestyle well, particularly in those brand conscious inner city areas.

Ironic really, given how capable this thing is off-road.

Make: Range Rover
Model: Sport
Variant: HSE P400
Engine / Transmission: 6-cylinder Turbo petrol mild hybrid 8-speed auto
Manufacturer Claimed Fuel Economy: 9.2l/100km combined 
Price: From $144,906

In a nutshell:

It’s hard not to love something iconic like this, the ride is great, the finish top notch, but you are paying big bucks for options, and there’s a simple software flaw that will frustrate you at the very least.

First Impressions:

The ride is so tall, you get a real truckies view of the world perched up in your english off-roader, though we all know you’re just driving around the streets and getting ready for school pickup. That’s ok – plenty of space for that here.

A really solid finish, you’re not getting some upstart panel gaps or knock-off interior quality, under a microscope you’ll be impressed by the finish I’d reckon.

With the black finishing touches (options) it has a mean look on the road, while inside the white/cream interior is a great luxury feeling.

Tech Inside:

Screens Screens Screens, there’s plenty of tech in here. You’ve got a fully digital instrument cluster, a 10 inch infotainment screen (which gently glides out for a more upright view) and a second touch screen for the lower control area where climate control lives – but it’s also used for some vehicle controls and settings (like auto stop-start control)

Overall it’s probably a bit too much. Jaguar Land-Rover have really nailed this level of tech across their cars, but at times it feels like it just would be better if there was a button. I know Tesla created this two button situation and a full touch screen, however I just sometimes long for a simple button is all I’m saying.

The matrix LED headlights are a game-changer for those that haven’t used them, really impressive stuff, and pretty much every part of the car has some tech in it from the heated and powered seats to the impressive all-round safety system. Though, there’s one thing there that’s a massive flaw – which I’ll get to shortly.

The controls on your steering wheel are dynamic too, they are touch sensitive (slide your finger for volume – you don’t have to press) and when you’re in different menus the buttons say different things, very nice touch.

Overall, for the money, you’re getting as good as you can in the class, and frankly in the industry.

If I was to be picky, I’d say the choice of processor for the infotainment could be sub par as it lacks responsiveness to the touch at times, something that would frustrate me if I’d paid $170k.

Most Impressive:

Hard to argue that the ride and handling for such a big car isn’t just the most impressive thing you’ll experience. Once you immerse yourself in a vehicle like this, It becomes a shock to realise how big it is. You’re on the road driving something far less floaty than similarly sized SUVs, and you’ve got the power under foot when needed from the P400 variant 3.0l turbo-charged six under the hood. I mean, it’s a 2,285kg car, running 0-100 in 5.9.

In the Bronze colour we sampled, the black highlights really fit the bill, though almost all of the good stuff are options.

Not So Impressive:

There’s two things to note here. Firstly, price. As is common in the JLR family, you pay for the bits that tempt you. $4420 for the sliding panoramic roof. $4050 for the driver assist pack – this stuff should be standard. $5090 for those stunning 22 inch wheels, $2000 for the black roof and $840 for the red calipers. Oh and don’t forget the $950 for privacy glass – personally, that’s a must have on a great looking car like this.

But, you can afford a Range Rover, so that won’t bother you.

What might be problematic for you on your first trip to the shops, or to home – is bumping into something. Because despite all the sensors and cameras on this car, if you drive front first into a car space at low speed the front parking sensors are not on.

How do I know this? Because this:

That’s one of the glass panels on the garage door at the EFTM office. Big car, I didn’t want the tail hanging out of the space, so I tried to get in as far as I could. Seemed far enough, so I stopped and got out. Then I heard the pop. I’d stopped with just a touch of pressure on the glass that it forced a shatter.

Now at that speed you’re just going to put a scratch on the bumper if it’s a brick wall, but if it’s another car, you’ll bump them, frustrating, not high damage levels, but so darn annoying.

Why-oh-why with so many sensors and cameras did it not beep? Because it only does that if you reverse in, or move from reverse to drive with the sensors enabled. Seriously, the worst line of code in a car safety system. No, not end of the world stuff, but annoying nonetheless.

For the record, when entering a parking space front on – press the park sensor button to turn on the usual bells and whistles 🙂

WHEN ON A TEST DRIVE:

Get a glimpse of yourself driving past mirrored or glass windows, just so you can remember how damn cool you look. For $170,000 there’s a lot of cars to consider, but in reality, you’ve chosen this one so it’s really just a matter of what options you NEED but you’ll likely be signing that paperwork when you get back to the dealer.