2014 Land Rover Range Rover Sport – First Drive

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We’re often asked about the most popular car but the more cars you drive, the harder it is to reply to that question. So most of us have a dream garage, with perhaps a sports car, SUV, sedan, etc. However, we recently got to drive maybe the only car you’ll ever need:the latest Sport has become closer to the flagship Range Rover, gaining an aluminum bodyshell, suspension and panels, losing about 800 lb in the process (V6 model), being 25% stiffer but having 75% different parts from the 2014 Range Rover.

So while it’s the fastest Land Rover ever built, and gains still another row of seats to satisfy demands for greater capacity, the new Range Rover Sport is the Swiss Army knife of automobiles. It might do absolutely anything.

The problem for Land Rover is how to demonstrate the massive ability of such a flexible vehicle in a few short hours. So we proceeded a relatively great distance tour into Wales enjoying great GT comfort, got sporty around the country roads, accelerated to 150mph on an airfield, did -100-0mph in 17sec, waded via a river, traversed thick muddy trenches, climbed slippery banks, and tackled an obstacle course inside a Jumbo Jet. Yes, you read that right, and can view the video here.

Land Rover pulled out all the stops to get its message out. Driving down and up steep ramps, several storeys high, leaning over at ridiculous angles and showing tremendous wheel articulation, all while passing through the top class cabin of a 747 made the point emphatically.

So if you’re looking for a GT, sports car, off-roader, tow vehicle, family speed and transport demon with fantastic ability in each and every area, may we recommend the 2014 Range Rover Sport?

Originally conceived being an SUV with better road manner compared to the Range Rover, it’s an easy task to forget how good the game can be in difficult conditions. When the water is splashing onto the windows, you know the river is deep, yet the RRS can climb a virtually vertical bank to extricate itself from the water utilizing the same Pirelli M S road tires we will later take to 150mph by using an airport runway. All you need to do is select the correct setting on the Terrain Response 2 system along with the suspension will raise, traction control will adjust, diffs lock; everything operates to guarantee thethe 1st Sport model for its chunky fender flares and no-nonsense attitude, initially feeling this replacement was a little soft. Another restraint and class that perhaps the old car lacked, although in the flesh the latest Range Rover Sport has real presence.

There’s tremendous attention to detail that makes this Sport more intimate. It invites anyone to absorb the intricacies such as the side vents, puddle lights, logo between the doors, headlight surrounds, etc.

Inside, they’ve gone other way, mimicking the Range Rover and reducing the number of switches and buttons. Most features are now centered on the nav screen, with the Terrain Response selector by the shift lever.

2014 land rover range rover sport supercharged airplane

2014 land rover range rover sport supercharged interior

2014 land rover range rover sport supercharged inside plane

The shifter allows you to access the new eight-speed automatic transmission, which is a peach. It’s made use of by several other manufacturers and could be the best auto in the business. The shifts are crisp and instantaneous, it always seems to be within the correct gear, and you’ve got paddles if you’re feeling sporty.

Having been place on a strict aluminum diet, the 2014 Range Rover Sport feels almost agile for a 5100 lb SUV (V8 model). This is also due to its lightweight independent suspension components and advanced technology such as air aprings each and every corner that help to keep the auto level but additionally assist in providing up to 21 of wheel travel to cushion any blows or overcome virtually any obstacle.

When driving off-road, the electrical, variable-ratio, speed-sensitive steering means you always have what you need. At high speed, they have weight and accuracy; while rock-crawling, it has quick responses but won’t kick-back in your handshas a Dynamic Mode for on-road behavior that provides a firmer ride with less body roll and sportier steering, making it feel less of a sports utility vehicle and more such as a GT. And when this is partnered with Dynamic Response active lean control, Dynamic Active Rear Locking Differential, plus Torque Vectoring by Braking, a blindfolded passenger would never know you were in a Range Rover. It drives a lot more like a sports vehicle, with its (optional) 155mph top speed, plus incredibly powerful braking due to six-piston Brembos up front.

Each one of these systems operate seamlessly, making it possible to hustle a really heavy car through a few of the trickiest roads in Wales, with only free-ranging sheep to worry about. On these roads, the surface might be far from ideal, but the Adaptive Dynamics kept varying the damper rates to absorb all but the worst imperfections. If you over-cook it, the Torque Vectoring also helps considerably by applying capacity to the outside wheels to aid turn-in, with the e-diff ready to element of.

So although this SUV drives better than most cars, it’s only tickling the surface of the iceberg underneath. The off-road ability is immense and Terrain Response 2 could there be to help you. Set it manually and it knows what to expect, although leave it in auto and also the car will calculate what’s best. The device works with another raft of assistance technologies that are again seamlessly integrated, with possibly the Hill Descent control the only person you really notice as you plummet down a near-vertical cliff to your death. Except the device uses the gearing and brakes to ensure you float on daisies to land within a blanket of feathers, or more it seemed…Similar to the Range Rover, the air intake draws from your hood shut lines, therefore the wading depth has been increased by 6 to an impressive 33.5 for the global-warming flood you might now be, or soon be, experiencing.

The SE model starts at $63495 and comes with the sweet 3.0L supercharged V6 found in the Jaguar XJ, XF and F-Type,. That may be for people wanting to get into the new 2014 Range Rover Sport on a budget, the good news. Boasting 340hp, it’s superior to the naturally aspirated 5. V8 within the old Sport, sprinting to 60mph in 6.9sec (.3sec quicker) and will be 27% cheaper as well.

European drivers will enjoy diesel and even a diesel-hybrid model to save them more money on the pumps. There’s also a petrol-hybrid coming, which might reach the US one day.

Those with larger families can also rejoice at the third-row seating that will provide temporary perches for little ones. Additionally, it folds flat at the touch of a button for convenience. The auto is 7 longer from the wheelbase than before, increasing rear passenger space.and also the Evoque’s comprehensive options list setting a new trend to the company, Sport customer have thousands of combinations. These include 19 paint options, three roof colors, 11 interior color themes with increased seats colors, four aluminum and three wood trims, 19-22 wheel options, black exterior trim and a Dynamic Pack on the top V8 models that brings color-matched exteriors plus more interior options.

Whatever colors you choose, this can be a handsome car with a lavish interior it is possible to spend hours inside. The 14-way adjustable seats were always comfortable, especially when covered with the soft leather of our own test car. The tactile trim rewards the fingers with aluminum and wood, while the eyes fall upon luxury not often seen fording a deep river. Yet with triple seals on the doors, no water gets in, which is as well since you wouldn’t would like to damage the 27 speakers in the top-flight Meridian sound system!approximately 7700 lb and is available with Tow Assist and Trailer Stability Assist so even a rookie can get the job done.

Found ourselves constantly amazed at the product range Rover Sport’s immense ability and flexibility, although we spent two days in a car we’d previously enjoyed. Were able to imagine a few uses we’d never previously considered?, even though we couldn’t imagine just one scenario where this vehicle wouldn’t be up to the work?

Is this really the only car you’d ever need? If you can only have one car from the garage, this can be the best one out there for each and every occasion because, while the Porsche Cayenne or BMW X5M might be as competent on-road, neither will live with the product range Rover Sport off it, though absolutely not.