An SUV for All Roads
Vehicles that are good off road generally aren’t that much fun to drive on road. It’s just difficult to make something with all of the hardware needed to keep going when the road stops handling and ride smoothly the rest of the time.
That’s why the 2015 Land Rover Range Rover Sport is such a remarkable vehicle. It’s just as capable off road as a traditional Range Rover, but also genuinely sporty and comfortable on pavement. So whether your commute involves autobahns or mountain trails, it will be be able to handle it.
Powertrains and Performance
The 2015 Range Rover Sport has a unique mission when it comes to performance. It was designed to combine with off-road ability of a traditional Land Rover with on-road performance worthy of the “Sport” name. Those may seem like completely different functions, but the Range Rover Sport manages to excel at both.
There are two available powertrain options, and they could very well be described as “spicy” and “atomic.” The former is a 3.0-liter supercharged V6 that produces 340 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque. All Range Rover Sport models come with an eight-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel drive.
Land Rover says the V6 is capable of launching the Range Rover Sport from 0 to 60 mph in just 6.9 seconds, and propelling it to a top speed of 130 mph. The EPA lists fuel economy at 19 mpg combined (17 mpg city, 22 mpg highway).*
For even more speed, there’s also an available 5.0-liter supercharged V8, which chucks out 510 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque. That’s enough for a 0 to 60 mph time of 5.0 seconds, and a top speed of 140 mph. Fuel economy is rated at 16 mpg combined (14 mpg city, 19 mpg highway).*
Yet the Range Rover Sport can also impressive things once it leaves the pavement. The full-time four-wheel drive system includes a low range for crawling over rough terrain; electronic aids like Hill Start Assist and Gradient Release Control make that task easier as well.
The Range Rover Sport is also available with Land Rover’s Terrain Response 2 system, which adjusts multiple vehicle parameters with five settings: General, Grass/Gravel/Snow, Mud/Ruts, Sand, and Rock Crawl. There’s also an Auto mode that toggles between the different setups on its own.
Fine, you say, but what if I want to drive through a river? Then the new Wade Sensing feature, which uses sensors to measure water depth, will come in handy.
Features and Trims
The 2015 Land Rover Range Rover Sport is a five-door, five-seat SUV. It’s available in four trim levels, with prices starting at $63,350.**
It may be a rugged SUV, but unlike Land Rovers of old the Range Rover Sport is also quite luxurious. Standard features on the base SE model include 19-inch alloy wheels, and eight-inch central display screen, and eight-speaker audio system.
The HSE builds on the standard features of the SE, adding a leather interior, heated front seats, fog lamps, and a fixed panoramic roof with power blind. Both the SE and HSE models are only available with the 3.0-liter supercharged V6.
In addition to the applicable standard features from the previous two models, the Supercharged brings an upgrade to the 5.0-liter supercharged V8, plus the Terrain Response 2 system with Auto mode, paddle shifters, and brake-controlled torque vectoring for sharper handling.
The top Range Rover Sport model is the Autobiography, which incorporates all of the other models’ standard features, and adds 16-way power-adjustable driver and front passenger seats, a heated steering wheel and rear seats, three-zone automatic climate control, 21-inch alloy wheels, and a 19-speaker Meridian audio system, among other features.
Exterior/Interior
The 2015 Land Rover Range Rover Sport expresses its multi-talented nature with dynamic exterior styling. It blends features from the full-size Range Rover, as well as the smaller Range Rover Evoque. So while it features the tall, boxy bodywork of a traditional SUV, the Range Rover Sport also has a low, sleek roofline for an appropriately sporty look.
On the inside, the Range Rover Sport is comfortable yet functional. An inclined center console puts controls within easy reach and creates a snug, cockpit-like feel. It’s topped by an eight-inch display screen with crisp graphics, which can be augmented by a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster. Befitting a car in this price class, leather, wood, and aluminum trim are available in generous amounts.
Safety
Standard safety equipment on the 2015 Land Rover Range Rover Sport includes, anti-lock brakes, stability and traction controls, and front, side, seat-mounted, thorax, and pelvis airbags. Blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, a surround camera system, front parking aid, and rear parking sensors are available as options.
Bottom Line
The 2015 Land Rover Range Rover Sport lives up to its name with the off-road ability of a traditional Range Rover and truly sporty on-road character.
Be sure to contact us online or visit 3Birds Template to schedule a test drive.
*EPA estimates. Your mileage will vary depending on driving habits and conditions.
**Prices listed are the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price for the vehicle and options chosen by you. These prices do not include transportation, taxes, title, other options, dealer installation costs, or other dealer charges.
Image: Land Rover (European model shown)
