The all new 2014 Range Rover Sport – Reviewed
Posted on 25th Sep 2013 
With the memory of last weeks review of a luxury four door Porsche, the Panamera, still lingering in our minds, we now move to the luxury four wheel drive 2014 Range Rover Sport.
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This all new edition sees the heavy steel platform of its predecessor ditched in favour of a much lighter aluminium chassis, which was used on the new 2013 Range Rover. Active anti-roll bar technology and adaptive dampers aim to deliver agile handling without sacrificing the luxury comfort we have got so very used to.
A hefty reduction in weight means an even stronger performance from the line up of both the petrol and diesel engines. It may not feel as engaging to drive as the Porsche Cayenne, but its definitely more refined and comfortable over longer distances. Would you really feel the need to splash out an extra 20k to upgrade to the Range Rover? This new Range Rover Sport fits comfortably between the compact Evoque and the full size Range Rover. striking a good balance between the sporty aggressive stance of the later and the elegance of the former.
The new car has bigger dimensions than its predecessor, thanks to a move away from its Discovery running gear to the Range Rover platform. Its a lot sleeker than its big brother, with a rounded nose that combines the two bar Evoque grille with the Range Rover lights. The windscreen is shallower than the Range Rover and the side windows narrow to an angled rear screen, just like the Evoque. Material quality is excellent and all models come with seats trimmed in soft leather.
All versions get the latest sat- nav system, a DAB radio and parking sensors, while the top Autobiography adds a whole host of desirable extras, including an even higher quality leather trim for the seats and adaptive cruise control. The SDV6 288bhp launches the Sport from 0.62mph in 6.8 seconds a full two seconds quicker than before. Its also incredibly smooth, although the SDV8 model is arguably smoother still, and theres always the supercharged petrol V8 at the top of the range if these are not quick enough for you. The ride is a little firmer than the standard Range Rover but still incredibly comfortable. The back seats are not as spacious as those in the Range Rover, but you can just about fit tall adults in them without their legs brushing the seats in front.
Like the BMW X5 and X6, the Sport is available with an optional seven seat layout. Boot space measures in at 784 litres, while folding down the rear seats liberates 1,761 litres of space, seat up, thats more space than the Mercedes M-Class boot, however the Mercedes has more room when the seats are folded. The Range Rover Sport is a big, powerful car with four wheel drive, so its still quite costly to run. Yet thanks to significant weight savings the SDV6 model promises to return a respectable 37.7 mpg.
The list price that starts from around £51000, the Sport is almost £20,000 cheaper than the Range Rover and is predicted to hold on to its value almost as well as the bigger, more expensive model. The Sport is well equipped, so its price shouldn’t be pushed up too far by accessories, despite their being plenty of extras on the options list!
Iain Mutch are a long established car brokers. Our aim is to make the sometimes arduous task of selling your car as easy and as simple as possible. For example, we come to you to value your car. And with 20 plus years of experience we can get you the best price. So if you want to know what the value of your Range Rover is just fill in this Range Rover valuation form and we can get the ball rolling.
