The Range Rover Sport has been launched with a price tag of 1.09-1.65 crores (ex-showroom Mumbai). The Range Rover Sport has a much cheaper price tag when compared to the full-size Range Rover and as a result it has always been the top selling model for Land Rover in India. The Range Rover Sport bridges the gap between the Range Rover Evoque and the full-sized Range Rover. The Range Rover Sport will be imported into India as a CBU(completely built unit).
Engine and Gearbox:
The Range Rover Sport has been launched with two engine options. The TDV6 diesel engine is a six cylinder 3.0-litre motor which produces 292Ps of power and 600Nm of torque. It is available in 3 variants: S, SE and HSE. The engine is quiet, refined and also very powerful. The only small drawback is that there is a bit of turbo-lag felt initially. The Autobiography edition is available with a 5.0-litre LR-V8 petrol engine which produces 510Ps of power and 625Nm of torque. Both engines are mated to an 8 speed automatic gearbox.
Exteriors, Interiors and Equipment:
The cabin of the Range Rover Sport is heavily inspired by the Range Rover Evoque. It is clean and simple. The seats are well bolstered and the driver and passengers have a commanding view of the road ahead. The SUV will seat seven adults, in a 5+2 seating configuration. Like all Land Rovers, the Range Rover Sport is packed with features and technology like a start-stop system, Air suspension with Adaptive Dynamics, lane departure warning, Meridian 3D audio technology, four-zone climate control, touch-screen media system with a surround camera system and navigation, traffic sign recognition, panoramic roof etc.
Construction and Ride:
The biggest improvement in the new Range Rover Sport is the all-new aluminium monocoque. This new chassis is 420kg lighter than the previous generation vehicle. The new Range Rover Sport shares its platform with its larger sibling, the 2013 Range Rover unlike the older one which shared it’s platform with the Land Rover Discovery.
Needless to say the Range Rover Sport is very capable off-road, just like all other Land Rover’s. This is mainly due to the clever electronics and technology such as the Variable Torque split, Air suspension, Terrain Response System and the Torsen-based 4×4 system. All-in-all the ride is pliant and stiff, a common trait found on the Sport’s variants.
Conclusion:
The Range Rover Sport is a big improvement over the previous generation in almost every aspect. It is packed with features and technology and even has seriously good off-road capabilities. Overall it does the job it was meant to do, that is bridge the gap between the smaller Range Rover Evoque and the full-sized Range Rover.
