Overview & Reviews

The Land Rover Range Rover Sport is a premium SUV that represents a shift in focus for this SUV-oriented luxury brand. While traditional Land Rover models have combined unbeatable off-road performance with the amenities of a luxury sedan, the Range Rover Sport represents Land Rover's entry into the burgeoning high-performance SUV arena. It is designed to offer sporty road manners and traditional Land Rover luxury without completely sacrificing the go-anywhere abilities of other Land Rover models.

Despite its name, the Range Rover Sport is actually a modified and shortened version of the old Land Rover LR3. Certainly, it's an enjoyable and luxurious vehicle to drive as well as look at. But shoppers seriously interested in getting maximum on-road performance out of an SUV would probably be better served by a few of this Land Rover's competitors, as they are able to deliver better acceleration and handling.

Current Land Rover Range Rover Sport
The Range Rover Sport is offered in two trim levels, both featuring 5.0-liter V8s. The HSE model produces 375 horsepower and 375 pound-feet of torque, while the Supercharged model's V8 develops an impressive 510 hp and 461 lb-ft. Both engines are paired with a six-speed automatic transmission with manual shift control.

Handling performance is a definite step up from other Land Rover models. The Range Rover Sport is the first Land Rover to offer the company's Dynamic Response suspension system, which is standard on the Supercharged model and optional on the HSE. Land Rover says that this computer-controlled system senses cornering forces and automatically adjusts the antiroll bars to optimize body control and handling. Dynamic Response works as advertised, giving the Range Rover Sport a more agile feeling when the roads get twisty, as compared to previous Land Rovers.

Off-road performance is still within the Range Rover Sport's repertoire as well. A permanent four-wheel-drive system with a two-speed transfer case is standard, and features an electronically controlled, infinitely variable locking center differential that automatically distributes the available torque to both drive axles as needed. Additionally, the Range Rover Sport's Terrain Response System assures that the driver will be up to nearly any off-road task. It offers five different settings that adjust throttle response, gearchanges, vehicle ride height and the differentials to optimize mobility in varying environments, ranging from pavement to sand.

Land Rover is also synonymous with luxury, which doesn't take a backseat in the Range Rover Sport. Just about any premium feature that you will find on most luxury sedans, or any of its luxury SUV competitors, is available on the Range Rover Sport. The same holds true for safety items, with the usual complement of airbags and electronic crash-prevention aids.

Unlike the Sport's older cabin design, the current RR Sport offers the sort of ambience its big Range Rover brother has been renowned for. Occupants are surrounded by supple leathers, rich wood trim and top-notch materials, while the dash design is not only visually appealing but easy to use as well. As always, though, the Sport isn't as passenger-friendly as its Land Rover siblings. Headroom can be at a premium, and the backseat is best suited for two people.

We are impressed with the Range Rover Sport's dual-natured capabilities on and off-road. Its 5.0-liter V8s provide the sort of power this hefty truck requires, and the cabin yields the luxury its well-heeled customers deserve. However, besides the above concerns, there's also the matter of its thirsty fuel consumption and Land Rover's poor record for reliability.

Used Land Rover Range Rover Sport Models
The Range Rover Sport debuted for the 2006 model year and is still in its first generation. However, there are notable differences between the current model and those made from 2006-'09.

Originally, the HSE was equipped with a 4.4-liter V8 that developed 300 horsepower and 315 pound-feet of torque. The Supercharged model was equipped with a 4.2-liter V8 that, logically, employed a supercharger to produce 390 hp and 410 lb-ft of torque. However, the relatively high curb weights put a damper on performance and fuel economy for both models. Both engines were backed by a six-speed automatic transmission with different tuning than the current model.

The original cabin was more akin to the cheaper LR3 in design than the top-dog Range Rover. Its center console was a mess of little black buttons, which felt cheap, looked alike and were harder to reach than they should've been. Prior to the 2012 model year, Range Rovers also suffered from outdated and unintuitive audio and navigation systems. Recent updates have remedied those issues.

User Reviews:

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  Worst Car Ive Ever Owned - 2006 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
  By es - April 19 - 10:03 am

  This car has had the computer system replaced 3 times, cannot be made to drive straight, had the leaky-whistly windshied problem, had the naviscreen replaced twice, the air suspension raises and lowers at its own mystical intervals, et, etc ,etc... If I could tell everyone thinking of buying this vehicle, I would let them know that $20,000 of the purchase price is to cover the warranty work that they know they are going to perform. When the computer went out the 3rd time, I was asked " did you just wash the car?" because apparently the rear windows leak right where the computer resides, and commonly shorts the system out.

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  Made the switch and love it! - 2010 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
  By sanswooper - March 25 - 6:36 am

  After 10 years and 2 Toyota Landcruisers I was looking for something a little smaller, but with all the bells and whistles. The 2010 RRS has it all! Extended leather opt gives it as good a fit and finish as any MB, Caddy, or Lexus. Ride quality is definitely sporty and European, but not at the expense of luxury, and the exhaust note is aggressive but subtle. Surround camera system is a bit hokey until you need to parallel park in a tight spot. After a year and a couple dozen test drives the 2010 RRS beat the competition. Ive had it for a month and still tell people I like better the more I drive it.

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  Computer Issues - 2006 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
  By IROC - March 6 - 12:16 pm

  Bought the car 2 weeks ago, has been in the shop the last week because the stereo and navigation system keep going on and off. The service people cant figure out the problem and seem like they are clueless all around. Have always owned BMWs and regret switching. I would wait a year before I bought this vehicle, let them work the kinks out. Car is new so they are trying to fix problems on the fly.

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  great on the outside - 2006 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
  By great on the outside - February 27 - 11:56 pm

  I have owned this car for 6 months and want out of it. I had the 04 Range Rover with the BMW engine and loved the car. I thought the new Sport style was really hot, so I changed models. what a mistake. Its a lot smaller, and seats are not comfortable. The bluetooth is great to have. The side bags for storage are too hard to get to. The center console is narrow and the cooler is great if it was able to fit a normal size water bottle. Key ignition is too hard to get to and the other keys on my chain touch my leg! Car lags and jolts into another gear from a slow stop, drives me nuts!

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  Range Rover Sport - 2006 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
  By wineangel - February 6 - 5:03 am

  Many problems with our RR Sport. Fuel pump went out at less than 500 mi while we were on the interstate. Car came to complete stop, we were nearly killed. 5 months later the differential went, 1 after that back in shop for transmission problems. Back in shop again today at 1 year with bad alternator. Very unreliable for a $65k car. Love the look, comfort, amenities, etc..., but if the car wont run, none of that really matters does it?

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  Horrible Electronics - 2017 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
  By Picartist - January 29 - 3:19 pm

  First off, they forgot or screwed up and not put in voice navigation direction. You have to punch it in each time. The so called apps they have suck. None of the navigational apps they have work for me, despite spending hours trying to learn them. They simply dont work. If I had known the programmers put this car on the market without a good navigation voice assist software, I would never have bought it. Check this out before you buy, make them show you it works (which it doesnt). They keep saying they will have an update to the software soon, but so far zap.

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  Great SUV, but gas mileage is bad! - 2007 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
  By njacks12 - December 31 - 11:50 pm

  The Range Rover Sport Supercharged is a great SUV. It is everything you would wish for, except the gas mileage. First you have to use premum. Then the engine is a v-8 so it burns a lot of gas which I dont like about my Range Rover. Everthing else is excellent!

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  2006 Range Rover Sport HSE Review - 2006 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
  By Aaron Yeung - December 7 - 10:36 pm

  This has to be the best vehicle Land Rover has come out with. The engine (4.4L) and transmission are improvements from the 4.4 and 4.6 L engines of the Land Rover Discovery II and IIa (1999 to 2004). The smooth ride rivals that of the Lexus GX470. The interior is well-appointed.

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  New purchase - 2006 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
  By kungpao - September 7 - 11:20 pm

  Gorgeous car to drive and very luxurious interior. My favorite is the body style. I looked at several other luxury cars and when this version of the Range Rover came out I was enamored with the price point and I already owned a Land Rover Discovery so I traded it in for this one. Body style really mattered to me so I loved this when it came out. After all the bells and whistles/dvd/rear entertainment/aspen leather/bluetooth/navigation/heated seats etc...It came out to be 63k. It could stand to be a bigger as far as the rear cargo area is concerned, but if I had wanted the LR3 I wouldve had to give up the rear body style and it was just too boxy for my taste.

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  Road Runner - 2008 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
  By Racyldy - August 11 - 6:33 am

  This vehicle is like driving on a cloud. Its smooth, comfortable, wraps around the driver and seems to float. It corners well, shifts very smoothly and will turn around on a dime. The gas economy is not wonderful but a fair trade for the safe and secure feeling it provides. Ive had it on an off-road adventure and it really taught me what the vehicle would do. I would take it anywhere...in comfort!