With the fully fledged Range Rover now a plutocratic purchase, it’s this Sport model that, for me, now most faithfully continues a model line stretching all the way back to the 1970 original.
That very first Range Rover was a car you didn’t have to be afraid to use as intended, on or off road – and nor is this one.
Get the fundamental thing right with any great design – in this case, the weight – and everything else tends to fall into place. The aluminium platform that here makes this car so much lighter solves at a stroke the two issues that blighted the first-generation Range Rover Sport: stodgy handling and high running costs.
And yes, it does leave room for proper 4WD hardware to be fitted without compromising paved road prowess. Which is something that German rivals could learn from.
True, it’s a pity that the entry-level model does without some of the key on and off-road features.
And it’s also necessary for potential customers to pay a little more than they would for some less-sophisticated rivals, especially if they want to buy in at the SDV6 level that shows this car at its best. Still, the right version of this car offers exactly the right kind of luxury SUV experience for those fortunate enough to be able to enjoy it.
A Range Rover Sport that at last is a proper Range Rover, that’s sporty, and that’s a class leader. It’s been a long time coming.