The new Range Rover Sport looks incredible. The swanky new design is stylish in New York City, but it doesn't prevent the SUV from negotiating the jungles of South America.
The Sport isn't just a creature of Fifth Avenue or the Amazon. A modified version blitzed Germany's legendary Nürburgring course in just 8 minutes, 14 seconds, setting the track record for fastest production SUV.
The RR Sport also set the record for fastest production SUV at the treacherous Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in 2013.
But at its core, the speedy Sport is still a Range Rover. Which means it is also perfectly at home conquering some of the worst terrain in the world.
Most drivers will savor the Sport on good old-fashioned roads, where it is an absolute joy to drive. Its performance on pavement is as exceptional as that of many sport sedans.
Case in point: Through corners, the Sport feels rock solid but also frisky. That combination is the result of an aluminum frame that cut 800 pounds from previous generations — without compromising a stable feel for the road.
Plenty of weight is still left — 5,000 pounds of it. But 15-inch Brembo brakes can bring it all from 60 mph to stopped in less than 130 feet.
The new Sport is lighter and more aerodynamic, but you still have a commanding view of the road.
Or roads that aren't roads anymore. But even if the weather is awful outside ...
... the interior creates a serene, soothingly luxurious environment, protecting the driver and passengers from anything nasty the world can throw at them.
It's really nice in here. Who doesn't love oodles of fine soft-touch leather and tasteful strips of high-grade polished aluminum? Even better, the elegant design is easy to manage — everything is in the right place and simple to operate.
Back outside, cameras mounted on all corners enable you to keep an eye on anything you may bang into, whether trees or rocks or other SUVs in parking lots. The suspension can be adjusted to improve traction, and the SUV can be set to practically drive itself down steep hills.
These features are controlled by a simple pop-up knob.
That's not enough for you? How about the fact that the Sport can handle up to 3 feet of water — without stalling.
Sadly, U.S. Range Rovers don't get the "Wade Sensing System" — which uses sonar sensors to measure water depth. We're not making this up!
The 5-liter 510hp supercharged V8 serves up buttery smooth power — and an intoxicating rumble. All that power is tamed by a beautifully efficient 8-speed automatic gearbox.
Of course, if you aren't into intoxicating rumbles, a 3-liter 340hp supercharged V6 is also available. It also sounds pretty good.
This is a good-looking car. The front end is highlighted by a rakish headlight-and-grille combination ...
... while the rear is dominated by a single-piece hatchback and dual exhaust pipes.
One problem: The new sloping roof line and small rear window make seeing out the back a challenge at times.
Check out this massive panoramic moon roof. It made our already airy test car seem that much bigger and brighter.
The dashboard is dominated by an 8-inch touchscreen display. The infotainment system is a breeze to use.
No need to fuss with a maze of menus to turn on the air conditioner. Climate control is operated using these nifty rotary dials with embedded displays.
But this is, after all, a Range Rover. Our test car displayed a "charging system fault" just three hours after we picked it up. It was a reminder that Range Rover electronics can be finicky (it cleared up on its own, by the way).
Starting at more than $60,000, the second-generation Range Rover Sport is no vehicle for the masses. However, if you can afford to buy one ... do!
Competitors like the BMW X5 M ...
... the Porsche Cayenne Turbo S ...
... and Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG can tear up the track like the Sport, but they are nowhere near as awesome off-road.
On the other hand, off-road specialists like the Lexus LX 570 ...
... and the Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen can't match the Sport's athletic driving dynamics.
The Range Rover Sport has masterfully melded the best of both worlds into one package.
Its closest competition may be its larger sibling — the Range Rover.
Nowhere else will you find a vehicle with the performance of a sports sedan and the off-road toughness of a Land Rover — all while coddling its occupants in absolute luxury.
For more high-tech performance, take a look that this sexy sports sedan ...
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