Range Rovers have long been known for three things: off road capability, status, and reliability… wait. Sorry. That was a typo. Long term quality has never been one of Jaguar Land Rover’s strong suits, despite making some otherwise fantastic cars in recent years.
Speaking of fantastic cars, I recently spent a day with a now-previous generation (L494) Range Rover Sport Supercharged, and came away totally understanding why there is simply no substitute for some buyers.
As the name suggests, this particular Range Rover Sport is powered by a 5.0-liter supercharged V8 engine. Unfortunately, the Ford-derived 5.0-liter V8 is no longer offered in the latest L461 generation; JLR has returned to partnering with BMW for their larger engines. While the new 4.4-liter twin-turbo motor is certainly not bad, it loses the charm of the 5.0, and therefore some of the main appeal of the vehicle as a whole.
Despite first seeing the basic shape all the way back in 2014, the L494 has aged incredibly well in my eyes. 2018 brought a facelift with new lights and an updated interior. Exterior styling mimics the full size Range Rover (called the Vogue in other markets) but if somebody set the copy machine to 75%. The Sport is smaller, lower, sleeker, and well, more sporty in its appearance. Unfortunately, the Sport ditches the split folding tailgate, which has also been a longtime trait the Range Rover. You do however get exposed dual exhaust outlets, which emit a rather lovely noise.
Much like the Audi RS3 I also drove recently, the noise makes half of the driving experience of the Range Rover Sport. Put your foot down and the V8 moves this 5,000+ pound SUV to 60 in under 5 seconds, while simultaneously waking up the entire town around you. The ZF 8-speed automatic helps produce fantastic shift noises, and the exhaust crackles and pops on overrun and downshifts. There is absolutely no logical reason why an SUV like this needs to sound as good as it does, but I love it.
Handling wise, there’s no getting around the weight. As a whole, the Sport is more dynamic than the full-size Range Rover, but not as fun as the smaller Velar or some of the more performance-focused competition. I was impressed by the steering, but you can only do so much to combat body roll in an SUV without ruining it.
On that subject, other main half of the driving appeal is the ride and comfort. All Range Rover models feature height adjustable air suspension, which benefits both on road and off. The seats are a little firm for my liking, but they’re supportive and still plenty comfortable. It’s easy to live with, as there’s plenty of tech and features on offer. Although, you might notice a few weird omissions like a 360-degree camera, massaging seats, or steering assist with lane centering — at this price point, those things should really be standard. The aforementioned 2018 facelift brought an updated infotainment system with dual 10-inch touchscreens. Jaguar Land Rover infotainment has always been a bit weak, and this system is still not great. It’s laggy and unresponsive at times, but the displays are nice quality and the digital gauge cluster offers a good level of customization.
Rear passengers enjoy 37 inches of legroom, which is of course smaller than the full size Range Rover, but right on par with rivals. The seatbacks recline, which is a nice touch, and the panoramic glass roof makes it feel larger than it is. My favorite feature of the rear seat, however, is the blind spot monitoring built into the door — a small light illuminates next to the door handle to warn occupants if a car is approaching when parked on a busy street.
Finally, I can’t neglect to mention the reputation for unreliability and depreciation. This particular example seemed to be fairing well as it approached the high-40,000 mile mark, aside from the constantly rattling rear seat and smart key detection issues of course.
That said, God knows it will almost certainly end up like Doug DeMuro’s infamous one at some point, so for the love of all that’s holy, just buy an extended warranty.
| Vehicle Tested | 2018 Land Rover Range Rover Sport Supercharged |
| Color | Santorini Black / Black |
| Drivetrain | 5.0-liter supercharged V8 / 8-speed automatic / Four wheel drive |
| HP / Torque | 518 horsepower / 461 ft-lbs |
| Curb Weight | 5,200 lbs (est.) |
| 0-60 mph | 5.0 seconds (est.) |
| EPA Fuel Econ | 17 city / 22 hwy / 19 combined |
| MSRP | $82,050 (est.) |
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