There’s little doubt the Range Rover Sport HSE has a high-end, luxury look.
Its muscular exterior includes distinctive light-emitting diode headlamps, a two-bar grille, and aerodynamic, sporty front bumpers and fenders. The look is sporty and plush.
That look is going to make some love the design and others hate it. But whatever side you take, you’ll likely agree the Range Rover Sport HSE is another top entry in the luxury sport utility vehicle category.
What sets it apart is what’s under the hood. There’s nothing soft there.
The new Range Rover Sport HSE has a choice of two new engines. The LR-V-8 has 375 hp. and 375 foot-pounds of torque, while the LR-V-8 5-liter supercharged engine has 510 hp. and 461 foot-pounds of torque.
I test-drove the regular V-8 and it was a tiger, roaring up hills, around corners and down streets. Braking and handling were both top-notch.
I didn’t drive off road, but there’s a host of options to optimize both on- and off-road performances. There are also a host of safety features including Adaptive Dynamics and enhanced Terrain Response.
Perhaps it’s the car’s stance, but it felt a bit less than totally stable to me as I drove on the Beltway. That could be an anomaly, though, because other reviewers have ranked this Range Rover tops in stability, on road and off.
The Range Rover Sport interior is also much more luxurious than expected. Everywhere you look you find a soft touch here, a refined finish there.
In fact, the interior materials and design are the most impressive part of the vehicle for many reviewers. It’s easy to see why. Although there are hints of athleticism within the cabin — such as wood trim and leather — the cabin is as posh as many found in various models of Jaguar and BMW.
Seating is also very spacious in both the front and back seats. In addition, there are all kinds of bells and whistles including a rearview camera, rear seat entertainment, navigation, high-end audio, dual-zone automatic climate control, sunroof and cruise control.
The climate and entertainment systems are controlled by a touch-screen and steering-wheel controls.
But get ready to get to know the owner’s manual because some of the features — such as navigation — are less than intuitive. Once you get the hang of it, though, it’s an intelligent system that’s far superior to others in its class.
The total cargo space in the Range Rover Sport is 71 cubic feet, which included 33.8 feet of space behind the back seat. That’s plenty of room for sports gear though you likely won’t be using it to haul muddy bikes and other large equipment.
The Range Rover Sport HSE has the look of a high-end sedan with the performance of an athlete.
