While this is not a full-blown off-roader, it does have terrain response modes and should get you out of some tricky situations
Bhpian omkar recently shared this with other enthusiasts:
Drive Impressions
3.0-litre diesel engine puts out 346 BHP and 700 Nm. It’s mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission:
The D350 is an all-aluminium engine with two close-coupled series sequentially arranged turbochargers. It is a beautifully tuned engine with good power. Given the ‘Sport’ badge on the tailgate and significantly less weight, there are some changes to the way this car drives compared to the Range Rover. One of the first things you’ll notice as soon as you start driving is the fact that the engine sounds sportier. The Range Rover’s engine note is more hushed and silent. The 3.0-litre turbo diesel has a muscular note to it, and GTO in fact commented that it sounds more muscular than BMW’s 3.0-litre diesel.
In the driver’s seat, you have a more cocooned and engaging feeling. You are seated 20 mm lower than in the Range Rover, and you also get a slightly smaller steering wheel. The seat offers endless levels of adjustment, and you can find your perfect driving position with ease. Driving around Mumbai, the Range Rover Sport seemed to mask its dimensions very well. Yes, it’s a big SUV, but it is very easy to drive, and dealing with the ever-so-unpleasant Mumbai traffic didn’t feel bad. Unfortunately, the all-wheel steering option is restricted only to the SV model, and the Dynamic HSE variant that we were driving doesn’t get it. That would have further helped in making those sharp turns.
Driving around in the city, the 6-cylinder diesel engine with its mild-hybrid tech makes the Sport quick on its feet. The engine has enough pep, and the car feels properly quick. You won’t feel the lack of power under any condition, and it moves this big, heavy SUV very well. The mild-hybrid system helps in adding a bit of pep to the overall driving experience. I used Eco mode while driving in the city and while the throttle response was dull, the car didn’t ever feel underpowered. The throttle took slightly more time to respond, but overall, the Eco mode felt perfect for city driving. Quick overtakes and closing gaps in traffic were easily managed in Eco mode.
Got on some open roads to flex the right leg, and the Range Rover Sport didn’t disappoint. The diesel engine feels playful, and you can enjoy loads of torque on the highways. Comfort mode is best for the highways where you have to slow down at times and get back to cruising speeds. The engine manages to stay comfortable and smooth. Overtakes on the highway will be taken care of with ease. Switch to the Dynamic mode, and the engine response is at its sharpest. You’ll also notice that the air suspension moves you to the lowest setting and the Sport just transforms into a quick car. The throttle pedal response is sharper, the gearbox maintains higher engine rpms in each gear to keep it in the optimum power band, and even the steering is heavier. If you want to have some fun on the ghats, the Dynamic mode is the one to be in.
The transmission is the tried and tested ZF8, which doesn’t need much to be said about. JLR has done a decent job with the tuning in this iteration. It is smooth when it’s supposed to be and also sporty when one demands it to be. Overall, you won’t find a lot of people complaining about the tuning of this gearbox.
The fuel tank capacity is 80 litres:
Suspension
The other important aspect of driving the Range Rover Sport is the ride quality. There’s a big difference in the way the Sport feels against the Range Rover, and that’s expected. However, there are a lot of similarities as well since both these cars share the same platform. The Sport is equipped with Dynamic Air Suspension that offers a comfortable ride quality. At slow speeds, the suspension feels absorbent, and you can go over potholes with ease. Small and medium bumps are taken with absolute ease without a second thought. It continues to be a vehicle one can drive on our terrible roads absolutely without stress. Larger bumps do let a thud into the cabin and are felt, but the suspension still does feel extremely refined. In comparison with the big Range Rover, the overall feel is similar, but the Sport does feel stiffer.
The ride also feels busy when driving through the city due to the 22-inch rim size. Smaller-sized rims and tyres with taller sidewalls should enhance the plushness of the suspension. While bumps are handled well and the suspension is capable of taking big bumps, given the big rim size, you will want to take it easy.
Gain some speed, and the ride quality improves. The comfort levels are good. The Range Rover Sport feels planted at highway speeds. Road undulations are handled well, and it doesn’t feel nervous. Straight line stability is good, and vertical movement is well controlled. When it comes to handling, the Range Rover Sport manages to keep things exciting. Body roll is well controlled, and the chassis feels tight in the Dynamic mode. You can carry good speed into the corners, and the chassis, along with the all-wheel-drive system, will make sure you hold the line effortlessly. The turn in is sharp, and it manages to respond well to inputs. Must say, for such a large, tall, and heavy SUV, the body control is quite good in corners. In Dynamic mode, it’s no Porsche Cayenne, but it won’t make you feel nervous at all.
The steering feels accurate, but lacks the heft that enthusiasts enjoy. On the flip side, it is very light and effortless to use in the city. It has the right amount of resistance, which makes daily driving a breeze.
The brakes also have the right amount of bite and feel progressive. There’s some nosedive under hard braking, but that’s somewhat expected of such a big SUV.
While this is not a full-blown off-roader, it does have terrain response modes and should get you out of some tricky situations. Although I doubt anyone would be willing to take a vehicle with an on-road price of ~Rs. 1.75 crore offroading.
