2018 Land Rover Range Rover Sport

Pros: Fantastic off-road capabilities; acceleration is gutsy with base V6 and blistering with supercharged V8; improved fuel economy; classy interior; delivers much of the upscale appeal of the original Range Rover at a much lower price

Cons: Even though its pricing significantly undercuts a regular Range Rover, Range Rover Sport is still really expensive; some complicated controls; legroom could be better in both the front and rear; small-item storage in the cabin is only so-so

CG Says: The 2018 Land Rover Range Rover Sport has revised styling inside and out. The available high-performance supercharged 5.0-liter V8 is now rated 518 or 575 horsepower, up from 510 and 550 hp. Range Rover Sport is a premium midsize crossover SUV that seats up to seven passengers with optional third-row seat. Although it shares a name with Land Rover’s topline Range Rover, Range Rover Sport is actually built on a smaller platform and is less expense. The base engine is a supercharged 3.0-liter V6 that produces 340 or 380 horsepower. Better fuel economy is offered by a turbodiesel 3.0-liter V6 with 254 hp and 440 lb-ft of torque. All engines are paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive is standard and a two-speed transfer case is optional. Available features include autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, Driver Condition Monitor, Intelligent Speed Limiter, blind-spot alert, lane-keep assist, park assist, Advanced Tow Assist, surround-view camera, hands-free liftgate, height-adjustable suspension, and head-up instrument display. There are other premium SUVs that offer more value for mainstream shoppers, but none of them can match the Range Rover Sport’s blend of on- and off-road handling, invigorating acceleration, regal cabin appointments, high-tech features, and high-end personality. The SVR model is incredibly expensive, but it should provide an interesting alternative to high-performance luxury SUVs such as the BMW X5 M and X6 M.