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Premium midsize SUV; Built in England
  • 4-door wagon
  • longitudinal front-engine/all-wheel drive
Good condition price range: $24,400 – $64,600*


2010 Land Rover Range Rover Sport front


2010 Land Rover Range Rover Sport rear


2010 Land Rover Range Rover Sport interior

Pros:
  • Acceleration
  • Build quality
  • Quietness
  • Refinement
  • Ride
Cons:
  • Control markings and use
  • Fuel economy
  • Passenger room (not exceptional for a vehicle this size)

In its base HSE form, Range Rover Sport isn’t as aggressively sporty as some comparably priced high-performance SUVs. Supercharged models raise the performance bar significantly, but at a stiff price premium over the HSE. The Supercharged edition may not match some rivals’ overt machismo tone, but few competitors are as refined or easy to drive. Any Range Rover Sport does a very good job balancing on- and off-road performance with comfort and utility, all while maintaining a mature and distinct personality.

Overview

For the 2010 model year, Land Rover’s Range Rover Sport earned freshened styling, newly available features, and new engines. Seating five, this premium-midsize SUV shared some of its basic design with Land Rover’s seven-passenger LR4. Range Rover Sport came as the HSE with a 375-horsepower 5.0-liter V8 engine, replacing a 300-horsepower 4.4-liter V8. The top-end Supercharged model held a 510-horsepower 5.0-liter V8, which replaced a 390-horsepower 4.2-liter V8. A six-speed automatic was the sole transmission. All-wheel drive with low-range gearing was standard. It included Land Rover’s Terrain Response system, which automatically tailored AWD performance to specific off-road conditions. A locking rear differential was optional.

Standard safety features included antilock braking, traction control, an antiskid system with rollover sensing, front-side airbags, and curtain-side airbags. Hill descent control was standard. So were a sunroof, dual-zone climate control, front- and rear-obstacle detection, and a navigation system. An adaptive air suspension also was standard. Among the new features offered were keyless entry/engine start as well as a “Surround Camera” system that showed the driver nearly the entire circumference of the exterior on the screen of the standard navigation system. The available LUX package for HSE models included heated front and rear seats, a heated steering wheel, adjustable side bolsters on the driver’s seat, a cooler box in the center console, upgraded leather upholstery, wood interior trim, adaptive headlights, and 20-inch alloy wheels. A limited-edition Autobiography model could be specified. Premium-midsize SUV rivals included the BMW X5, Mercedes-Benz M-Class, and Volkswagen Touareg.

Yearly Updates

2011 Range Rover Sport
Following its freshening for 2010, the Range Rover Sport had few changes for 2011.
2012 Range Rover Sport
There were no changes of note to the 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Sport.
2013 Range Rover Sport
A few more updates for Range Rover Sport occurred for 2013, headlined by a pair of new Limited Edition models. In addition, the uplevel Supercharged version got revised wheel designs and interior color choices, plus Brembo-brand brake calipers as a no-cost option.

Engines

longitudinal front-engine/all-wheel drive

Both models use a 5.0-liter V8 engine and six-speed automatic transmission. In the Sport HSE, the V8 produces 375 horsepower. Supercharging raises output to 510 horsepower in the Supercharged model. All Range Rover Sports have four-wheel drive.

dohc V8
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 5.0/305
Engine HP 375
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 375
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
6-speed automatic

 13/18

 16.7
dohc V8
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 5.0/305
Engine HP 510
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 461
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
6-speed automatic

 12/27

Road Test

A Range Rover Sport HSE delivers potent acceleration, never feeling taxed in daily driving. The Supercharged model is impressively strong and quick. In either model, the smooth automatic transmission shrewdly matches power delivery to demand.

Fuel economy is better than before, at least. In Consumer Guide testing, an HSE averaged 16.7 mpg. That’s far better than the 12-13 mpg we averaged in previous Range Rover Sport models. Both engines require premium-grade gas.

Both models offer a comfortable, well-controlled ride with good bump absorption and little excess body movement. Little difference is evident in ride comfort between the HSE LUX and the Supercharged model.

Steering/handling is satisfying. Range Rover Sports are secure, balanced, and grippy. Body lean is well controlled, and cornering speeds can be satisfyingly quick in either model.

Both Range Rover Sport models are quiet for sporty midsize SUVs. The V8 engines emit satisfying growls under acceleration, and the supercharger whines under spirited throttle input, but it’s never annoying.

Gauges are clearly marked and easy to read, as is the analog clock. Most major controls are easy to locate and operate, though some markings are puzzling. Some secondary controls are accessed through the navigation system’s touchscreen. That touchscreen is small and awkwardly angled, making operation and navigation programming more difficult than it should be. Setting Terrain Response, hill descent control, and other off-road gear can puzzle the uninitiated. Interior materials are of high quality, and assembly appears first-rate. The tasteful and understated cabin tends to look more upscale outdoorsy than uptown opulent, but nothing seems out of place and the wood trim adds a bit of warmth.

Front-seat headroom is adequate, but larger folk may wish for a bit more wiggle room. The firm and astutely contoured seats provide excellent support, and the driving position is fine. Visibility is good all around, and entry and exit are no-fuss affairs.

Rear passengers can expect good headroom and a comfortable bench seat. Even so, taller riders may need to cooperate with front-seat occupants for enough foot room and knee space.

The tailgate opens up to a station-wagon-sized cargo bay. Folding the rear seat creates a relatively long and flat load floor. A double-tier glovebox and a handful of bins contribute to good small-item storage, but thirsty riders may wish the door pockets offered additional drink holders.

Ratings

Model Tested: 2010 Land Rover Range Rover Sport HSE w/Luxury package

Ratings values are on a 1-10 scale, with 10 being the best. With the exception of Value, these numbers reflect how the vehicle compares against the universe of vehicles, not just against rivals in its class.

Performance

Acceleration - 7
70%
Fuel Economy - 4
40%
Ride Quality - 7
70%
Steering/Handling - 6
60%
Quietness - 8
80%

Accommodations

Controls/Materials - 6
60%
Room/Comfort Front - 7
70%
Room/Comfort Rear - 6
60%
Cargo Room - 9
90%

Other

Value - 5
50%

Total: 65

Specifications

4-door wagon
Wheelbase (in.) Length (in.) Width (in.) Height (in.) Weight (lbs)
108.0 188.3 85.0 71.5
Cargo Volume (cu/ft) Payload Capacity (cu/ft) Fuel Capacity (gal.) Seating Capacity
71.0 22.2 5
Headroom Legroom
Front Rear Front Rear
38.5 38.4 42.4 37.6
Safety Ratings

Model Tested: N/A

NHTSA

(5 is the highest rating)

Front Impact Test

Driver Injury - N/A
N/A0%
Front Passenger Injury - N/A
N/A0%

Side Impact Test

Driver Injury - N/A
N/A0%
Rear Passenger Injury - N/A
N/A0%

HLDI

(A score of 100 is average. Lower is better)

Collision N/A
Injury N/A
Theft N/A

Trouble Spots

Engine knock and oil leak
Description: There may be an oil leak from the rear of the engine. (2010)
Engine noise
Description: Worn timing chain can cause rattling noise in the front of the engine. (2010-12)
Fuel gauge
Description: The fuel gauge may be inaccurate, fluctuate or quit working due to electrical problems inside the fuel tank. (2010-11)
Steering problems
Description: Steering gear problems can be caused by a faulty halfshaft seal. (2013)
Steering problems
Description: The steering rack may leak in the area of the pinion housing. (2010-11)
Water pump
Description: Engine performance problems and a check engine light may develop due to restrictions in variable valve timing solenoids on the 5.0L naturally aspirated V8 engine. (2010-11)
Windows
Description: The rear door window(s) may malfunction by going back down after closing, requiring the window modules to be reinitialized. (2010-11)
Check-engine light
Description: Engine performance problems and a check engine light may develop due to restrictions in variable valve timing solenoids on the 5.0L naturally aspirated V8 engine. (2010-11)
Interior trim
Description: Headliner may sag requiring it to be glued back in place. (2010-11)

Recall History

Equipment Lists

Equipment lists are only viewable on larger screen sizes.

Pricing

Used-car pricing varies widely depending on local market conditions. Therefore, we recommend visiting websites that list used cars for sale to get a better idea of what a specific model is selling for in your area.

More about Tom Appel
Written by: Tom Appel on April 21, 2016.
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