It was the end of winter in Utah when I last spent time with the Range Rover Sport---a drive from Park City to Sundance Lodge and back, followed by an evening at Range Rover House. Fresh snow had just fallen, the daytime high was 29 and the nighttime low 19.
This time is different---instead of a day, I get a week with the Range Rover Sport. It's the beginning of summer in suburban Sacramento, California. As I write this, the predicted high is 112, the overnight low will be 73, and, at a quarter to seven in the morning, it's already 81.
Range Rovers and Land Rovers excel in extremes. Way bigger extremes than Utah and California can offer. In the Arctic Circle, the Sahara, and pretty much anyplace on earth, they're the vehicle of choice for on-and-off-road capability and world-class creature comforts.
Under the hood---a 3.0-liter turbocharged and supercharged six-cylinder gasoline engine. 395 horsepower, 406 lb-ft of torque, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission with all wheel drive.
The EPA fuel economy estimate is 21 mpg combined city/highway (19 city/25 highway).
The Range Rover Sport Dynamic SE sprints to 60 mph from a standing start in 5.4 seconds, has a top speed of 150 miles per hour, and feels like it was carved out of a block of granite instead of assembled.
I drive more than 100 vehicles a year. Nothing else feels like a Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, Range Rover Velar, Defender or Discovery. They are simply unflappable at speed, in weather and on or off-road.
The electric power-assisted steering is never numb---there's always just the right amount of feedback. Standard equipment includes Terrain Response 2 with selectable driving and off-road modes, low traction launch, hill descent control, dynamic air suspension with automatic access height and adaptive dynamics.
And no matter whether it's a snowstorm or an extreme heat warning, you, inside the Range Rover Sport, will be every bit as comfortable as you wish.
Wherever you go, you can take lots of your things with you. The rear cargo area measures 40.7 cubic feet behind the rear seats. Fold those down and it's 83.5.
Rear seat passengers get a generous 40.4 inches of legroom (the front passenger seat is all the way back and partially reclined in this shot).
Base price of the 2024 Range Rover Sport Dynamic SE is $92,175, including destination. In addition to the mechanicals discussed above, standard equipment includes 21-inch alloy wheels, dynamic exterior styling with black brake calipers, LED headlights, auto high-beam assist, front fog lights, signature daytime running lamps, a power tailgate, flush door handles that deploy when you unlock the vehicle, rain-sensing wipers, a rear wiper, power-folding, and heated exterior door mirrors with memory and approach lights (the driver's side dims automatically). There's more. Windsor leather seats, an extended leather upgrade, sunvisors with illuminated vanity mirrors, dual-zone climate control with air quality sensing, a sliding panoramic roof with power sunblind, rear privacy glass, heated and ventilated front seats, power-reclining heated rear seats, heated steering wheel with power adjustment, a Meridian sound system, carpet mats, bright metal pedals and metal treadplates with Range Rover script, an auto-dimming rearview mirror with HomeLink, keyless entry, pushbutton start, adjustable cabin lighting, a 12.1-inch touchscreen, a three month trial to SiriusXM Satellite Radio, wireless device charging, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, integrated Amazon Alexa, and a comprehensive suite of active safety features.
Our test vehicle had extra-cost options, as well. $1,100 for 22-inch Satin Dark Gray wheels and red brake calipers, $1,805 for the Hot Climate Pack (solar-attenuating windscreen, twin-blade sunvisors with illuminated vanity mirrors, a front center console refrigerator compartment, four-zone climate control, and Cabin Air Purification Pro), $1,785 for the Technology Pack (ClearSight interior rearview mirror, domestic plug socket and head-up display), $1,550 for the SV Bespoke satin forged carbon finisher, $1,220 for an upgraded Meridian 3D surround sound system, $750 for the Black Exterior Pack, $725 for the Premium Interior Protection and Storage Pack, and $710 for the Santorini Black exterior paint, $595 for the Convenience Pack (powered gesture tailgate and boot lid, manual rear side window sunblinds, a loadspace partition net and loadspace floor partition.
Then there was $500 for a full-size (22-inch) spare wheel, $450 for laminated front and rear side glass, $450 for the Cold Climate Pack (heated windscreen and heated washer jets), $300 for heated and ventilated rear seats, $220 for the Wheel Protection Pack, $200 for Park Assist, $75 for an emergency kit, and $65 for the Range Rover Handover Pack.
All told, the as-tested price of the 2024 Range Rover Sport Dynamic SE is $104,655.
Look, a six-figure pricetag is bracing. But, as an experiment, I just went on Chevy's site to see what a Tahoe would cost if you took the top-of-the-line model and then said yes to every option---and ended up within $1,500 of the as-tested price of this Range Rover Sport Dynamic SE.
No disrespect to the Tahoe---but we're talking about two very different classes of vehicle. With that perspective, the Range Rover Sport is not just a remarkable machine, but a strong value.
Comentários