Pros

Solid and refined road manners, powerful supercharged V8 engine, theoretically able to handle off-road conditions, distinctive styling.

Cons

Standard model remains sport-"lite", tighter accommodations inside than the standard Range Rover, poor fuel economy, some hard-to-reach controls.

What's New for 2007

A personal telephone integration system with Bluetooth connectivity is now standard. Otherwise, the Range Rover Sport carries over with only minor changes for ,

2007 Land Rover Range Rover Sport Vehicle Overview

Introduction

When introduced last year, the Land Rover Range Rover Sport was quite a departure from Land Rover's traditional singular focus on conquering the far corners of the Earth. It was, in fact, the company's first on-road-oriented, performance SUV. One distinction: Even though it shares the Land Rover Range Rover badge with its more luxurious big brother, the Land Rover Range Rover Sport is actually a shortened and several-hundred-pounds-lighter version of the Land Rover LR3.

The exterior styling echoes the cubist Land Rover Range Rover shapes of old, though the engineers focused on optimizing aerodynamics and smooth lines; a shorter wheelbase and more steeply raked D-pillar/rear hatch give the Land Rover Range Rover Sport a decidedly dynamic stance. The Land Rover LR3's steering and suspension were sharpened for better on-road performance with variable-ratio/variable-assistance ZF Servotronic steering and premium monotube shocks handling the bumps.

Two engines power the 2007 Land Rover Range Rover Sport: a standard 4.4-liter V8 in the HSE borrowed from the Jaguar parts shelf with 300 horsepower driving through a six-speed automatic transmission, and the bad-boy Land Rover Range Rover Sport Supercharged 4.2-liter version, which boosts the V8's hp 30 percent to 390 far more eager horses.

The Land Rover Range Rover Sport's fully independent suspension utilizes air springs at each corner for comfort, and an available Dynamic Response System automatically adjusts the stabilizer bars for maximum roll control whether you're on pavement or off. Although its stance, suspension and tires are all tuned for on-road life, the Sport is still ready to hit the trail without compromise with its low-range gearing and adaptive Terrain Response System first introduced in the Land Rover LR3.

Though the idea of a fast and racy Land Rover sport-utility may seem like a contradiction, the 2007 Land Rover Range Rover Sport carries over with the acceleration and ride and handling dynamics to keep it among the top choices of the high-performance SUV set, especially in Supercharged form. n.

 

Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options

The fully equipped five-passenger 2007 Land Rover Range Rover Sport luxury SUV is offered in two trim levels: Land Rover Range Rover HSE and Land Rover Range Rover Supercharged. The Land Rover Range Rover HSE comes standard with 19-inch alloy wheels, leather upholstery, fold-down rear seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, satellite navigation and a 14-speaker, 550-watt Harman Kardon audio system with steering-wheel controls and a six-disc CD changer. Options include heated front and rear seats, adaptive headlights, center console cooler box, premium leather trim, polished cherry or oak trim and a rear-seat DVD entertainment system. The Land Rover Range Rover Supercharged Sport model gets most of these extras plus 20-inch alloy wheels, the envelope-expanding Dynamic Response active suspension system and an optional adaptive cruise control system.

 

Powertrains and Performance

The standard Land Rover Range Rover Sport HSE is powered by a 4.4-liter V8 that generates 300 hp and 315 pound-feet of torque. The Land Rover Range Rover Supercharged model features a blown 4.2-liter version of this engine that ups the power ante to 390 hp and a massive 410 lb-ft of torque. Both engines are mated to a six-speed automatic transmission with adaptive shift logic that adjusts itself to road conditions and your driving style.

Likewise, they both also get Land Rover's permanent 4WD system with two-speed transfer case and Terrain Response System technology that automatically adjusts factors like throttle response and electronic traction/stability control sensitivity to varying off-road conditions. As you might imagine, none of this helps fuel economy one bit: EPA estimates for the Supercharged are 13 mpg city and 19 mpg highway. Properly equipped Land Rover Range Rover Sports can tow up to 7,700 pounds.

 

Safety

Land Rover Range Rover Sport safety features include its nearly 3 tons of mass, four-wheel antilock braking -- including Brembo brakes on Land Rover Range Rover Supercharged models -- traction/stability control, hill-descent control and side-impact/head curtain airbags. The upmarket Supercharged model also includes adaptive headlights that "peer around" corners and adjust up and down to counter the effects of hard braking and varying cargo loads, as well as state-of-the-art Dynamic Response System active roll control technology to improve on-road handling and cornering performance at higher limits. In off-road conditions the system automatically "uncouples" the vehicle's antiroll bars for greater wheel travel, enhancing ride performance and driver feedback on rough terrain.

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Interior Design and Special Features

The midsize Land Rover Range Rover Sport sport-utility hits a home run inside with a first-class cabin best suited for four adults -- or five in a pinch -- trimmed in buttery English leather. A commanding driving position and elevated stadium seating give both driver and passengers a clear view of the scenery rushing by. The dash offers a simple, elegant geometric appearance that's very similar to the design used in the Range Rover. Switchgear is kept to a minimum, owing to integrated technology that minimizes the need for much driver input, but some of it is harder to reach than it should be. Maximum cargo capacity, at 71 cubic feet, is average for this class of vehicle. The Sport's sloping rear glass limits the ability to load large or bulky items, however.

 

Driving Impressions

Unlike the standard 300-hp Land Rover Range Rover Sport HSE, the torquey 2007 Range Rover Sport Supercharged certainly lives up to its more sporting, high-performance pretensions. There's plenty of power and traction available underfoot regardless of location or conditions. Dynamically, its ride and handling is the equal of the leading performance unibody SUVs and vastly superior to full-frame, truck-based competitors. .