A Range Rover is a statement to the world that you will accept nothing less than the most powerful, the safest, the most comfortable, and the most versatile vehicle to transport you and your loved ones through country roads and urban jungles. A Range Rover wraps its occupants in technology and luxury ensuring they arrive at their destination ready for their daily adventures.
The Range Rover Sport is the only Range Rover equipped to carry more than five passengers with an optional third row with 2 seats. The Sport is the middle child of the Range Rover family, sitting between the full-size Range Rover and the much smaller Evoque, and has a specification that sets it apart in its class.
The Range Rover Sport is the most popular vehicle Land Rover sells in the United States, and it is especially popular in New York city perhaps because it’s light enough to drive like a sports sedan but big enough to muscle assertively through traffic. Families will find the extra row of seats at the back only large enough for small children, but if the name of the game is getting half the soccer team back home for a snack then the electrically controlled third row is the ultimate convenience.
What makes a Range Rover special?
The Range Rover has an off-road pedigree second to none because it is based on the justifiably iconic Land Rover series of vehicles. The first Land Rover was made in 1948, but it wasn’t until the Land Rover II in 1970 that its more luxurious cousin was made to prove that comfort and off-road ability were possible in the same vehicle.
The Ranger Rover’s clean, confident lines quickly set it apart from other vehicles of the time, so much so that it was reportedly displayed at the famous Parisien art museum, The Louvre. Range Rover’s styling was so unique and popular, the design remained largely unchanged for forty years making it amongst the most instantly recognizable automobiles on the road.
Range Rovers have always been made according to the very latest advances in automotive technology. Early Range Rovers were the first to have full-time 4×4 drivetrains, and modern Range Rovers were amongst the first SUVs to shed 800 lbs by utilizing a unibody aluminum chassis.
Range Rovers are staggeringly expensive and yet continue to be one of the most popular SUVs on the American market. The smallest and cheapest Range Rover Evoque can cost $100,000 and the Range Rover SV Autobiography can cost as much as $180,000.
Who should definitely not buy a Range Rover Sport?
Many families will long for a Range Rover Sport with its unrivaled image and safety, and if you can afford one the reasons to indulge yourself are legion. However, even if the price is within your budget, there are also reasons why the Range Rover Sport may not be the right vehicle for you.
While the Ranger Rover Sport does have that third row, it is only big enough for kids, and compared to other SUVs on the market, is not that big. The Cadillac Escalade ESV, for example, is a lot longer than the Range Rover Sport and has 34 inches of legroom in the third row, more than enough space for 7 adults.
If you care about saving the planet, the Range Rover Sport might not be the car for you. While it is a little more fuel-efficient than many in its class, it hardly sips fuel as it only takes you 22 miles for every gallon of fuel.
You don’t own a Range Rover Sport to look at it or leave it on someone else’s driveway. But you might well be leaving your Range Rover Sport with your mechanic more often than you like because year on year, Land Rover and Range Rovers come right at the bottom of the reliability rankings.
Should you buy a Range Rover Sport?
The Range Rover Sport is an insanely popular car and for good reason. The Range Rover Sport comes with a family-focused third row, Land Rover’s automotive legacy, iconic and rugged good looks, and unrivaled driving experience, all of which make it a very desirable vehicle.
If your family is still relatively young, you won’t be put off by the smaller third row. The convenience of being able to bring your kids’ friends home with you on a whim is going to make you very popular with your own kids, your kids’ friends, and their parents too – and who doesn’t love that?