That’s because it boasts 500Nm of torque, along with 177kW, which means it has pretty decent pulling power. Once you start driving though the little engine does a commendable job, feeling plenty strong enough to get the job done. The Sport weighs more than 2000kg so a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel looks underwhelming on paper. There’s no other way to say it - this is a very big SUV with a small engine. The front passenger door wouldn’t close itself and had to be slammed closed manually with significant force. Deserved or not there are question marks over how well built the British machines are and our test car suffered a failure of its (optional) soft close doors. What is a potential deal-breaker, or at least something that raises questions, is Land Rover’s reputation for reliability. However, perhaps with more time and familiarity it would become more intuitive, so it’s no deal-breaker.

Plus the lack of physical buttons (there’s only a pair of rotary dials that can switch between functions) make it difficult to use on the move without taking your eyes off the road. It certainly looks cutting edge and offers excellent functionality but some of the controls and menus can be a little tricky to get your head around, at least initially. This is the same design and technology that wowed when Range Rover launched the Velar so it makes sense to roll it out across the brand’s line-up. The most obvious change for this updated Sport is the cabin where Land Rover’s new InControl Touch Duo - a pair of 10-inch touchscreens, one for the infotainment functions and another for the climate control - take centre stage. It does recover some ground when you factor in its servicing plans cover the first five years for only $1500. The long, and expensive, list of options is typical of Jaguar Land Rover models and does dull the value argument when compared with its German competition. Other optional extras for this luxury SUV include a sunroof ($4420), digital radio ($950), 13-speaker Meridian sound system ($800) and 20-inch alloys ($2520). It also had the $5310 Comfort and Convenience Pack that consists of a powered tailgate with gesture control and keyless entry. Our test car was fitted with a large number of options that pushed the price to $138,920 including an Off Road Pack, for those who want to get their Rangie dirty, that adds a twin-speed transfer box, All Terrain Progress Control, Terrain Response 2, adaptive dynamics and air suspension for $5610. It also comes with trailer stability assist and towing preparation if you need it. Its safety package includes emergency braking, lane departure warning, cruise control, front and rear parking sensors and a reversing camera. The SD4 SE we have here is priced from $98,400 (plus on-road costs).įor that you get 19-inch alloy wheels, auto headlights and wipers, leather upholstery, dark satin brushed aluminium trim, ambient lighting, dual-zone climate control, navigation, Bluetooth and wi-fi hotspot. Range Rover offers an expansive Sport line-up that stretches from the $95,100 SD4 S all the way up to $238,200 for the supercharged V8 SVR. We’re not driving that though instead we’re testing the more modest SD4 SE which sits only one rung from the bottom on the model ladder. While the appearance remains largely unchanged there are some big changes inside, including a new infotainment and climate control system, and the introduction of the model’s first hybrid powertrain. Popular among celebrities and athletes ever since the first generation launched in 2004, the second-generation has now been given a mid-life upgrade for 2018, which we’re testing here. The Range Rover Sport has been the coolest SUV since before SUVs were cool.

2018 land rover range rover sport se