The 2014 Land Rover Range Rover Sport is a stately lady as she cruises high above any street or rolling past lesser vehicles on the highway. But, as it glides through the world of pavement, it’s hard to imagine this four-wheeled temple of technology surviving in any SUV’s other home environment — the off-road wilds.
On civilized roads, the Range Rover Sport is (like its sister Land Rover vehicles) one of the basic and easiest expressions of automotive superiority. In fact, you could argue that it’s one of the most naturally elite vehicles at its starting price point (around $74,000). It might be more snooty to run in the Land Rover’s British sisters, such as the $200,000 Bentley or a $300,000 Rolls-Royce. But, for less than $100,000 (reachable in the SE and HSE configurations), there’s no easier place to look down on the world as king or queen of all you survey than from the cockpit of a Range Rover Sport.
Driving one is an intensely civilized experience, and all of that comes down to its all-in suspension. At its highest trim level (Supercharged, with Land Rover’s special Autobiography package included), the Range Rover Sport offers tuned self-leveling air suspension, four-wheel-drive system, low-range gearing, rear limited-slip differential, adaptive damping and roll stabilization. The end result is a ride that commands any road surface and makes the driver feel invulnerable.
While such an abundance of tech does threaten to insulate the owner from the touch, feel and pleasure of the driving experience, the Range Rover Sport doesn’t go to the numbing extreme of the Bentley or Rolls-Royce. Those cars focus on giving the driver nothing to worry about by elevating him or her beyond mere driving. The Range Rover Sport reassures the driver that she can handle whatever comes along with its well-balanced, “let your hands feel the weight” vibe.
Inside, the suite of available technology is overwhelming: Voice-controlled navigation system, 8-inch touchscreen, power-folding and heated mirrors, front and rear parking sensors, rearview camera, power lift-gate, keyless ignition/entry, adjustable power front seats, front seat memory settings, power-tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, dual-zone climate control, Bluetooth, eight speaker sound system with 10-CD changer, auxiliary audio jack , USB/iPod integration, heated front seats, adaptive headlights, automatic high-beam control, heated steering wheel, heated rear seats, front-console cooler compartment, blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alerts.
And, exhale.
Packed with so much royal character and technological breeding, it might be difficult to envision the Range Rover Sport commanding the elements as an off-road SUV. However, during the Kentucky-based Land Rover event that allowed me to test the Sport, I was able to take the 2014 model through a muddy mix of hills, rivers, rocks and logs. The Sport bowed its neck and ground its way over each challenge — emerging on the other side to retake the pavement as if it never saw a twig in its life.
