2006 Land Rover Range Rover Sport

The new Range Rover Sport is the wild child of the distinguished British Land Rover outfit, which has a stellar off-road heritage that Hummer might envy.

The Hummer has a roughneck reputation, but even members of England's royal family long have driven Land Rover models. Land Rover invented the luxury sport-utility vehicle in 1970, although it continued to give its vehicles the off-road prowess of mountain goats. Not that most owners have dared scratching expensive paint by taking them off road.

Land Rover was like all British-owned-and-operated automakers in that it was run so poorly that it nearly self-destructed and had to be saved by non-British vehicle producers. Germany's BMW rescued Land Rover by buying it in 1994 and keeping it for six years. Ford then bought the outfit in 2000 for about $3 billion.

Ford, which also saved England's Aston Martin and Jaguar by buying them, has helped Land Rover make vehicles such as the Range Rover Sport. (England's Rolls-Royce now is the property of BMW, and the British Bentley is now owned by Volkswagen.) 2006 RANGE ROVER SPORT

The Sport is built on the platform of the new Land Rover LR3 mid-size SUV. That's a good start because the LR3, which replaced the quirky Land Rover Discovery, is Land Rover's top-selling vehicle in America. The Sport is positioned between the LR3 and flagship Land Rover Range Rover, a full-size SUV.

Compared to the LR3, the Sport has a nimbler wheelbase (distance between axles) that is more than 5 inches shorter and is several inches shorter overall. The Sport is more rakish than the LR3 because it has a lower height, steeply raked windshield and a roof that's lower than on other Land Rovers. Also, the Sport's wheels are yanked to the corners of the body, and there are front/rear spoilers and side skirts that provide a racier look -- besides improving aerodynamics and high-speed stability.

The Sport is the sportiest Land Rover SUV by a country mile. Land Rover says the Sport is the "best-handling, most agile and most exhilarating vehicle [it] has ever built'' and the "fastest and best-accelerating vehicle'' it's offered.

As for off-road performance, Land Rover says the Sport "offers the excitement of a performance car, but with the versatility and go-anywhere ability of a Land Rover. Unlike rivals, its high performance doesn't stop when the road gets rough or runs out.''

The Sport actually provides the excitement of a performance truck -- not car -- because it stands tall and weighs about 5,500 pounds. It's said to do well at Land Rover's off-road proving grounds at Eastnor Castle in England, and that's good enough for me, having once driven Range Rovers on treacherous terrain there. Like other Range Rover models, the Sport has an advanced full-time four-wheel-drive system that can deftly handle horrible off-road conditions.

Two equipment-loaded Sport models are offered: the $56,085 HSE and $69,085 Supercharged. Both have smooth Jaguar engines, also found in the Land Rover Range Rover because Land Rover and Jaguar are Ford family members.

The HSE has a 4.4-liter 300-horsepower V-8, while the 140-mph Supercharged version has a supercharged 4.2-liter V-8 with 390 horsepower and gobs of neck-snapping torque.

The HSE hits 60 mph in 8.2 seconds, while the Supercharged version I tested reaches that speed in 7.2 seconds. Both engines work with a modified six-speed automatic transmission with a manual shift gate that is essentially the same one used by Aston Martin.

The Supercharged version is visually distinguished from the HSE by mesh front fender vents, brightwork for the perforated mesh grille, huge wheels and twin stainless steel exhausts.

Most Sport models will spend their lives cruising roads. But both V-8s are modified to handle rough off-road driving. For instance, the oil sump at the bottom of the engine that contains its oil ensures lubricant delivery at extreme angles found in off-roading, and seals are redesigned for driving in shallow rivers. Engine accessories also are put high to avoid damage from rocks, ruts and other off-road hazards.

Don't look for much fuel economy, though -- not with all that weight and horsepower. Figure on 13-14 mpg in the city and 18 on highways. Too bad emissions laws prevent the more economical turbocharged diesel V-6 used in Europe from being offered in America.

The speed-sensitive steering is nicely geared for on- and off-road use, and the height-adjustable air suspension provides a firm, comfortable ride. It uses electronically controlled air springs for a good balance between responsive handling and comfort; the springs get firmer at high speeds and during cornering and are automatically more compliant at lower speeds on rough roads. They also allow for body height adjustment during off-roading.

The brake pedal is a bit touchy, but stopping distances are short -- especially with the Supercharged model's powerful Brembo brakes. Both models have anti-lock, all-disc brakes.

A Dynamic Response system, standard on the supercharged Sport and optional for the HSE, helps ensure flat cornering and enhances driver feedback, besides allowing a more supple ride. Also helping stability are big 19-inch wheels for the HSE and 20-inch ones for the Supercharged version -- along with electronic controls such as traction control, dynamic stability control and, for off-road help, hill-descent control.

A console knob lets you choose one of five suspension and powertrain settings: general driving (for normal and off-road conditions), grass/gravel/snow (for slippery conditions), mud and ruts, sand -- and rock crawl. Changing the setting adjusts ride height, shock absorber valving, throttle response and calibration of the stability, traction control and anti-lock braking systems.

It takes extra effort to get in the luxurious interior, although outside door handles are large. The contoured front bucket seats provide good side support, but the driver's seat should move back more for tall drivers and has insufficient under-thigh support. The back seat is OK for two occupants, but rear door openings are narrow.

It's hard to slip the long starter key in the ignition switch on the steering column, and gauge numbers are small. Power window switches are awkwardly put on the high front door sills, although fairly large sound system and climate controls are easily reached. So are console cupholders. But the steering wheel should have a power adjustment, not a manual one.

The tailgate has a separate flip-up glass area and a low, wide opening allows easy access to the spacious cargo area, which can be enlarged by flipping the entire back seat forward.

The Range Rover Sport has the versatility of a Swiss army knife, but Sport chief program engineer Stuart Frith said, "Sporty driving is the Sport's key ability." 

PRICES
$56,085-$69,085

LIKES
Fast. Fairly roomy. Good handling. Prestigious. Off-road prowess.

DISLIKES
Low fuel economy. Hard-to-use ignition key. Awkward window switches. Narrow rear door openings.