2008 Land Rover Range Rover Sport [ 2007 ]
Based on analysis of 44 Range-Rover-Sport reviews and test drives.
Land Rover Range Rover Sport - What the Auto Press Says
The 2008 Land Rover Range Rover Sport ranks 7 out of 9 Luxury Large SUVs. This ranking is based on our analysis of 44 published reviews and test drives of the Land Rover Range Rover Sport, and our analysis of reliability and safety data.
The Range Rover Sport delivers everything the Land Rover brand is known for, including spotty reliability.
According to our analysis, the 2008 Land Rover Range Rover Sport is a good-looking SUV that can handle any terrain and keep passengers comfortable in the backcountry and around the city. "The Range Rover Sport retains the superb off-road capability for which Land Rovers are legendary, but delivers on-road performance as good as or better than the luxury-utility competition," says New Car Test Drive. The interior of the Range Rover Sport is luxurious and full of quality materials and the latest technology, but in a highly competitive class, those features aren't enough to rank it above many others. In addition, cargo room is not particularly competitive, and fuel economy is downright poor, even for this class.
The Range Rover Sport comes in two trims -- HSE and Supercharged. Both feature V8 engines, with the Supercharged getting more horsepower and torque.
- "[I]t is the Range Rover Sport's tenacious off-road capability (thank you, Terrain Response), its solid on-road performance, stylish looks, and handsome but no-nonsense interior that make it the ute that I would choose -- in Vesuvius Orange, please." -- Road and Track
- "Certainly, the Range Rover Sport HSE is one of the most capable sport-utility vehicles, on the road or off, available anywhere." -- Washington Post
- "We'd be more inclined to stop at the Jeep garage, were we in the market for a vehicle that truly could go off road and offer some good get-up-and-go. The difference in price, about $30,000 in terms of the base top-end model, would make the Jeep Grand Cherokee an attractive alternative." -- MarketWatch
- "Expensive to buy and to run, the Sport looks like a million dollars from outside, but inferior fixtures and lackluster tech means that it feels a lot cheaper from the driver's seat." -- CNET
Range-Rover-Sport Performance - 8.1 (Very Good)
The 2008 Land Rover Range Rover Sport nicely balances on-road performance with Land Rover's signature off-road capabilities, and the SUV earns a performance score in the middle of its class. "Driving the Range Rover Sport on-road is unlike many SUVs," writes Road and Track, "as it offers a very rewarding experience." Continue with our full Performance Review to learn whether you should upgrade to the Supercharged model's V8 engine. continue
Range-Rover-Sport Exterior - 7.7 (Good)
For the most part, the Range Rover Sport's styling gets good reviews, though the exterior only ranks in the middle of its class. The exterior resembles the regular Range Rover, but with a more steeply raked windshield and slightly more tilted roofline. New Car Test Drive says the Sport is "spirited, sporty, agile, with a snazzy look." Continue with our full Exterior Review to learn why a few reviewers say the Range Rover Sport looks as if it's always in motion, or check out our Land Rover Range Rover Sport Photo Gallery to see it for yourself. continue
Range-Rover-Sport Interior - 8.1 (Very Good)
Despite its rough-and-tumble off-road heritage, the Range Rover Sport has a refined interior that reflects its lineage. "The cabin is typical Range Rover luxury," writes Road and Track. Praise is not universal, though, as a few reviews note shortcomings in the size, placement, and labeling of controls and buttons. Those shortcomings lead to an interior ranking in the middle of the class. Continue with our Interior Review to learn why reviewers are so disappointed in cargo space, or check out our Land Rover Range Rover Sport interior photos. continue
Range-Rover-Sport Safety - NA
Although crash test data is not available from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety or the federal government, the 2008 Land Rover Range Rover Sport's list of standard safety features is comprehensive and competitive in its class. Continue with our full Safety Review to learn more about the Sport's equipment, including the Supercharged model's Dynamic Response suspension system. continue
Range-Rover-Sport Reliability - 4.0 (Mediocre)
The 2008 Land Rover Range Rover Sport reliability score shown is the Predicted Reliability rating provided by J.D. Power and Associates. This score is based on trending the past three years of historical initial quality and dependability data from J.D. Power's automotive studies, specifically the Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) and the Initial Quality Study (IQS). The Range Rover Sport is covered by a four-year/50,000-mile basic warranty. Continue with our full Reliability Review to learn about reviewers' reactions to quality in their test vehicles. continue
