The Range Rover Sport SDV6 SE is a supremely capable, comfortable and classy SUV that takes pretty much any road condition in its stride, writes Craig Donaldson
Range Rover has long been recognised as one of the leaders in the highly competitive luxury SUV class. But with European and emerging Japanese rivals nipping closely at its heels, Range Rover has had to pull its socks up to stay ahead of the competition – and the Range Rover Sport SDV6 SE is a prime example of this. It has raised the bar for on-road performance and confidently matches the likes of BMW’s X5 30d or Mercedes-Benz’s ML350 BlueTEC Diesel in pretty much every department. But the Range Rover Sport SDV6 SE has not forgotten its four-wheel-drive heritage, and is a more capable performer off-road than any of its competitors.
On and off the road
The Range Rover Sport SDV6 SE is powered by a twin turbo 3.0-litre 6-cylinder diesel engine, which produces 225kW of power and 700Nm of torque. There are a few nice notables about this engine and the performance this SUV delivers, the first of which is power delivery. As the turbochargers are parallel-sequential, acceleration is beautifully smooth but firm all the way through the rev range. With a 0 to 100km/h acceleration time of 7.2 seconds, it’s not going to keep up with more expensive siblings such as the Range Rover Sport Supercharged, but there are two related fringe benefits in the diesel engine. First is a remarkably frugal fuel consumption figure of 7.0 litres per 100km, and second is a towing capacity of 3.5 tonnes thanks to the mountain of torque available from 1500–1750 rpm.
Range Rover has also done a great job with minimising the atypical rattle any diesel engine emits. While it is audible from the outside of the SUV under acceleration, on the inside it’s barely noticeable and almost indistinguishable from the noise emitted from a petrol engine. As mentioned, the Sport SDV6 SE also boasts class-leading off-road capability and includes a number of features that give it a noticeable edge in the luxury SUV market. These features are particularly beneficial in challenging off-road environments and help the Range Rover maintain composure over steep gradients, rough terrain and low-grip surfaces – where some competitors would fear to tread.
Creature comforts
Range Rover has done a sterling job inside the SDV6 SE as well, with a practically functional interior – in homage of the marque’s off-road heritage – wrapped in a stylish finish. For example, the electrically powered seats are wrapped in soft, durable leather (as you would expect) and are supremely comfortable on a drive of any length. The Range Rover Sport comes with five seats as standard, but there is the option of a third row of seating. This 50/50 split optional powered seating folds flat into the floor – with no loss of cargo area (though it loses a full-size spare tyre in the process).
“The Sport SDV6 SE also boasts class-leading off-road capability and includes a number of features that give it a noticeable edge in the luxury SUV market”
Other nice touches include the eight-speaker Harman Kardon audio system with iPod and Bluetooth connectivity, the simple-to-operate centre console five-inch screen with navigation and driver information centre, as well as some lovely lighting options both internally and externally. New, white LED lighting casts a warm glow around the footwells, door handles and pockets as well as the centre console, and drivers can select between 10 different customisable colour lighting options. A uniquely nice touch is the light emitted from the external mirrors, which welcomes driver and front passenger at night – each of which spotlights “Range Rover” on the ground.
Visibility is also excellent for both driver and passengers, thanks to elevated seating positions (even for appreciative junior passengers) and what Land Rover calls the “Sports Command Driving Position”, which basically means that everything the driver needs – off-road or on – is at his/her fingertips. Similarly, a nice addition to Range Rover models (available this quarter) is a head-up display (HUD), which projects key information onto the windscreen, allowing drivers to view data including vehicle speed and satellite-navigation instructions more quickly without glancing away from the road.
The interior of the Range Rover Sport SDV6 SE could best be summed up as understated luxury, and overall, this SUV remains one of the most attractive in the highly competitive luxury SUV market.
Image: supplied
