Land Rover has made sure that the Sport has similar levels of interior space to the X5 and Cayenne, this means comfortable seating for four adults with Land Rover’s trademark raised ‘stadium’ seating position giving a good view out for everyone on board. The sport front seats are excellent but we found the rear bench a little firm and flat. With the rear squabs tumbled forward there is an admirably large load area, but you don’t. get the Range Rover’s split tailgate: instead you can lift either the glass section or the whole tailgate assembly.
The Sport should also be a fairly safe thing in which to have a large accident, not simply because of the six airbags but also the impact-absorbing properties of all that metal. Less impressive is the fact that the suspension of the test car creaked notably and the near-side rear door required a ridiculous effort to open, unlike the bonnet which flipped up onto its safety catch while the car was travelling at 140mph. These issues do suggest that Solihull quality control is still not where it needs to be for the Sport to compete with its German rivals.
What we do love, however, is the broader driving environment with its wraparound cockpit that places almost everything you would ever want at your fingertips. Those used to the wide open spaces afforded by the Range Rover’s cabin may feel a little claustrophobic in the Sport; everyone else should love its cosy immediacy.
Prospective purchasers should look at the next figure through their fingers: over 500 miles, the Sport returned 15.8mpg, including an astonishing 6.4mpg while at the test track. Only unrealistically gentle driving could coax the consumption past 20mpg.
However, the whole life costs of the car are not quite as frightening: you’ll pay ‘only’ group 17 insurance for the Sport, compared to the group 20 costs of either an X5 4.8i or any Cayenne. Expect better-than-average residuals, too, at least in the short to medium term.