If the Sport’s performance is to be understood, its power must be viewed in context with its weight. For the power-to-weight ratio is barely better than that of a Golf GTi. What the Golf cannot offer, however, is the sheer majesty of 400lb ft of torque persuading a 2.5-tonne block of metal to hit 60mph just 7.4sec. The Sport bludgeons its way through the air with real conviction, if not quite the same ludicrous velocity as the Porsche Cayenne Turbo.
Perhaps more impressive is the way the engine interacts with the six-speed ZF auto. There are normal, sports and semi-auto modes, but we concluded it’s best to select Drive and leave the decision making to the intuitive software.
The big Brembos inspire confidence with their progressive feel and apparently strong retardation. However, it took 3.4sec to stop from 60mph, while the Porsche Cayenne Turbo and VW Touareg V10 TDi manage it in a rather more reassuring 2.8sec.
Land Rover’s chassis engineers faced a unique challenge: combining on-road handling with the level of off-road capability expected of all Land Rovers while, at the same time, serving up a quality of ride to suit its day job as a family wagon. No, none of the car’s ride, handling or off-road ability approaches perfection but the blend of all three is something to behold.
The Sport’s pretty stiffly sprung so the ride around town is more bearable than brilliant, but show it a decent road and you soon see why it’s been set up that way. The combination of air springs, electronically-controlled damping and active anti-roll bars produce exceptional primary body control. There’s little roll in corners and enough grip and steering feel to just about stand up its ambitious Sport aspirations.
Yes, a BMW X5 handles better, but we suspect the tables would turn off-road. Extensive experience of the Sport in difficult conditions reveals the road-spec 275/40 ZR 20 tyres to be the only obstacle between it and truly exceptional off-road performance.