Range Rover SPORT L461 Test Drive Review

March 20, 2024

24

The company now delivers a Range Rover SPORT that is even more entertaining behind the wheel

We have driven the 5^th generation Range Rover P530 and after a few days behind the wheel we can understand why there is a RM2,488,000 price tag on it.

Meanwhile, this is a brand new 3^rd generation Range Rover SPORT which is 4946mm long, 2047mm wide and 1820mm tall which means it is no small vehicle. It is as large as the outgoing big brother Super Large RR, the L460.

It is a direct rival to the BMW X7 M50i SUV which is powered by 8-cylinder TwinPower Turbo engine that produces 530hp. The Porsche Cayenne GTS and Maserati Levante are also rivals.

This new Range Rover SPORT has 550Nm of torque and an acceleration time of just 5.7 seconds. So, this is performance vehicle first and then its business vehicle.

The straightforward Range Rover ‘look and feel’ dash is faultlessly built and gives a special feel even with the rather business-like choice of colors in our test vehicle.

Buyers will have the floating 13.1 inch Pivi Pro curved touchscreen (with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto) is present, but now installed on a more sloping centre console. The 13.7-inch digital meters is also flanked by a full-colour heads-up display

British-based audio specialists Meridian provides a 3D Surround system with 19 speakers working with an 800-watt amplifier, centre channel, subwoofer and rear surround speakers.

There is also a high tech ‘ClearSight’ digital rear-view mirror, full panoramic sunroof, illuminated seatbelt buckles, electrically-adjustable steering column and double glazing windows all-around this RR.

There is a good driving position and large, supportive seats, while space in the back is impressive for its footprint. It is hard to imagine anyone could ever feel short of leg, knee and elbow room in this Range Rover and shoulder and head room are both generous too.

The steering is nicely weighted with enough road feel to give the driver some great feel and feedback. The spring and damper set-up on this Range Rover is pretty much spot on; its relatively firm through corners, providing good levels of body control and very limited roll which had us pinching ourselves to check if we were driving a sports sedan or a luxury SUV.

Ride quality is also excellent, smoothing bumps with authority which means the TATA (owners of the company) payroll engineers have found the best all-round balance.

As for handling and road manners, there are no issues. The 22-inch wheels grip eagerly on wet or dry surfaces around Klang Valley as we tried to ‘shake’ this SUV loose. Only in silly hands will it take you away.

This RR offers first-rate grip with predictable understeer during really hard cornering. As you would expect, this RR’s suspension is less stiff than its sedan siblings. Generally, it absorbs the bumps and potholes pretty well, although undulating and uneven road surfaces, driven over at high speed, will get the RR responding back with some stiffness due more to its origin where such roads are almost never a question.

The 8-speed automatic transmission is a dream to use and there is hardly a hint of shift and kick down effect even when confronting a quick immediate pickup or emergency slowdown.

This is a very comfortable SUV and after a few hours with it behind the wheel and also in the rear of the cabin, it was clear winner in its ability to offer good comfort and exciting behind the wheel experience.

So there are a lot of reasons to consider this SUV It will be an uphill struggle to convince some buyers to pay the premium (of more than 20 percent) over a Porsche Cayenne GTS or Mercedes GLS AMG but get over this hurdle and this British premium SUV could be a serious contender to the popular German segment dominators.

Point

Lets not kid ourselves, NO Malaysian is going to read any test drive review on this RR to decide on their purchase. The RR SPORT is for Malaysians with way too much money lying around and for those wanting to make a statement with their friends driving other luxury sports SUV’s costing 20 percent lower.

This is a statement maker and that is that!