[Taboleo] 'The Ultimate Luxury SUV' Range Rover Sport

Complete Redesign of Range Rover Sport After 10 Years
Top Driving Performance Among Range Rover Series
Muscular Build with a Soft, Unexpected Charm

The Land Rover Range Rover series is known as the ultimate luxury sport utility vehicle (SUV). When you drive a Range Rover off-road, you realize it’s almost a waste to use it only for city driving. Among the Range Rover series, the Range Rover Sport is the model that maximizes driving performance the most. We test drove the third-generation Range Rover Sport, which has returned as a completely redesigned model after 10 years. The test model was the top gasoline trim, the P360 Autobiography. We drove a round trip of 90km from Gangseo-gu, Seoul to Incheon Airport.

▲What was your first impression?

First of all, I was overwhelmed by the large body. The vehicle height (overall height) is 1820mm. It’s been a while since I drove a car taller than myself. I was worried that the car might be too big and burdensome to drive. However, thanks to the high and wide-open view, driving was actually comfortable. The exterior design gave a solid yet clean and uncluttered impression. This is due to the application of the latest laser welding technology and flush glazing technology (a technique that fits the glass surface and frame to be flush). It’s like a seamless style in clothing, with no seams. The latest technology not only provides a clean design but also reduces air resistance.

▲How is the interior design?

The interior is also clean and luxurious. When sitting in the driver’s seat, the 13.1-inch touchscreen immediately catches your eye. Physical buttons have almost disappeared, and the car is controlled through the screen. You can use 90% of all functions with just two touches. From seat adjustment to ride height control and automatic parking assistance, everything can be done through the screen.

▲What is the biggest strength of this car?

Undoubtedly, the driving performance. The Range Rover Sport P360 Autobiography is equipped with a 48V mild hybrid (MHEV) system paired with an I6 Ingenium gasoline engine. It delivers a maximum output of 360PS and a peak torque of 51kg·m. It takes only 6 seconds to accelerate from a standstill to 100 km/h.

Driving it myself, the smooth acceleration was impressive. The curb weight is 2480kg?over 2 tons. Yet, even with rapid acceleration, the speed increases smoothly. Noise levels at high speeds are also relatively good. Given the large and tall body, I had concerns about cornering and ride comfort. But after driving it, I was satisfied with both ride comfort and control. Land Rover applied the latest technology ‘Dynamic Air Suspension’ in this model to enhance ride comfort. Additionally, for the first time in the brand, ‘Adaptive Off-Road Cruise Control’ was applied to improve off-road driving convenience. This technology automatically analyzes the vehicle’s movements and adjusts the optimal driving speed off-road.

▲Any drawbacks?

The infotainment system was disappointing. Land Rover emphasized the installation of a new infotainment system in this Range Rover Sport release. For the first time in the model, PIVI Pro was installed to enhance connectivity. T-map navigation was also installed as standard for domestic consumers. However, in actual use, the connection and processing speed of T-map navigation were slower than expected. Korean consumers, who are accustomed to ‘quick and fast’ responses, might find it frustrating.