2009 Land Rover Range Rover Sport

Review

Luxury and performance are the strong suits of the 2009 Land Rover Range Rover Sport. The SUV has one of the most luxurious and well-appointed cabins on the market, packed with sophisticated, high-tech features. The 2009 Range Rover Sport performs nicely on the road--not surprising in the luxury SUV segment--but it also handles beautifully in off-road situations, which is increasingly rare among SUVs. Of course, the Sport still has its flaws, including poor fuel economy, questionable reliability, and a lack of cargo room. Read our review of the 2009 Range Rover Sport to see the full results of our road test.

Improvements from the 2008 Range Rover Sport

The 2009 Land Rover Range Rover Sport is the same vehicle that it was in 2008, with the exception of the HST Limited Edition package's arrival. The HST package is available on the Supercharged model of the Sport and features special upholstery, a restyled grille, and a larger rear roof spoiler.

Performance

Whether you're cruising down the highway or climbing up a rocky dirt path, you can count on the 2009 Range Rover Sport to deliver a capable and consistent performance. Auto reviews praise the Sport's performance as fun, powerful, and competent. The base model Range Rover Sport HSE comes with a 4.4-liter V8 that makes 300 horsepower, while the Supercharged model packs a 4.2-liter V8 that makes 390 horsepower. The Supercharged Sport goes from 0-60 mph in an impressive 7.1 seconds, which is only slightly slower than Land Rover's much larger and much more expensive flagship Range Rover Supercharged. The Sport's ride is described as responsive and very comfortable, while the anti-lock disc brakes with power-assist technology provide plenty of stopping power.

Exterior Features

Car reviews rave about the sleek design of the 2009 Range Rover Sport, which looks much like the traditional Range Rover with a steeper windshield and more angled roofline. As a whole, the exterior of the Land Rover Range Rover sport looks quick, classy, and sporty. View our Range Rover Sport gallery of photos for a closer look. Standard exterior equipment on the 2009 Sport includes a sunroof, 19-inch wheels, adjustable air suspension, bi-Xenon headlights, and parking sensors in the front and rear. The Range Rover Sport comes in two trim levels: the HSE and Supercharged models.

Interior Features

A well-appointed and upscale cabin is one of the standout features of the 2009 Land Rover Range Rover Sport. The Sport seats five with comfortable and supportive seats. One interesting interior feature is the Sport's stadium-style seating, which elevates passengers in the back so they have as clear of a view of the road as those in the front seat. Although passengers have plenty of room, the Range Rover Sport falls short on cargo space. The Sport does not skimp on amenities, however, with power steering, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated power mirrors, remote keyless entry, eight-way adjustable driver's seat, and a power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel standard.

Safety and Specifications

No car safety scores are available on the 2009 Lange Rover Range Rover Sport, either from the car insurance industry or the federal government. The Sport is loaded with safety features, though, so drivers shouldn't let that worry them. Standard safety equipment on the 2009 Range Rover Sport includes anti-lock brakes, hill-descent control, stability control with rollover-minimizing technology, full-length side curtain airbags, and front-side airbags. An overview of the 2009 Land Rover Range Rover Sport's specs is included below.

• Car pricing: $58,375 - $71,825 MSRP; $53,121 - $65,361 invoice
• Engine: 4.4-liter, 300-hp V8 on HSE model; 4.2-liter, 390-hp V8 on Supercharged model
• Transmission: six-speed automatic
• Acceleration: Supercharged Sport completes 0-60 mph in 7.1 seconds

Upgrade Options

Because the Range Rover Sport's interior is already loaded with features, not many upgrades are available, although Land Rover does offer a few option packages. For example, the Cold Climate package comes with heated windshield washer jets, a heated windshield, and heated front and rear seats. The Luxury package includes the cold-weather package as well as premium leather upholstery, cooler box, adaptive headlights, and walnut trim. Other available upgrades include 20-inch wheels, adaptive cruise control, satellite radio, and Brembo front brakes.

How the Range Rover Sport Compares to Other Luxury SUVs

What holds the 2009 Land Rover Range Rover Sport from being more competitive in the luxury SUV class is fundamentally its colossal curb weight. Because the 2009 Range Rover Sport is so heavy, it accelerates more slowly than its rivals and gets very poor gas mileage, even for a big SUV. The Range Rover Sport has a city/highway fuel economy rating of 12/17 mpg, which makes the SUV impractical as a daily driver.

New car guide information lists the 2009 Land Rover Range Rover Sport's Intellichoice 5 year cost of ownership at $71,430, which is slightly higher than average for a luxury SUV. The Range Rover Sport's expected ownership expenses include fuel costs, car insurance premiums, depreciation, and maintenance. This cost is easy to drive down by searching for more affordable auto insurance.

The 2009 Range Rover Sport is plagued by Land Rover's historic dependability problems, earning a score of 6.0 out of 10 on the J.D. Power Quality Ratings for predicted reliability. Land Rover provides Range Rover Sport drivers with a four-year/50,000-mile basic limited warranty. Tata Motors, the corporation that recently purchased the Land Rover brand from Ford, has vowed to improve the brand's reliability to make it more competitive in the future.

Conclusion: Is the 2009 Range Rover Sport a Smart Buy?

Very few SUVs can back up their size with legitimate off-road prowess and power, but the 2009 Land Rover Range Rover Sport is one of those few. The adjustable air suspension makes for a comfortable, enjoyable ride whether on-road or off. In keeping with its prestigious pedigree, the Range Rover Sport also offers a cabin full of sophisticated luxury appointments that will satisfy even the most seasoned luxury car buyers. The Sport does fall short in fuel economy and reliability, however. Generally speaking, though, the 2009 Range Rover Sport is worth considering if you value luxury and performance in an SUV.