The Land Rover Adventure Association

The concept was appealing, but the execution has lagged.

While we wait for the vehicle that does it all, we should acknowledge that Land Rover has come close to fulfilling the concept with the Range Rover Sport. It goes off-road with the competence of a Land Rover, yet it also coddles occupants as if it were a luxury car. Thanks to its rakish good looks and sumptuous interior, it also exudes class. Granted, it won't fly, but the thrust from the new 5.0-liter V-8 may make you think that air travel is overrated.

From afar, the 2010 Range Rover Sport looks like it might be carried over with a few changes from 2009. Land Rover, however, has made enough improvements and styling updates to justify a "nearly new" label. Start with the engine. The base Range Rover Sport now has a 5.0-liter V-8 rated at 375 horsepower, up from 4.4 liters and 300 horsepower last year. Our review vehicle, loaned to us by the manufacturer, was so equipped. A supercharged, 510-horsepower version of this new, 5.0-liter power plant is optional.

Our review vehicle was painted Bournville, a rich, dark, chocolately metallic shade. Bournville turns out to be a village on the south side of Birmingham, England with close ties to Cadbury, a name that every chocolate lover will recognize. The lines may look sleek, but this is one tall sport utility vehicle. With the adjustable air suspension set for around town use, I needed a step ladder to wash the roof; it barely sneaked in under my garage door.

Acceleration, even in the base model, is very good. I reached 60 miles per hour in 6.7 seconds, thanks to the power from an engine that made effortless work of full-throttle bursts.

Aiding at all times is the crisply efficient six-speed automatic transmission that comes on all Range Rover Sports. Also standard is a full-time all-wheel drive system with a low gear range for serious off-road treks.

The ride is firm enough to let you know the nature of the pavement - or trail - beneath. But it is also comfortable, though not as smooth as the LR4 on which the Range Rover Sport is based.

Despite its substantial weight of more than two-and-a-half tons, the Range Rover Sport is surprisingly responsive. If not the equal of a good sports sedan, it is still able to tackle corners with verve. There is a reassuring level of grip from the 20-inch tires, good feedback through the steering and a nice sense of balance.

Off-road, the Range Rover Sport is a typical Land Rover, which is to say nearly unstoppable. The Terrain Response System allows the driver to use a console-mounted knob to modify suspension, drivetrain and traction control settings for the conditions ahead. There are settings for general use, such as paved roads, snow, mud, sand or rock crawling. The driver can raise the suspension when additional clearance is needed or lower it for easier entries and departures from the nicely trimmed passenger cabin.

In the front seat, there is plenty of room and comfort for a wide range of passengers. In the back seat, the cushions are comfortable and the head room is good. Knee and foot room, however, may seem deficient to taller occupants when the front seats are moved back. There is no third row seating, unlike the LR4. Cargo room is good and the cargo compartment is finished to such high standards that loading muddy off-road gear seems unconscionable.

The Range Rover Sport may not quite be the one vehicle that can do it all, but it comes close. Whether you're going out of the town or off-roading, the Range Rover Sport fits perfectly. The valet parking staffs at fancy events and restaurants give this SUV front-row status. Off-road and on the trail, it manages to slog through the worst of conditions. Then, when the weekend is over, it can whisk you back to civilization in quiet comfort on the interstate. More flexibility would be hard to imagine.

Paula says...

A challenge to get in but easy to drive

This vehicle is big, make no mistake about it. A shorter person faces a real climb getting in when the suspension is set at its normal height. Yet the Range Rover Sport is extremely easy to drive.

Visibility is enhanced by the SUV's height, but there is the typical blockage that shorter drivers encounter on the left at intersections, caused by the windshield pillar and the outside mirror. Backing is aided by the rear obstacle warning system and the backup camera that are part of the standard navigation system. Our review vehicle actually had surround view cameras, with the one on the right proving handy when parallel parking. Their true function is for off-road use.

Acceleration is brisk and effortless; the handling secure. The ride can be busy on some roads, but it is quiet and generally comfortable. Gauges are easy to read and the controls for the audio system have been simplified.

Alas, while this Range Rover seems able to overcome the laws of physics in its ride and handling, it does not do so at the gas pumps. High-performance, heavy SUVs are thirsty. We averaged 13.7 miles per gallon.

Jim MacPherson is the host of "The Car Doctor" show airing Saturdays at 11 a.m. and is rebroadcast Sundays at noon on WTIC-AM. Paula MacPherson is his wife and new-car review partner. He's 6-foot-plus; she's 60 inches high. Send comments, questions, suggestions in care of Special Sections, Hartford Courant, 285 Broad St., Hartford, CT 06115.

This content was prepared by the Marketing Department of The Hartford Courant without involvement of the News Department