25/08/09

• Price44,895-£61,995
• We like...Classy cabin; peerless ride
• We don't...Nothing annoyed us

A facelift, new cabin, chassis tweaks and new, 'cleaner' engines make an exceptional car still better. We like it - a lotFor 2010, Range Rover has given its Sport a full-going makeover. You’ll notice first the changes to the front, where bumper and grille are new, while the lights get a LED jewel-effect look matching that of its sister car, the Land Rover Discovery.

The rear lamps are changed, too, while there’s now a two-strake grille to the rear of each front wing. Step inside and the car is all-new, packed with soft-touch, quality ingredients that leave you thoroughly pampered. The old model was pretty impressive but this is now something else. In the 5.0-litre supercharged petrol model, the soft-grainy leather on the seats is truly a marvellous thing.

It’s now fully up to luxury car standards. The dash is new, now sharing its upper structure with the Discovery 4, but the broad console that extends between the front seats keeps the snug and friendly feel of the previous car.

The big changes, though, come in the way it rides and drives. First, there’s a new 3.0 diesel. It packs a strong punch, almost matching in its low-revs shove that of the mighty 5.0-litre supercharged petrol you could otherwise pick. But it’s uncommonly civilised, too, quiet even when pressed and giving only a slight rattle to remind you that it’s a diesel. It’s better suited to the car than the 2.7-litre it replaces and, like that unit, it’s a beefed up and waterproofed version of the motor you’ll find in latest Jaguar XFs. And, as you’d expect, emissions levels are down and fuel economy is up.

For performance, though, the new 5.0-litre supercharged petrol engine is extraordinary, shoving this tall, brick-shaped vehicle at the horizon indecently fast. It screams throatily while it’s at it, too. The brakes on this and the diesel are upgraded, delivering good progression of feel and reassuring power.

The chassis has undergone minor changes, too, aimed at keeping things calm and serene on made-up roads but also giving the car the ability to traverse a rutted track or ‘walk’ safely down a steep, muddy bank. Steering feel is better, too.

The Sport’s Terrain Response system, which lets you match how the car behaves to the ground you’ll be asking it to cross, sees changes, too. The one you may use most is the new ‘dynamic’ programme, which makes the car tauter in its handling and wieldier in its steering. It’s effective, and switching from the ‘Road’ setting the changes can be felt. All the same, the car feels well set up without it, so we’d rarely switch it on. The other big change here is a new setting that’ll make it easier for you to cross a sand bank.

It’s a rarely accomplished car, capable of going anywhere, although its cufflink-carriage cabin may discourage use away from tarmac.

As you'd expect at these prices, the car is already very well equipped. Even so, a lengthy options list includes five cameras positioned at its front, sides and rear, all of which beam to the car's info screen in the dash centre. You can even zoom or pan each.

Of the two engines we’ve tried, the 3.0 diesel would be our pick: the 5.0 petrol’s tremendous fun, but too tempting to drive faster that you ought. If you’ve the cash to cover the considerable asking prices, there’s little to match this car.

To read our review of the previous Range Rover Sport – and watch the video – click here
To view and buy new and used Range Rovers for sale on motors.co.uk, click here

• Engines3.0, 3.6 diesel; 5.0 petrol
• Power241bhp; 272bhp; 504b
• 0-60 mph8.8secs; 8.6secs; 5.
• Economy30.7mpg; 2
• CO2g/km243; 294; 353
• Insurance groups
• EuroNCAP
• Airbags6
• Seats5

Motors.co.uk value verdict: