2008 Range Rover Sport review (TDV8)
December 15, 2007 by Anthony Crawford
This vehicle’s talent for sports car handling is mostly the work of the highly sophisticated Dynamic Response system. What that is, is a number of electronically controlled hydraulic actuators (motion controllers), which continually adjust the roll stiffness depending on how hard you push the Sport into corners.
The real beauty of this system over standard anti roll bars is that you can still expect a comfortable level of compliance or ride quality.
Off road capability is what separates the men from the boys when it comes to high-speed luxury SUVs. Very few, if any, can successfully compete with the Range Rover Sport TDV8.
You see the range Rover Sport is more Discovery 3 DNA than Bona Fide Range Rover blood, even though looks might suggest otherwise.
It’s not that the bean counters at the Land Rover head office suggested to the engineering guys to chop up a Discovery 3 and build us a Sport. No, nothing like that at all. In fact, the T5 platform was engineered from the outset, for both the Disco and the Range Rover Sport.
To put that into perspective, the wade depth limit for the “go anywhere” Land Rover Defender is a sufficient 500mm. The Sport has the ability to cross proper rivers at 700mm!
awesome!
Amazing!
Good read & excellent pics AC.
All that mind blowing torque twist from 1500rpm!!
Do you think 0-100 time would be a tad quicker if all the ‘heavy’ options were dismissed!!
I normally detest wood trim but it actually looks really effective and ‘unfake’
Yes please! Only SUV I really like.
20′ alloys, sweeeet
Hope Land Rover will continue to make cars like this under new ownership.
Nice review,
I love this car, its such a good looking beast, they need to make a smaller one, like those concept pics going around. That i’ll buy
looks good but still probably wouldnt buy one on reliability grounds…
Nice, but no cigar….shame is FUGLY AS!
Thats the diesel v8 ford should put in a territory :) Ahh even if they make it a massive optional cost or just make it available as a FPV version, that would be cool.
Even if they had to detune the torque output – it would up the Territory’s sales by tenfold and then some. I suspect Europe would even pick it up as it would be incredibly economical.
Don’t stop with the Territory! – Orion with the diesel v8 (1000kg less mass than the Rangie) could potentially become an instant performance icon that is affordable to run.
Great review & good pics Tony. Awesome performance from such a big beasty!
I have driven one of these and it was sensational!
It certainly has presence on the road.
Relaibility is miles ahead than a few years ago. Land Rover have definately turned the corner since Disco 3 was released.
Excellent review and spot on. Have been lucky enough to have recently purchased a 08 tdv8 3 weeks ago and must admit that it is the best vehicle i have ever driven (usually i am happy to be a passenger – not any more).On the fly torque is incredible and truly does put you back in your seat. Luxury interior and awesome ride from air suspension add to a fantastic package. The only downside is that some of the options should be standard on a vehicle of this price and status (satnav & should be standard – as it is in some $50k cars). I must admit that it is nice to be overwhelmed that something is far better than what you expected it to be rather than the other way round in this day of overhype. Was also looking at an X5 but the magnificient road presence and prestige of the sport made the X5 seem very bland indeed. Looks awesome on 22’s and lowered air suspension.
Hello! Does Land Rover australia Sell Left-hand drive RRSs?
Joe – what do you mean. There are no RRSs pictured in the review of the RRS TDV8?
To Safety – 16th December…..
Don’t worry about the reliability, I’m on my second RR Sport and had no warranty claims. I travelled 67,000 km in 11 months in the td V6 and the total maintenance cost was 5 services at an average of $165 each.
Now had the tdv8 for 7 months and in 30,000km paid for 2 services, slighly more because it holds something like 9 litres of oil.
It’s like i’ve died and gone to heaven!
Just back from a full day test drive on and off road and will be ordering asap.I have had 10 4×4’s mostly Landcruisers. This car sets the benchmark, for excelling in on and off road and add to that economy…….in a word magnificent…………
Yes, This is really what it shoul be– a Range. Ranging from the firat generation Land Rovers to the New edited Range Rover. No wonder, the Royal Family of the Great Britain never let go of the LR Corporation
I recently had an opportunity to drive my Girl’s RR Sport which was a birthday gift from her step dad– she never let anyone, I mean anyone drive it. Well to my suprise, she willingly permitted me to drive her to the movies. That Range was all I wanted– not even my girl.
\”Warranty: 3 years/100km\”!
100km? You\’ve got be kidding me. One day of driving, I\’d have driven it out of warranty.
You don\’t need to be Mathematician to copy the number right, so I doubt how serously hard effort had been taken to produce this review fairly and in any depth.
Weirluo, don’t be fool all your life mate. A simple typo buddy. If you don’t like the reviews then don’t bother coming back. Fine by us
I agree with Anthony all the way! Weirluo, you dont have to all get angry all over one typo Anthony did. We’re humans, everybody makes mistakes.
cheers Duck, I thought it was a bit rich to be honest. I worked on that review for a week and consider it fairly comprehensive and a very fair appraisal of the vehicle.
It’s still nowhere near as good as the X5 in terms of looks, performance and handling, but its off-road ability and legendary marque should help in its success.
Oh, well it didnt give him the right to go off like that.
Fred, the Range Rover Sport is far more distinctive than the X5 and has way more cachet than the Beema. I’m not so sure about the handling comment mate. In the UK, I was pushing into bends at well over 130km/h and the Sport was rock solid composed. I honestly don’t think there is much in it, and that is extraordinary, when you consider the ground clearance and off road ability of the LR.
Give me a Sport any day of the week and yes, I admit the X5 does like the tarmac although we haven’t driven one for a year or two
Anthony, You were not writting an email, this is like a formal publication. Don\’t try to find urself excuses with your own errors. I agree you have done a good job in praising the car you love but a typo is one example where you show the true color, that is you are very biased with the car and didn\’t do a fair comparison. serious research/after written check is missing.
I still like the article, but doubt if you are fair without personal preference. Caradvice is not Anthony\’s Love Affair!
I love Range Rover too. In fact, I will perhaps buy one too in the near future, that’s why I was reading.
But be fair please, and accept your own mistake.
By the way, \”0-100km: 9.2 secs\”, are you kidding me? You call this is a high on road performance car? Have you ever driven a performance car? Perhaps NOT.
and apologize as my wording seemed over-reacting when I read them again!
When can we see the RR VS X5? Exciting!
An interesting report. I liked the comments from Jim about his TDV6. My wife has had a RR Classic for the last 13 years/235,000 km from new and the only drama has been 1 engine management computer (2002) and a fuel pump (2007). Everything else is original.
We tested the Disco3 TDV6 last year and got 8.9l/100km over 700km, including the Grand Ridge Road. On a 42C Friday stop-start on the Tulla freeway the aircon was freezing our tits off. And for those of you who know the appalling Shands Road gravel near Red Hill it just sailed over the corrigations. Awesome!
Anyway, style won over utility so she takes delivery of a Sport TDV6 this month. On a short test drive it handled like a sports car. Can’t wait to take it for an extended trip.
hi Guys, i recently purchased my new RR Sport TDv8, i love it , looks great in black with the 20″, loaded it up with all the options, bit pricey but worth it…
Having considered an X5 before purchasing a Sport TDv8 i can honestly say that i agree with anthony that the Sport has a far more distinctive appearance and way more street cred than the X5. I can say this because style has always been a vital ingredient in all my car purchases. The X5 IMO looks like a station wagon on wheels. But each to their own.
The car is a real head turner. The amount of people that have commented positively on the car is incredible. I don’t think i would have recieved a fraction of the response if i owned an X5.
The fact that it goes & handles incredibly well for a vehicle of such weight and size is testament to how good the car really is. To do long trips i could not think of a better car to do it in as the torque is always on tap. Fast,luxurous ride, comfortable and quiet & feels rock solid on the highway.
By the way even having a little bit of fun on the highway i can still manage roughly 9ltr/100kms.
i agree with all Oras is saying…
I just test drove a TDv6 and TDv8 today and I must say that having driven both the V8 is in another league to the V6. If you can stretch the extra $ I would strongly recommend it. Ditch some of the overpriced options. Great car and a lot more prestige than an X5. I’m sure there are more X5’s on the road than Ford Territory’s.
having bought a tdv8 6 months ago its great also have a freelander td4 both great to drive but the sport is ausome