km : Passing Lane

The call came around 4:00 pm, and within seconds the timeline for my night was in concrete. My wife had scored tickets through work to a Bulls/Knicks game. Row 11. VIP parking pass. I was going, and it seemed like a no-brainer that our 2010 Range Rover Sport test car simply had to be the vehicle taking me there. I’m pretty sure it even said it on the parking pass: “We reserve the right to redirect shitty cars to the economy lot.”

As it turns out, the parking lot I pull into makes me feel like I’m arriving to a Land Rovers Anonymous meeting. That’s why I’m thankful for the new 2010 model, which should stand out from the masses for the time being. New LED running lights are the most obvious update, but the bumpers and taillights are new as well. Inside, a new dash uses far fewer buttons for a cleaner look, while a new touchscreen navigation is a huge improvement. The Extended Leather Pack, for $1000, adds soft cowhides to the armrests, upper doors, and dash, and we highly recommend it.

But more important, I know that after the after the final buzzer sounds and the seats clear out, I’ll be the first one to the gate. For 2010, the Range Rover Sport gets a huge infusion of added power, thanks to the same 375-horsepower 5.0-liter V8 just added to the other Land Rovers, along with the entire Jaguar lineup (though it’s tuned for 385 in the Jags). We’re told the new base model is nearly as fast as the outgoing supercharged version, and while we didn’t wait around to line up a drag race with one of our parking lot brethren, we believe it. Furthermore, it does that sprint more linearly than the old supercharged 4.2-liter, and without any of the whine. If you still happen to like those qualities, well, there’s a new supercharged version as well, and it makes a completely unnecessary 510 hp now.

The power increase of the normally aspirated engine was more necessary, as high as 375 hp might sound. The Sport is a heavy truck and 300 hp simply wasn’t enough to be taken seriously. The powerplant underhood always had a great cheering section, but now it’s also an all-star performer.

But what about the vehicle as a whole? The Kilometer Staff has always loved the look of the Range Rover Sport, and it does indeed get better for 2010. The cabin appointments and seat position make everyone riding inside feel like royalty, riding along above the commoners. Driving one is truly a special experience. It isn’t a perfect one, however. For how large the vehicle is, the cabin is quite cramped, especially in regards to the front footwells. Additionally, tight clearance between the front seat and door panels makes it hard to reach the power adjustments or anything one may have set in the door compartment. And the air suspension, while quite useful for anyone who really needs on-demand ground clearance, often feels overly stiff.

Such is the price of vanity. And as I pull into my driveway at the end of the night, I can’t help but think those hot basketball game tickets and the Range Rover Sport have a little bit in common. They’re both an occasion. They both provide a sense of importance, of having made it. At the end of the day, neither is too practical or entirely necessary. But if you’re just out to reward yourself, the 2010 Range Rover Sport HSE, like a pair of great tickets, is tough to beat.

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