New 2009 Land Rover Range Rover Sport

Those needing sport in off-road travels with luxury in their on-road ones look no further than the 2009 Land Rover Range Rover Sport, an athletic SUV that furthers the automaker’s long-standing tradition in this combination.

Drivers are pleased to uncover the five-passenger Range Rover Sport is available in two amenity-laden trims: HSE and Supercharged. The HSE packs enough punch with a 300-horsepower, 4.4-liter V-8 engine, while shoppers can kick it up one more notch with the Supercharged trim’s 390-horsepower, 4.2-liter V-8 behemoth under the hood. Both styles are matched to a six-speed automatic transmission with CommandShift manual shift mode. All-wheel drive with Land Rover's well-received "Terrain Response" system helps drivers aptly manage a wide range of off-road conditions. Supercharged trims are increased with the Dynamic Package system, offering adaptive suspension for even sportier handling.

Strong competition to the Range Rover Sport comes from the likes of the Acura MDX, Lexus RX and Mercedes-Benz M-Class. But with wood interior trim accents standard on Supercharged and available on HSE, in addition to an optional DVD entertainment system on both models, this vehicle sets itself uniquely apart. Fuel economy is more than adequate for the segment, with glass mileage marks of 12 MPG city and 18 MPG highway.

The Range Rover Sport HSE trims provide for a power sunroof, 19-inch alloy wheels, bi-xenon headlights, leather upholstery and navigation system. The Supercharged models are fitted with 20-inch wheels, an adaptive front lighting system, heated front and rear seats and satellite radio.

Land Rover’s sterling reputation for safety is nearly unmatched, with the Range Rover Sport featuring six front- and curtain-side airbags, four-wheel anti-lock brakes with brake assist, electronic stability control with traction control and roll mitigation, front and rear fog lights, park assist and tire pressure monitoring.

Whether for a jaunt down the street or that camping trip you’ve been talking about doing for a while, the 2009 Land Rover Range Sport showcases amazing value and superb performance for any driving excursion.