Head to Head
We recently had the enviable opportunity to sample both the diesel- and the petrol-powered versions of the range Rover Sport, two of the wildest SUV siblings on the road today.
Range Rover 5.0 V8 S/C HSE Dynamic
As driven by Bernard Jr
“With great power comes great response,” bellowed the Range Rover Sport billboard outside the Cape Town International Airport terminal building when the new RR Sport was launched locally in 2013. I remember having a good chuckle at the cleverness of it, knowing well from previous experience with the older generation Supercharged Landy charger that the claim was indeed no joke.
And, as was the case with the previous generation Sport and the one before that, this car is a beast. From get go to let go, it takes the road by the scruff of the neck and shakes every last ounce of fun out of it.
But the Range Rover 5.0 V8 S/C HSE is certainly no joke. With 375 kW on tap from – what feels like the moment you begin accelerating, but is in reality – 6,000 r/min, every muscle in this car is taut and ready to flex at a moment’s notice, offering the kind of power and flexibility that should be handled very carefully indeed.
But what is the downside to having five litres of high-octane petroleum coursing through your veins? Is there even one? From my point of view: Not really, unless you’re counting the bucks as they fly by at the pump – one by one in rapid succession. Yes, there is no mistaking that this power hungry Range Rover is equally hungry when the time comes to refuel. As it will. But like so many other things in life, considering fuel consumption is something of a matter of perspective. The comparable BMW X6 M will burn up to 13.9 litres/100 km, and that from a 4.4-litre petrol mill. Granted, the Beamer (680 Nm) will generate 55 Nm more than the RR Sport’s 625 Nm at 2,500 r/min, but in the fuel-sipping stakes it comes out tops, without giving up any of its magnificent overall driving experience.It should come as no surprise that this Range Rover Sport is a particularly luxurious creature, mimicking its diesel brother in that respect, at least. The attention paid by Land Rover engineers and craftsmen to the interior of the car is exemplary, and you are restricted only by your imagination (and budget) as to how well-appointed you want your vehicle to be.
Why the petrol?
In the paraphrased words of Donald Trump: “If you have to ask, you probably can’t afford it.” There is no mistaking that the Supercharged Range Rover Sport is the king of the SUV pile at the moment. If you’re playing at the top end of the vehicle market, and need to make a statement while experiencing one of the greatest cars you’ll ever own, then you should be prepared to enjoy it with its many ups and remarkably few downs chucked in.
Range Rover 4.4 SD V8 HSE Dynamic
As driven by Bernard SR
I must confess to having a “senior moment” with Range Rover’s muscular new diesel V8. On start-up, it sure sounded like a real diesel (with a smokers’ cough) and even accelerated like a true V8. Glancing at the rev counter, however, the truth was soon revealed. No petrol-driven V8 will display a rev counter that glares red at you at a modest 4,200 r/min.
And this is where the engineers at Range Rover have done their homework.
They have successfully managed to design and bring to production an engine that should be considered for the annual Engine of the Year competition. It is a brilliant effort that sees power increase to 250 kW and torque levels at an incredible 740 Nm – with all this power available from 1,700 through to 3,300 r/min.
Little wonder, then, that buyers in this segment will be quite comfortable buying the diesel version, on condition that a regular supply of 50 ppm fuel is always readily available.
As with every other Range Rover in the series, no expense has been spared to position this version right at the top of the financial food chain. It is unashamedly luxurious, elaborately equipped, brilliantly competent off road, and also serves as a functional fashion statement.
But what’s the point of a great engine unless it is bolted onto a great gearbox? To this end the ZF 8HP70 eight-speed automatic has been re-engineered with a revised torque converter to handle the V8’s massive power without breaking into a sweat. It’s a combination made in heaven.
Why the diesel?
In the words of Bill Clinton: “It’s the economy.” With fuel prices constantly fluctuating between R13/14 per litre, it makes perfect sense to invest in a vehicle that offers tonnes of power without a massive thirst.
Here the Range Rover SD V8 comes to the fore with claimed fuel consumption figures of 8,7 l/100 km. Even CO2 emissions remain at a manageable level, being rated at 229 g/km. This helps the Government rake in an additional R8,635 in CO2 tax.
Overall, I enjoyed this large diesel’s performance, and its fuel economy. The ride, however, still seems a bit wallowy and could be firmed out by some suspension engineering.
The Range Rover V8 diesel proves just how far the company has come from the days when noisy (and unreliable) diesels were standard fare in the Land Rovers of yore. If given the choice, I would choose it over the petrol version.
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