Initial Quality – In the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Initial Quality Study, the Land Rover Range Rover Sport received an Overall Initial Quality Power Circle Rating of 2 out of 5.

Performance and Design – In the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout Study (APEAL), the Land Rover Range Rover Sport received an Overall Performance and Design Power Circle Rating of 2 out of 5.

Vehicle Dependability – In the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Vehicle Dependability Study, the 2006 Land Rover Range Rover Sport received a Vehicle Dependability Power Circle Rating of 4 out of 5. Notably, the top-ranked vehicle in the class was the Lincoln Mark LT pickup, which means the second highest-ranked Range Rover Sport was the top scoring traditionally-defined sport/utility vehicle in that particular segment.

Fuel Economy – The 2009 Land Rover Range Rover Sport is equipped with one of two engines: a 4.4-liter V-8 engine or a 4.2-liter supercharged V-8 engine, each requiring premium fuel. Either engine drives all four wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission, and both models are rated to get 12 mpg in the city and 18 mpg on the highway by the EPA. Our review vehicle, a Range Rover Sport with the supercharged engine, averaged 18.1 mpg with 90 percent of that driving conducted on the highway. Combined with the Range Rover Sport’s standard 23.3-gallon fuel tank, this actual fuel economy figure results in an approximate 420-mile highway range between fill-ups of premium unleaded.

Safety – Neither the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has performed crash-test procedures on the Land Rover Range Rover Sport.

Environment – According to the EPA, the 2009 Land Rover Range Rover Sport consumes 22.8 barrels of petroleum annually with the standard 4.4-liter V-8 engine, and 24.5 barrels of petroleum annually with the available 4.2-liter supercharged V-8 engine. The resulting carbon footprint ratings are 12.2 tons and 13.1 tons of air pollution per year, respectively. The Range Rover Sport’s national air pollution score is a 6 out of 10 for both powertrains. In California and New England the air pollution score is a 7 out of 10 for the 4.4-liter V-8 and a 6 out of 10 for the 4.2-liter supercharged V-8.