FAST FACTS
* Model: 2015 Land Rover Luxury Sport * Exterior color: Loire Blue * Interior color: Tan Windsor * Engine: 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo-charged * Horsepower: 240 * Transmission: 9-speed automatic with paddle shifters * Fuel economy: 26 mpg highway, 22 mpg city * Dealer: Land Rover Chattanooga (Lee Highway) * Price (as tested): $52,443
Cars are like people: You can tell a lot about them from their nation of origin.
Land Rover products, which are assembled in the United Kingdom from parts made worldwide, have a prim and proper vibe that reflects British reserve. They tend to be upright and boxy in design, with premium interiors covered in fine leathers that would look right at home on club chairs.
Meanwhile, the all-new Land Rover Sport, with its responsive 2.0-liter turbocharged engine cranking out 240 horsepower, also has a playful side to its personality that awakens the minute you apply your right foot to the accelerator. Combine that with Land Rover’s luxury appointments and legendary off-road prowess and the new Rover Sport becomes a compelling product for those looking for a practical (and parkable) SUV.
This week’s tester is a Loire Blue Discovery Sport from Land Rover Chattanooga with an as-tested sticker price of $52,443. Base price before any options is a smidgen over $37,000. The Discovery Sport replaces the compact LR2, and slots above the brand’s Evoque, currently the company’s smallest SUV.