Cars of Fall, the Review: 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Sport HSE Luxury

Fall is the time of year where all the car lots around town start to move their sedans and convertibles off the front of the lot and put their SUVs and Trucks up front. Likewise, I wanted to pick an SUV that would represent a “car” of fall. Yes, I am using “car” quite liberally here, but Coloradoans are all about their SUVs in the winter, so I felt obliged. Immediately the Range Rover Sport came to mind. You see the Land Rover Range Rover Sports all over Denver, especially in Cherry Creek, but also out in Lone Tree and at the ski resorts in the winter. In fact, we may have more Range Rovers in our metro area than any other Western city other than Beverly Hills. While I check into how long that fact will hold water, let’s take a look at the 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Sport HSE Luxury…wow, what a name.

Land Rovers have an unfortunate reputation for being high maintenance; you might know some friends or significant others like that. There was a time about ten years ago where it was not uncommon to hear people talk about having their Range Rover in the shop multiple times a month. I once had a friend of mine tell me that his Land Rover was a hunk of junk, but it was the best customer service he had ever experienced. Damning with faint praise? Maybe, but what happened when Tata bought Land Rover (and Jaguar) was nothing short of a miracle. They didn’t move the manufacturing facilities, they didn’t start putting in Indian figure heads or any of the major changes people might have expected with the acquisition. Tata are long time investors in industry…the truth be told they probably saved the Land Rover (and Jaguar) brand. Moreover, they gave the company a new lease on life to continue to build top quality luxury off-road and on-road vehicles that could live up to the heritage of being unstoppable.

The good news is that their quality control and reliability has risen and they are also ranked as the highest large premium Crossover/SUV by the J.D. Power and Associates 2011 APEAL Study. This basically boils down to this: the Range Rover Sport (and recently announced All-New Range Rover) is a striking vehicle. It has drive up appeal and brings with it immediate status. Moreover, it has some of the most comfortable front seats I have experienced in a luxury SUV. Add a similar 5.0-liter V8 that I raved about in my previous OutFront Colorado article about the 2012 Jaguar XF and what you have is an SUV that is refined, powerful and commands respect.

Okay, so it commands fuel at the pump too. Those 385 horses and the boxy design that is classic Range Rover don’t help in the economy department. But then again, at $67,695 as tested, the HSE Luxury package of the Range Rover Sport isn’t really in the frugal category. Still, 13/18 miles per gallon city/hwy can be hard to swallow for even the richest of Americans. It just doesn’t scream environmentally friendly. That said, a Prius can’t raise itself up at the push of a button and climb over 4×4 rated trails in high-class luxury either. Likewise, it can`t lower itself down (in Accessible mode) to allow easier entry and exit. It is that age old problem, style or substance (Thank you Vida Boheme). To add to that, there really isn’t a situation the Range Rover Sport can’t get you out of with the All-Terrain Dynamic Stability Control with multiple modes including snow, rutted road and sand to name a few.

The HSE Luxury package has all the touches you would expect including navigation, satellite radio, heated seats, memory seats, power lumbar, power adjustable seat bolsters and adds the HSE Luxury badge to the tailgate. Now if you are a Range Rover aficionado you might be wondering what the difference between this and the HSE Lux package is. The HSE is the base model, the HSE Lux is the next one up and comes standard with Oxford Leather interior and more leather color options including the vibrant Tan. You can also get black lacquer in place of the wood trim accents in the interior. The Luxury package on the base HSE adds $4,700 to the $60,045 base MSRP, which is in contrast to the base MSRP of the HSE Lux of $65,595.

Overall, and I have never been a huge Land Rover believer, but the 2012 Range Rover one me and my family over. From the front to the back every passenger commented on how comfortable it was and beautiful. It is definitely a feel good car (SUV) and if you can afford the payments you should enjoy the luxury this well outfitted vehicle will afford. As for the reliability; even if you have a problem, Land Rover customer service is legendary and let’s face it because of their past it had to be. This is a vehicle that would be great for the last great picnic with the family before fall changes to winter and the pristine white snow takes the place of burnt orange and golden yellow Aspen leaves.