My first reaction on test-driving the latest Range Rover Sport was that it ought to have a big sticker on its exquisitely styled, leather-encased steering wheel stating: “UNSUITABLE FOR URBAN USE!”. Which is a shame really, because the car that Jaguar Land Rover sent me was painted black, with black trim, massive black 23in alloy wheels, and heavily tinted windows. Even the ultra-slim headlights were sort of a smoky grey. If they’d been able to paint the number plate black, they’d no doubt have done that, too.
The unquestionably sinister look was very much that of a moderately successful urban drug dealer and XL bully owner, but one who’d very likely get stuck down a city street and have to deploy the Rangie’s multiple cameras and driver assistance aids to reverse out of trouble. Well, that sort of trouble at any rate.
