Used car tests

Used buyer's guide: Range Rover Sport

4x4s don’t come much more luxurious than the Range Rover Sport – but there are some issues to look out for

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13 Jun 2012

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What to look for

• Fuel pumps have been known to fail, leaving the car stranded. This can happen without warning.• A vibration through the steering wheel is usually down to the steering rack. This was resolved with a vibration damper.• Problems can crop up with the air-suspension, usually because of issues with the compressor.

Thanks to steady development of the Sport, reliability has improved over the years – which is why you’re better off going for the newest example you can afford. Instead of choosing a mega-spec older car, a lower-spec example that’s newer may prove significantly less painful (and cheaper) to own in the long term.

While the V8 diesel is the best of the lot to drive, they are rare, so you may have to settle for a TDV6 instead. It’s still a great engine, though, especially in 3.0-litre form. And because all versions of the Sport were fitted with an automatic gearbox as standard, you don’t have to decide what type of transmission you want.

Recalls

The Range Rover Sport has been recalled five times. The first two came in November 2005 for cars built in August and September of that year, over a risk of the rear seatbelt buckle not holding and a faulty auto box parking function.

In June 2006, the car was called back because of wheel balance weights fouling various sensors and hoses. There were two more recalls in September 2009 – one concerned brake servo problems leading to decreased assistance, the other was over a potential fuel pump leak.

Check out the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) website for up-to-date recall information.

Driver Power

Our view:The Sport made its debut in our Driver Power satisfaction survey this year, finishing in a sound 30th place. Owners praised its comfort, ease of driving, ride and performance. Yet it struggled on reliability and costs – it came 96th out of 100 for the latter.

Your view:Andrew Forster of Worcester has owned his 2007 Range Rover Sport for three years. He said: “It isn’t a rational purchase as it’s too costly to run and it’s not dependable enough. But it’s superb to drive, fabulously comfortable and looks great.”