The Range Rover Sport manages to distil the essence of the full-sized Range Rover into a (slightly) smaller model. So although its underpinnings are essentially the same as the Land Rover Discovery, the 2010 Range Rover Sport manages to feel far more special than an equivalent BMW X5, Audi Q7 or Mercedes-Benz M-Class. Its road presence is genuinely imperious and the sense of luxury inside is genuinely impressive. Equally impressive is quite how far it can go off road, should the situation demand it. It can be expensive both to run and maintain, however, so make sure you budget accordingly.

Strengths:

More fun to drive than a 4x4 of this size and weight has any right to be
So much car for the money
The cabin is truly luxurious

Weaknesses:

The 2.7-litre diesel doesn't live up to the 'Sport' billing
Epic running costs
The threat of a big repair bill will always be in the back of your mind

Is the 2010 Range Range Rover Sport better than the 2010 BMW X5?

The 2010 BMW X5 is undoubtedly one of the best large SUVs when it comes to handling agility. Then again, you probably won’t buy a large SUV for its handling agility – in which case the greater sense of occasion offered by the Ranger Rover Sport might just swing it for you.