Range Rover Sports Vs Volvo XC90

Full-size luxury SUVs, that aren’t german? Usher in the new 2-litre petrol Range Rover Sport, and the hybrid Volvo XC90 then. Which one’s the better bet?

- Simran Rastogi

Perception changes everything, including expectations. Take for example the Range Rover Sport, the more affordable version of the larger Range Rover, now with a four-cylinder two-litre petrol engine, which you’d expect to not be up to the job of lugging a 2.1 tonne SUV around. Or the Volvo XC90, which you’d expect to be comfortable, safe and maybe just a bit boring with its similar two-litre petrol engine and hybrid credentials. But things are not always what they seem, and we’re about to find the turning point of perception for these two unconventional choices.

Styling

Both these SUVs stand out on their own, and are a far rarer sight on our roads than the German competition. The Sport has the traditional Range Rover look, and presents a sportier take on the iconic silhouette, despite offering a seven-seat option unlike the larger Rangie. The sloping roofline definitely sets it apart from the SUV crowd, since it bends the three-box rule quite a bit. With the wideset lights at either end, it also makes the Sport look a lot lower and wider than it actually is. Our test car, the mid-spec SE, wore 20-inch wheels, a contrast roof and piano black accents which only serves to enhance its polite aggression. Higherspec models use ‘pixel LED’ lighting which are even more detailed than the standard LED on our car.

The XC90 T8 on the other hand is pure understated class, and its sharp creases and polished brightwork make for a very sophisticated and expensive looking SUV. The combination of simple lines, the triple-creased wheel arches, and concave surfaced sides are pretty timeless, in their own right. Next to the Sport, it looks a little plain, despite riding on 21-inch wheels and wafer-thin rubber. The Volvo also appears taller, though the specs suggest otherwise.