Just In: Fast and dirty 2014 Land Rover Range Rover Sport

Expensive high-performance SUVs such as the BMW X5 and Porsche Cayenne have always vexed me: Why spend a boatload of money on a "sporty" SUV that doesn't handle or ride as well as most sports sedans and really isn't built for serious off-roading? Want to go fast but also carry people? Get an Audi S6, BMW M5, or Cadillac CTS-V. Want to go far off the beaten trail where only brave four-wheelers venture? Get a Jeep Grand Cherokee. But a vehicle combining wicked acceleration, sharp handling AND off-road chops?

Must be the Range Rover Sport.

This is our second go-around with the Range Rover Sport. Our test of the previous-generation 2008 HSE model—powered by a 300-hp, 4.4-liter V8 and six-speed automatic transmission—showed that the traditional Land Rover virtues of competent off-road abilities were still intact, but the "sport" part was a bit wanting. Based on the LR3, it suffered from too many trips to the all-you-can-eat buffet that weighed it down and hurt acceleration and fuel economy. Our redesigned 2014 model looks to redeem this SUV's on-road acumen with a cranked-up 340-hp supercharged V6, eight-speed automatic transmission, and the promise of more handling agility.

The new Sport, the company's largest volume model, is based on the current top-dog Range Rover and uses aluminum unibody architecture to shave hundreds of pounds compared to the last one. Looks like the Pilates classes are working.

My initial seat-of-the-pants reaction is that the Sport is more sport than its predecessor. More power and less weight makes the acceleration feel strong and nearly effortless, accompanied by a pleasing sounding exhaust. But the buying process took nearly a lifetime. I contacted several dealers in Connecticut and Massachusetts in July and was told by all that it would be a long wait—maybe as long as December. Seems as if there's a fair amount of buzz for this SUV, and the company is building them slowly. My best bet: Put down a deposit, order one, and wait. So I did.

After a few months of hearing nothing, I e-mailed my sales rep. This produced more waiting, and waiting, and waiting, since she left her job and her e-mail account wasn't shut down. So I called the dealer and someone found my file. Good news: My car should be delivered right before Thanksgiving.

The delivery was uneventful. Our Sport is a beautiful "Firenze Red" with a tan leather interior. We got the HSE, which is how most of them are bought. It starts at $68,495, and we added the Luxury Climate Control and Visibility Package (includes a heated windshield, steering wheel, and front and rear seats, among other features), and the 5+2 Seating package. Grand total: $74,040

We'll do our best to get miles on this elegant SUV, so it will be ready for formal testing. It should be quick work—in more ways than one.

—Mike Quincy