Sometimes the timing just doesn’t work out the way we would like.

We normally have a vehicle for about a week when we write our Sunday Drive column. That gives us plenty of time to drive it to work, run errands, take care of the usual day-to-day activities and, hopefully, find some time to get out on the road and really experience it.

Our time with the 2026 Range Rover Sport Dynamic SE was different. We only had the Range Rover for three days.

The reason was a good one. We had just gotten home from a cruise to Mexico with our grandchildren, so our time with the Range Rover was cut short. While we would have enjoyed having it for a full week, we still managed to put it through some everyday driving, take it on a long drive and even find a very practical use for its cargo area.

Photo supplied

So, while three days wasn’t nearly as much time as we normally have, it was enough to give us a pretty good appreciation for this very upscale SUV.

Our Range Rover Sport came in Varesine Blue Mica, a beautiful deep blue that gave the vehicle an elegant appearance without being too flashy.

And there is no mistaking that this is a Range Rover.

It doesn’t take long to get comfortable

From the first time we climbed behind the wheel, the Range Rover Sport had the feeling of a vehicle that was designed for people who spend a lot of time on the road.

Craig Conover, Daily Herald

The seats are ultra comfortable, the driving position is excellent and there is a feeling of space throughout the cabin.

The Sport is not the largest vehicle in the Range Rover lineup, but it is still a substantial SUV.

That means you get the elevated driving position we like in an SUV without feeling like you’re driving something that is simply too large for everyday use.

We drove it around town for errands and work, and it was surprisingly easy to maneuver.

The cameras and parking sensors were especially helpful when getting into tighter parking spaces, while the higher seating position provided a good view of the traffic around us.

Photo supplied

It didn’t take long before we were driving it like we had owned it for much longer than three days.

Power from the 3.0-liter six-cylinder

Our Range Rover Sport Dynamic SE was equipped with the 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine.

The engine is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive, and it provides plenty of power for this SUV.

What we noticed most was how smoothly that power was delivered.

Craig Conover, Daily Herald

The Range Rover doesn’t feel like it is trying to prove anything when you accelerate. It simply moves forward with a quiet confidence.

That was particularly noticeable when we had the opportunity to take it on a long drive.

After several miles on the highway, we began to understand what makes a vehicle like the Range Rover Sport different from an ordinary SUV.

It isn’t just about getting from one place to another. It is about how you feel while you’re getting there.

The ride was quiet and comfortable, and the engine had plenty of reserve power when we needed to accelerate or pass.

That long drive may have been the most valuable part of our shortened test.

A cabin made for traveling

One of the first things Deanne noticed about the Range Rover Sport was how comfortable it was inside.

That is important to us because when we take a long trip, we aren’t interested in spending hours in a vehicle that leaves us tired when we finally arrive.

The interior of the Range Rover Sport has the kind of understated luxury we have come to expect from the Range Rover name.

There are nice materials throughout the cabin, the controls are logically placed and the large center display provides access to the vehicle’s infotainment and navigation systems.

The digital instrument display in front of the driver also gives you plenty of information without making the dashboard feel cluttered.

We have driven vehicles where it seems like every function has been buried inside a touchscreen. The Range Rover Sport doesn’t give us that feeling.

A little everyday work never hurts

Although our time with the Range Rover was short, it still managed to get a taste of our normal routine.

We took it to work, ran errands and used it around town.

Then, after returning from our trip, Craig had an opportunity to put the cargo area to a somewhat unusual test.

While we were away, his company had held an event, and there were a couple of televisions that needed to be transported.

The Range Rover Sport was called into duty.

The televisions fit into the rear cargo area, giving us another reminder that as nice as the interior is, this is still an SUV.

You can appreciate the leather, technology, comfortable seats and quiet ride, but when you need to haul something, you don’t have to worry about getting everything into a trunk.

The Range Rover experience

We have driven a lot of vehicles over the years, from compact cars and hybrids to pickup trucks and three-row SUVs.

Every once in a while, we get into a vehicle that feels noticeably different.

The Range Rover Sport was one of those vehicles.

It isn’t simply the amount of equipment or the price of the vehicle that creates that feeling.

It is the way everything works together.

The doors close with a solid feel. The seats put you in a comfortable driving position. The suspension keeps the ride composed, and there is very little road noise coming into the cabin.

Even the way the vehicle responds to the accelerator feels more relaxed.

You can drive it around town without feeling as though you’re constantly asking it to do something.

It just goes about its business.

And then, when you get out on the highway, the Range Rover Sport really begins to shine.

Built for more than the highway

Of course, there is another part of the Range Rover story.

These vehicles are not simply designed to be luxury transportation.

The Range Rover name has always been associated with four-wheel-drive capability and the ability to travel places that many luxury SUVs would rather avoid.

Our everyday driving didn’t give us the opportunity to take the Sport deep into the backcountry, but the vehicle’s all-wheel-drive system and terrain-management technology are there when the pavement ends.

For those of us living in Utah, that capability is more than just a talking point.

Snow, dirt roads, mountain roads and changing weather are all part of living here.

Having a vehicle that can comfortably handle the highway but also has the hardware and technology to deal with rougher conditions is something we appreciate.

We could have used another week

Three days simply wasn’t enough.

We would have liked to spend another several days with it, especially to see how it would fit into a normal week of family activities and perhaps take it on one of our longer Utah road trips.

But sometimes you have to work with the schedule you have.

And even with just three days, the Range Rover Sport gave us a good look at what the luxury SUV is all about.

Base price: $90,800

Destination charge: $1,850

Price as driven: $103,710