DEALER FOCUS – National Automotive
National Automotive started small, with two brothers operating a vehicle repair business in suburban Bayswater. Dismantling cars and selling their parts gave the brothers an intimate understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of a wide range of used vehicles. They’ve transferred that knowledge to National Automotive. Located at Car City Ringwood, National Automotive carefully inspect and select the right cars, then offer them at the right price.
Established in 2015, National Automotive prides itself on its range of popular family cars, SUVs, compact cars and utes to suit both individual and commercial buyers.
Trade-ins are welcome, with finance available, too. In partnership with EziLend, National Automotive offer great finance deals, with a range of packages to suit your needs and financial circumstances.
Australia-wide warranties are also available, with one, three- and five-year options. Contact the National Automotive team to find out more.
National Automotive, Lot 2, Car City Victoria (415-473 Maroondah Highway, Ringwood).
Open 10:00AM to 4:30PM Monday to Saturday and 10:30AM to 4:00PM Sunday.
LMCT: 11670
CONTACT US
To get in touch with National Automotive, click HERE.
4x4 FOR SALE
Here’s a 4x4 currently available at National Automotive:
2009 Range Rover Sport
- 3.0-litre twin-turbo diesel V6
- Six-speed sports automatic
- Dual range 4x4 with Terrain Response
- Full leather trim, well-appointed
- RWC and 12-month warranty
It’s become such a staple of Land Rover’s lineup that it’s hard to believe the Range Rover Sport has only been around for a little over 20 years. What was previewed (in part) by the ‘Range Stormer’ concept in 2004 came to production the following year.
Smaller than the contemporary Range Rover, the Range Rover Sport featured a semi-monocoque construction that claimed to offer both the refinement of a full monocoque and the strength of body-on-chassis construction. Most of this platform had been already developed for the third-generation Discovery (aka Discovery 3), which was also larger than the Range Rover Sport.
A premium model with a premium price, the Range Rover Sport cost more than $100,000 when new in 2009. Most Range Rover Sports were unlikely to encounter anything more challenging than a gravel driveway or an inclined dirt road to the country retreat, but they were still built with serious off-road capability, holding true to Land Rover tradition.
Fully independent air suspension was standard, allowing multiple ride-height settings to be selected at the press of a button. Depending on the model and year, this usually varied the ground clearance between 172mm and 227mm, with lower and higher settings to suit specific requirements, like negotiating multi-level carparks, or clearing deep ruts. This advanced air suspension system had already been proven on the full-size Range Rover.
Making the handling of challenging conditions and loose surfaces easier, the Range Rover Sport adopted the same Terrain Response system as the Discovery 3. This offered five drive modes – normal, grass/gravel/snow, mud/ruts, sand, and rock crawl – selectable via a rotary dial on the lower console. Each mode adjusted throttle response, transmission shift response, steering, Traction Control and Dynamic Response systems (the latter incorporating active anti-roll bars), with the goal of maximising traction and forward motion in each instance.
Terrain Response also impacted the Hill Descent Control, although this could be activated separately. The button for this, along with ride height adjustment options and hi-lo range selection for the Range Rover Sport’s full-time four-wheel drive, was positioned close to the Terrain Response dial. The centre console also holds the electric parking brake and a lidded storage bin.
In terms of powertrains, when the Range Rover Sport launched, buyers could choose from a 2.7-litre turbo diesel V6, 4.4-litre naturally aspirated petrol V8 or 4.2-litre supercharged petrol V8. The ‘CommandShift’ automatic was the only transmission offered; six-speed initially, with an eight-speed introduced later. Changes to engine choices, introduced in 2009 for the 2010-model year, included a 3.0-litre turbodiesel V6 replacing the 2.7-litre option, with both the petrol V8s updated to a 5.0-litre version in. These changes coincided with revisions to the six-speed auto, improvements in overall refinement, tweaks to the spec list and a minor facelift.
The 2009 model (2010 plated) Range Rover Sport featured here runs the 3.0 T/D V6, which produces 180kW at 4,000rpm and a strong 600Nm at 2,000rpm (40kW and 160Nm more than the 2.7 V6), while the sequential turbos virtually eliminate lag. Listed fuel economy (combined cycle) is 9.2lt/100km, improving to 8.1lt/100km on the highway.
Being a Range Rover, this 2009 (MY10) Sport is loaded with luxury features. Full leather interior trim is complemented by timber and aluminium accents on the doors and centre console, as well as plush carpeting, dual zone climate control, a premium Harman Kardon stereo, power front seats, adjustable headrests for all five seats, and adjustable armrests on the front seats. Dual analogue gauges are separated by a screen with additional vehicle information.
The feature vehicle is also fitted with the factory option sunroof, and what appears to be a Redarc trailer brake controller. This and the towbar points to the feature vehicle having done some towing in the past, but what it was pulling and how often is unknown. Braked towing capacity is 3,500kg.
The leather-wrapped, multi-function steering wheel includes buttons for cruise control, audio and (when fitted) Bluetooth, as well as controls to scroll through the 7.0-inch infotainment screen, which is a little small by 2026 standards, but was the norm in 2009.
Safety features start with eight airbags (including full-length curtain airbags), and include ABS, EBD and EBA, ESC, Rollover Stability Control, Trailer Sway Control, a Hill Holder and the aforementioned Hill Descent Control. Parking sensors are at the rear only, reflecting this vehicle’s age, although there is a rear camera fitted. This was an option when new, along with front parking sensors and a surround-view camera. Even without options, the standard safety spec was enough to earn the Range Rover Sport a maximum 5-star ANCAP rating when new.
Convenience tech includes remote central locking, voice recognition, a proximity key and push-button starting, cornering headlights, power windows, heated mirrors, rain-sensing wipers, and a two-piece power tailgate.
With the rear seats occupied, cargo volume is 958 litres, increasing to 2,013 litres with the rear seats folded.
Factory 19-inch alloys in black (including a full-size spare) with road-spec Michelin tyres complement the factory black paint on this example, although a meatier wheel and tyre combo would be recommended for regular off-road use.
With 203,961km on the odometer, and recent full servicing by a Land Rover specialist, this prestige midsize SUV is described as a well-maintained example. It comes with a Victorian Roadworthy Certificate and is backed by a 12-month warranty. For more details, click HERE
This is just one of many used vehicles available at National Automotive. To see more, click HERE.
