Range Rover Sport review

Is the Range Rover Sport a good car?

​The third-generation Range Rover Sport delivers exactly what luxury SUV buyers are looking for. Smarter styling, improved onboard technology, along with a raft of developments in the way the Sport drives mean that it remains as sophisticated as ever, while maintaining a dynamic edge over its bigger Range Rover sibling.

A strong choice of petrol, diesel and efficient plug-in hybrid engines will please private and business users alike, as will the sumptuous levels of comfort and refinement. Yes, it’s expensive, but the Range Rover Sport is one of the best premium SUVs you can buy – so much so that we named it Large Premium SUV of the Year at the 2023 Auto Express New Car Awards.

How much does the Range Rover Sport cost?

With a ‘Range Rover’ badge, the Sport isn’t going to be cheap, but its starting price compares well with rivals. The entry-level S trim that comes exclusively with the D250 diesel engine costs just over £75,000, which is similar to the Mercedes GLE, and only a few thousand more than the BMW X5. The Sport is better equipped than the X5, though, with standard air-suspension, blind spot monitoring, lane keep assistance and a 360-degree camera system. The plug-in hybrid starts at around £90,000 in P460e SE form, while the high-performance SV comes in at £172,000.

The latest Sport model utilises the same MLA-Flex platform as the Range Rover – architecture which can be used to accommodate all-electric, plug-in hybrid and mild hybrid powertrains.

Its minimalist exterior styling and sumptuous cabin certainly set the right tone, while onboard infotainment is the best yet, and optional rear-wheel steering helps the Sport’s manoeuvrability in town. A range of mild-hybrid petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid engines add to its appeal, while an all-electric model will be introduced soon.

Entry into the Range Rover Sport engine line-up starts with the 247bhp D250 3.0-litre diesel, a 296bhp D300 version of the same engine, followed by an even more potent 345bhp D350. People paying Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) company car tax will be more interested in the P460e and P550e PHEVs, which pack more of a punch with 454bhp and 543bhp, respectively. The 4.4-litre V8 petrol engine found in the P530 provides a whopping 523bhp and a 0-62mph sprint time of 4.3 seconds. The high-performance SV version uses a twin-turbocharged V8 that produces a whopping 626bhp, and propels this large SUV from 0-60mph in just 3.6 seconds. All models use an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Available trim levels include S, SE, Dynamic SE and Autobiography, with a standalone SV model for those wanting the fastest Range Rover Sport. As we’ve already mentioned, the S is generously equipped, while the SE piles on the luxury features with upgraded Windsor leather, adaptive LED headlights and 20-way electrically adjustable front seats. Dynamic SE provides a Satin Dark Grey finish for the alloy wheels and interior chrome accents, while Autobiography comes with an uprated Meridian 3D sound system, 22-way electrically adjustable front seats, and 22-inch alloy wheels.

At 2.3 tonnes in petrol and diesel form (or nearly 2.7 tonnes as a plug-in hybrid) the Range Rover Sport is a sizeable premium SUV, so it’s pleasing that Land Rover has delivered a well-judged package that is really good to drive.

All versions come with four-wheel drive for better traction in slippery conditions, and an eight-speed automatic gearbox that provides seamless gear changes when you’re just pootling around town. Fitting in with its more sporting remit, the Sport does without some of the hardcore off-road hardware of its siblings, such as the Land Rover Defender. But since this is a Land Rover, you can still specify a low-range gearbox to help out in challenging off-road terrain. 

What is the Range Rover Sport like to drive? 

In town

While it is true that the Range Rover Sport is an enormous car, you can specify a rear-wheel steering system that helps with manoeuvrability. It’s the party piece of the optional Stormer Handling Pack because it reduces this large SUV’s turning circle from 12.53 metres to 10.95 metres, a figure comparable to many superminis. So, if you find parking manoeuvres a bit of a torment and can afford the £5,000-plus outlay, then it might be worth considering because it really does help out when navigating tight car parks.

On A- and B-roads 

The Sport offers excellent grip, while the steering is light but accurate, inspiring confidence when navigating twisty B-roads. If you’re prioritising the Sport’s dynamic ability, then we’d advise ticking the Stormer Handling Pack on the options list. It’s a relatively expensive extra, but beyond the four-wheel steer mentioned earlier, it offers 48-volt active anti-roll control, an electronically controlled differential with torque vectoring and configurable dynamics programmes – all of which, when grouped together, help deliver a more agile and responsive feel to how the Sport drives. Also, the Sport’s MLA-Flex architecture is 35 per cent stiffer than its predecessor, which makes for a sharper-handling SUV.  

Our test car rode on large 23-inch alloy wheels, but it easily dealt with the bumps, ridges and potholes of typical UK roads, all while maintaining an oasis of serenity in the cabin. Rivals like the Porsche Cayenne just can’t match the Sport’s excellent ride quality. 

On the motorway

Of course, it’s equally important that a premium, luxury SUV is able to transport both the driver and any passengers in complete comfort, and the Sport doesn’t disappoint in this area. Refinement is much improved over the previous generation model, with Land Rover’s expert engineers bringing in more advanced air springs and active dampers to better manage the vehicle’s hefty weight and maintain body control, while other developments include active noise cancellation technology to counteract unwanted sounds that would grate on a long trip.

0-62mph acceleration and top speed

For a big SUV, the Range Rover Sport offers plenty of pace, with even the entry D250 model managing 0-62mph in an impressive 7.3 seconds. Upgrade to the more powerful D350 oil burner, and the 345bhp diesel engine propels the Sport to 62mph in a hot-hatch-rivalling 5.6 seconds. It may be unfashionable in an age of increasing electrification, but it’s hard to argue against the 296bhp D300 as a sweet spot in the Sport line-up, because it’ll still manage the 0-62mph sprint in 6.1 seconds. That’s fast enough for most needs while still being usefully economical, which is particularly handy if you regularly cover longer distances.

The P460e and P550e plug-in hybrid models need 5.3 seconds and 4.7 seconds, respectively, to achieve the benchmark sprint. Opting for the top-of-the-range 523bhp P530 petrol model means you’ll have a premium SUV that delivers 0-62mph in just 4.3 seconds and a top speed of 155mph.

For outright performance, the 627bhp Range Rover Sport SV offers supercar-like acceleration. Its 627bhp twin-turbocharged V8 will propel it from 0-60mph in a mere 3.8 seconds (or 3.6 seconds when specified with 23-inch carbon fibre wheels). It has some serious performance-enhancing goodies, such as hydraulic cross-linked dampers and carbon ceramic brakes, which all contribute towards the SV’s ability to outperform and cosmetically stand out from any other Range Rover Sport.

​Land Rover offers mild-hybrid petrol and diesel versions of its Range Rover Sport, which helps to eke out a little extra efficiency from the 2.3-tonne luxury SUV (almost 2.7-tonnes in plug-in hybrid form). With the diesel models, the manufacturer claims that you should see 39.4mpg (on the WLTP combined cycle) from the D250, while the D300 and D350 are quite close to each other at 38.8mpg and 38.1mpg, respectively. Emissions range from 188g/km for the D250 to 194g/km for the D350.

The non plug-in P530 petrol model isn’t quite as economical, managing a mere 24.7mpg and flower-wilting emissions of 259g/km. That’s a minor improvement over its earlier iteration, but you’ll still be earning the ire of Greta Thunberg if you drive one.

The plug-in hybrid models offer the best fuel economy on paper, but based on our experience of plug-in hybrid cars, you’re unlikely to see numbers as high as 382.4mpg from the P460e, or the 362.2mpg from the P550e – even with regular charging. 

Electric range, battery life and charge time

Both the P460e and P550e use a huge (for a plug-in hybrid) 38.2kWh battery pack. To put this into context, that’s larger than the 36.6kWh usable capacity of an entry-level MINI Cooper Electric. Given that the plug-in Sport weighs around a tonne more than the Cooper Electric and isn’t as aerodynamic, you won’t see electric range numbers close to what the MINI achieves, but the 70 miles of electric driving that’s quoted as the WLTP range is still a lot higher than most plug-in hybrids. However, it’s worth noting that Land Rover places a caveat on its website, stating that you should expect around 60 miles of electric range in real-world driving.

It’s predicted to take around five hours to fully recharge the battery from flat to full when using a 7kW wallbox home charger, which is similar to the time it takes to top up the BMW X5 xDrive50e and Mercedes GLE 400e. The Sport does have a faster DC rapid charge function of up to 50kW if you need to charge faster than that, with a 0-80 per cent top-up time of 40 minutes.

Tax

Business users will be better served by choosing one of the plug-in hybrid versions. The P460e has CO2 emissions from just 17g/km, putting it in the five per cent (six per cent 25/26 tax year) Benefit-in-Kind tax bracket. The more powerful P550e version also falls into the five per cent BiK rate because it has marginally worse emissions of 18g/km. In comparison, all petrol and diesel models are in the highest 37 per cent tax band.

There will be no escaping the hefty additional luxury car tax fee, because all versions breach the £40,000 threshold. You’ll need to pay this additional fee above the annual VED payment from the second time the vehicle is taxed until it is six years old.

Insurance

It should come as no surprise that the latest Range Rover Sport will be an expensive model to insure. Despite introducing a less expensive D250 S version, the Sport range goes from group 44 up to group 50 for the most powerful diesel, petrol and plug-in hybrid versions. That’s on par with rivals, with the Audi Q7 starting in group 45 and the BMW X5 in group 46.

Depreciation

The Range Rover Sport has often been a sought-after model, and that’s helped maintain healthy residual values over a typical three-year or 36,000-mile ownership period. The third-generation Sport is predicted to maintain between 56 to 61 per cent of its value, which is better than the Audi Q7; it’s only expected to hold on to between 43 to 54 per cent over the same period. 

The plug-in hybrid P460e Dynamic SE model is the strongest performer, while the D350 Autobiography is the weakest.

To get an accurate valuation for a specific model, check out our free car valuation tool... 

With its flush-fitting door handles and smoother body styling, the third-generation Range Rover Sport has a cool, minimalist look. Land Rover describes the Sport as having an evolutionary design, which, while hardly radical, will no doubt keep potential buyers looking to upgrade from their older models happy.

There is a wide variety of metallic and matte paint finishes available for the Sport, although a number of the more interesting shades come with a hefty price tag. There’s one free shade (Fuji White), followed by six reasonably priced metallic colours for around £900, with Giola Green and Firenze Red being the most photogenic choices. Then there are the 12 bolder SV Ultra Metallic paint finishes that certainly help the Sport to stand out, but come in at around £8,000 each. If you fancy going for a matte colour scheme, better set aside an additional £10,000 for one of the nine satin finish colours.

What is the Range Rover Sport like inside?

Despite offering lots of onboard technology, the cabin doesn’t feel overburdened with buttons and switches. A 13.1-inch touchscreen takes centre stage and is a huge improvement over the previous model’s infotainment system, boasting sharper graphics and quicker responses to inputs.

One small gripe we found during our time with the car, however, was that the steering column didn’t provide enough reach adjustment – a design point which may impact the overall driving experience for some. We do like that you get a handy button on the steering wheel that allows you to select one of three settings for the driver assistance system. You can have all the systems active, or select a saved pre-set selection if you want to quickly turn off the audible speed limit warning or lane keep assist system.

We’re not so fond of the fact that the innovative second screen of earlier versions that sat below the main central touchscreen has been removed. This means that the easy-to-use pair of climate control and heated seat dials we used to praise the Sport for have also gone, which is a blow in terms of usability because all of the climate functions are now relegated to the touchscreen, making simple tasks such as adjusting the temperature a far more distracting process than before. Even Land Rover’s famed Terrain Response system has been shorn of its separate dial that was near to the starter button. You can argue that rivals like the Audi Q7 have also gone to touchscreen-only controls, but it seems a shame the Sport has fallen into the same trap, given that ease of use was an area where earlier versions stood out against the competition.

What is the interior quality like? 

The attention to detail inside the Sport’s cabin underlines the luxury theme, with plenty of leather and soft materials used for the areas you regularly see and touch. Yes, you will find some more rigid plastics on show in less frequent touchpoints, but everything feels solid and well-built.

Sat-nav, stereo and infotainment

The Range Rover Sport uses a vast 13.1-inch display with fantastic resolution to back it up. However, due to the removal of the second screen, there are now more functions shown on the central screen, so it isn’t quite as uncluttered as before. 

There are shortcuts running down either side of the screen to bring up temperature and heated seat controls, and these are large enough to be relatively straightforward to use. But if you want to do anything beyond that, it becomes a more involved process of diving into submenus, which we find more distracting. The rest of the screen is split into three vertical sections, and you sweep between different menus, but we don’t find this very intuitive, especially when on the move.

The sat-nav system isn’t the swiftest system around, and as a result, it can be a little bit behind your actual location, which could cause confusion at unfamiliar junctions. Still, both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay fill out the screen when they’re connected, so it’s no hardship to make the most of your smartphone’s tech instead.

A 400-watt, 15-speaker Meridian sound system comes as standard with the S trim, with a more powerful 800-watt, 19-speaker system fitted to the Autobiography specification. Wireless phone charging is provided throughout the Sport range. 

Step inside the Range Rover Sport, and you won’t be left wanting for luxury – the cabin is trimmed in suitably high-quality materials, including leather upholstery as standard, while 12-way electrically-adjustable front seats ensure the driver should easily be able to find a comfortable position. 

Upgrade to either the SE or Dynamic SE and you’ll benefit from 20-way electrically adjustable front seats, but you’ll need the Autobiography trim for 22-way electrically adjustable ventilated front seats with a massage function. Rear passengers aren’t forgotten either, with power recline seats with winged headrests. Those rear seats are also heated from SE trim and above.

Dimensions and size

Although the Range Rover Sport is positioned as the more agile, dynamic model compared to its Range Rover sibling, it’s still a giant of an SUV. The Sport measures 4,946mm long, which is 106mm shy of the Range Rover, but its overall width (with mirrors out) is the same at 2,209mm. There is a 50mm difference in height – 1,820mm for the Sport vs 1,870mm for the Range Rover – owing to the former's sportier nature.

Compare the Sport’s dimensions to a mid-size family SUV and you really notice the contrast in size. For example, a Hyundai Tucson is 4,500mm long and 1,865mm wide, while its height is 1,651mm.

Seats & space in the front

Given its vast exterior dimensions, the Range Rover Sport is, thankfully, still very spacious for those in the front. Both driver and passenger seats get standard electric adjustment with memory settings to make finding and saving an ideal position easy. 

Even those six feet and above will find plenty of head and legroom, while shoulder room is equally generous. Given the car’s not inconsiderable width, some people may find the centre console is too much of a stretch to rest their elbow on, but just like the regular Range Rover, you get some adjustable armrests on the sides of the front seats that are closer to hand.

​​Seats & space in the back

While there’s plenty of space in the front of the Sport, we’d expect there to be a little more room in the rear. Rivals such as the Audi Q7 provide better head and knee room for rear passengers, although the Sport should offer enough space for most.

For anyone looking to install a child’s car seat, there are ISOFIX mounting points on the outer positions of the second row.

Boot space

A 647-litre boot should be able to swallow most luggage, while folding the rear seats opens up a sizeable 1,491 litres of load space. A boot space divider is available to help stop smaller items from rolling all the way to the back if you don’t have enough to fill the whole boot up, and thanks to some clever packaging, the Sport also has room for a spare wheel below the boot floor. 

It’s also impressive that the plug-in hybrid version doesn’t lose any boot capacity (or the ability to carry a spare wheel) over the regular petrol and diesel models, unlike in rivals such as the Audi Q7, BMW X5, and Mercedes GLE.

Towing

It’s good news for buyers who want to use their Range Rover Sport for towing duties – all models are capable of pulling up to 3,500kg, with the exception of the P460e and P550e plug-in hybrids, which have a 3,000kg towing capacity.

Although ​this generation of Range Rover Sport is yet to feature in our Driver Power customer satisfaction survey, the Land Rover brand managed to achieve an impressive 10th place finish out of 32 in the manufacturer rankings, which is four positions higher than rival BMW.

Industry safety body Euro NCAP awarded the Range Rover Sport a top five-star rating with both adult and child occupant protection, achieving an 85 per cent score. On-board safety systems also performed well, with the Driver Assist category earning an 82 per cent mark.

Land Rover certainly hasn’t scrimped on safety tech for the Sport, with all models including lane keep assist and blind spot assist functions, adaptive cruise control with steering assist, a rear traffic monitor, traffic sign recognition and autonomous emergency braking. A number of those features are only part of the Driving Assistant Professional Pack with the BMW X5.

Front and rear parking sensors and a 3D surround-view camera are also offered as standard, which will help make parking manoeuvres a little easier, while the automatic park assist system is available if you trade up to an Autobiography model.

Warranty

Land Rover offers a three-year/unlimited mileage warranty for the Range Rover. The cover includes 36 months of roadside assistance, while you can also extend the warranty for up to ten years/100,000 miles at extra cost.

The plug-in hybrid model has a separate warranty for the battery pack, although the six-year/60,000-mile warranty period seems a little stingy compared with rivals that generally offer eight years or 100,000 miles of cover.

Servicing

Buyers have the opportunity to purchase a service plan, either via a one-off payment or more flexible monthly instalments. Servicing for all engines is required every two years or 21,000 miles, whichever comes first.

Range Rover Sport alternatives

The Range Rover Sport sits in the Land Rover range above the Range Rover Velar, and below the Range Rover as a more sporty version of the brand’s most luxurious SUV. Up against the Sport are rivals such as the Audi Q7, BMW X5, Mercedes GLE and Porsche Cayenne.

Buyers considering a seven-seater will need to look towards either the Audi Q7 or BMW X5, because the latest Sport has lost the option of two fold-out chairs in the boot, leaving you to dig deeper into your savings and upgrade to the long-wheelbase version of the pricier Range Rover.

The Cayenne is perhaps a little sharper to drive, but you pay the price in terms of ride quality compared with the more supple Sport, and the Porsche can’t match the Range Rover’s imposing driving position. The Cayenne doesn’t hold its value nearly as well as the Sport, which is important to consider when totting up running costs.

In terms of plug-in hybrids, the extra capacity of the Sport’s 38.4kWh battery over the 29.7kWh X5 xDrive50e means it can go further on electric power alone, but the more efficient GLE can travel a similar distance as the Sport on battery power, despite having a smaller 25kWh battery. As long as you can tolerate the much smaller boot of the GLE due to the battery pack taking up valuable space, the Mercedes might be the one to go for if running costs are important to you.

Range Rover Sport P550e Autobiography long-term review

Auto Express Editor Paul Barker is currently running our extremely luxurious long-term Range Rover Sport - it’s a tough job, but somebody had to do it. He’s chosen the plug-in hybrid version to fit in with his lifestyle of short trips that can be undertaken on electric power, with the flexibility of running on petrol for last minute work related trips further afield. In cold temperatures, he’s managing around 50 miles to a charge, and expects that to improve in warmer spring and summer weather.

Paul’s car is the top-of-the-range Autobiography trim, which allows you to get the most powerful P550e version over the P460e fitted to SE and Dynamic SE trims. So far, his children have enjoyed the optional rear seat entertainment system, while Paul likes the easy to use steering wheel button for selecting his preferred driver assistance settings. You can read the full long term test here...