Skip advert
Advertisement

Range Rover Sport (2013-2022) review - Engines, performance and drive

Serious performance despite its size, plus a capable drive that is sporty, comfortable and peerless off-road

Engines, performance and drive rating

4.2

How we review cars
RRP
£75,855 £172,400
Avg. savings
£4,280 off RRP*
Find your Land Rover Range Rover Sport
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car
Advertisement

The second-generation Range Rover Sport really moved the game on in terms of drive and dynamics. The all-new, all-aluminium architecture is very stiff and robust, and the firm’s advanced suspension design and accomplished four-wheel drive system give a driving experience that is unlikely to disappoint.

The natural abilities of the Range Rover Sport are clear from the off. Although the steering is a bit light, it’s also extremely accurate and crisp, making it easy to drive this big machine both in town and on twisting B-roads. The balance is spot on, it never feels top-heavy or vague, and generally has control and composure that would amaze those who dismiss it as a big, heavy 4x4.

All Range Rover Sports come as standard with height-adjustable standard air-suspension and Land Rover Adaptive Dynamics. This system adjusts the suspension and electronic controls to suit the road conditions, and it includes a Dynamic mode that impressively minimises body roll and maximises grip. Sure, the ride becomes knobblier as a result, but it’s beautifully accomplished in regular mode, with peerless body control, ample absorbency and terrific stability. Dynamically, the Range Rover Sport is little short of superb.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Thanks to Land Rover’s peerless off-road pedigree, the Sport's abilities outclass those of its rivals when you head off the beaten track. It has an electronic centre differential and Land Rover’s clever Terrain Response system, which optimises the car for mud, gravel, snow, rocks and sand by juggling suspension height, gearbox settings, throttle response and traction control profiles. Despite the car’s size and weight and luxury billing, the combination of rugged chassis components and clever electronics give this big SUV some impressive off-road credentials.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Even driving across rivers should hold no nasty surprises, thanks to an impressive 850mm wading depth – there’s even a gadget that shows you how deep the water that you’re driving through is.

HSE Dynamic models and above come with an enhanced Terrain Response 2 system – this includes automatic terrain sensing, which engages the correct mode when it senses a change in surface below: ingenious stuff. Also on Dynamic models is the JLR All-Terrain Response Control. This is a sort of ‘off-road cruise control’, letting the driver select a desired speed and leaving the car to do all the hard work. It can even set the vehicle moving from rest, which is ideal when grip is low or the terrain is rough or steep.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The SVR is, of course, another matter entirely. Decidedly performance-focused, it has massive wheels, big brakes, stiffened suspension and intricate development throughout to give it performance that makes it the SUV king of the Nurburgring. The simple fact that its top speed has been raised to 162mph should show the development that’s gone into this 2.5-tonne machine. It shouldn’t work, and shouldn’t deliver Jaguar-like engagement – which makes it all the more remarkable that it does.

Engines, 0-60 acceleration and top speed

The P400 version uses a straight-six petrol engine that pushes out 395bhp with the help of a 48-volt mild-hybrid system. It’s an engine that imbues the Sport with smooth, potent performance, especially in its low and mid-range - with a 0-62mph time of 5.9 seconds and 140mph maximum speed. The same mild-hybrid tech is included on the D250, D300 and D350 diesel variants, with resulting sprint times of 8.5 seconds, 7.3 seconds and 6.9 seconds, respectively.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

As part of the 2018 model year update, Land Rover unveiled a plug-in hybrid version, Jaguar Land Rover’s first PHEV. Wearing the P400e badge, the Range Rover Sport combines a 296bhp turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine with an 85kW electric motor to provide a total output of 398bhp and 640Nm of torque.

Advertisement - Article continues below

It has the claimed ability to travel up to 25 miles on pure electric drive – although this will depend significantly on how careful you are with your right foot – with a top speed of 85mph. It will also give the 5.0-litre V8 a run for its money in pure performance terms, sprinting to 62mph from rest in 6.3 seconds, before reaching a top speed of 137mph.

Around town, it's at its best, with the electric motor giving quick and quiet acceleration. However, when you have to rely on the four-cylinder engine, it reveals some shortcomings. The extra weight of the plug-in system means the engine has to work harder than it would otherwise when it isn’t getting an EV boost – and it’s not the most refined unit. So, if you floor the throttle and ask for maximum power from both power sources, then the whine of the engine is slightly at odds with the sporting luxury of the car.

The ultimate performance comes from the supercharged 567bhp V8 in the 575 SVR, which does the benchmark sprint in just 4.5 seconds, with an absolutely wonderful V8 bark in the background for good measure. It’s a wickedly exciting performance machine.

All Range Rover Sport models are fitted with an excellent eight-speed automatic transmission. This ZF unit is slick-shifting, intuitive and discreet; and rather than the rotary controller in the Range Rover, it’s controlled by a stick-shift automatic lever, which is taken straight from the Jaguar F-Type for a bit of sporty JLR family lineage.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Which Is Best

Cheapest

  • Name
    3.0 D250 S 5dr Auto
  • Gearbox type
    Semi-auto
  • RRP
    £75,855
Select car

Most Economical

  • Name
    3.0 P460e SE 5dr Auto
  • Gearbox type
    Semi-auto
  • RRP
    £90,790
Select car

Fastest

  • Name
    4.4 P635 V8 SV Celestial Edition 5dr Auto
  • Gearbox type
    Semi-auto
  • RRP
    £172,400
Select car

Our latest car deals

Volkswagen Polo

Volkswagen Polo

RRP £21,210Avg. savings £2,162 off RRP*Compare Offers
Skoda Kodiaq

Skoda Kodiaq

RRP £36,645Avg. savings £3,305 off RRP*Compare Offers
Volkswagen Golf

Volkswagen Golf

RRP £27,565Avg. savings £2,986 off RRP*Compare Offers
Omoda 5

Omoda 5

RRP £25,235Avg. savings £1,836 off RRP*Compare Offers
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

A used luxury car can be a bargain, if you’re brave enough
Opinion - used luxury cars

A used luxury car can be a bargain, if you’re brave enough

Content editor George Armitage believes that the used car market is filled with prestige bargains, just as long as you’re careful.
Opinion
28 Nov 2024
New 2025 Toyota Aygo X on a mission to keep the city car alive
Toyota Aygo X facelift (camouflaged) - front 3/4

New 2025 Toyota Aygo X on a mission to keep the city car alive

Toyota’s Aygo X will be refreshed next year with a new look and we’ve spotted it testing
News
28 Nov 2024
Audi S3 vs BMW M135: which German brand builds the hottest hatchback?
Audi S3 and BMW M135 - front tracking

Audi S3 vs BMW M135: which German brand builds the hottest hatchback?

BMW’s four-wheel-drive M135 has received a major facelift. We put it up against the Audi S3 Sportback, which was also revised earlier this year
Car group tests
28 Nov 2024