New 2017 Range Rover Sport gets cheaper, cleaner 4cyl diesel

We’ve only just seen the updated 2017 Range Rover, but now details of model year revisions to the smaller Range Rover Sport have been announced. The BMW X5 rival gains two new engines, additional tech and minor exterior tweaks. It will go on sale towards the end of 2016.

The big story for the refreshed Range Rover Sport is the addition of a four-cylinder engine option for the first time. It’s Jaguar Land Rover’s now-familiar 2.0-litre Ingenium diesel found in the Discovery Sport and Range Rover Evoque. To help shift this two-tonne SUV, power has been boosted to 237bhp, with torque increased to 500Nm. 

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That’s enough to get the Sport SD4 from 0 to 60mph in eight seconds flat, 1.2 seconds down on the SDV6 diesel. The official combined cycle fuel economy is 45.6mpg and it emits 164gkm of CO2, which improves on the 37.7mpg and 199g/km of the V6 unit. The SD4 engine also brings down the starting price of the Range Rover Sport to £59,700, which is £3,000 less than the base SDV6.

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Buyers seeking more performance can now also spec JLR’s 335bhp supercharged 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine, which has also been added to the regular Range Rover line-up underneath the petrol V8. It manages 0-60mph in 7.1 seconds in the Sport, the downside being combined fuel economy of 26.9mpg and CO2 emissions of 243g/km.

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The 2017 Range Rover Sport gains the latest driver assist technology including Blind Spot Assist, autonomous braking, Advanced Tow Assist and an Intelligent Speed Limiter. A Low Traction Launch mode has been fitted to the Terrain Response system, too.

Inside, there's an enlarged 10-inch central infotainment display, which uses JLR’s InControl Touch Pro system. It’s faster and more feature-packed than the system on the current car, including a WiFi hotspot, smartwatch connectivity and an improved remote smartphone app that can control some of the car’s features remotely. That app can even learn your regular journeys so you don’t have to input them into the sat-nav. The new central display retains the clever ‘dual-view’ tech, that allows driver and passenger to see different displays.

19 new exterior colours have been drafted in from JLR’s Special Vehicle Operations division, too, including high gloss and satin finishes. A ‘Bright Pack’ can be specced optionally for the Autobiography Dynamic models, too, with silver grille and bonnet mesh.

What do you think of the 2017 model year changes on the Range Rover Sport? Leave us a comment below...