Overview

Is the Range Rover Sport any good?

The appeal of a Range Rover badge is stronger than ever – signalled by the fact that you can go for the full fat Range Rover, the baby Range Rover Evoque and the sleek Range Rover Velar – as well as the Range Rover Sport, the second rung down from full Range Rover-dom.

As its name suggests, the Sport is the Range Rover for keener drivers. Despite its imperious stance and high-riding nature, it feels far smaller than its sizeable exterior dimensions would have you expect, while looking just as desirable, up-to-date and modern as any other Land Rover model.

It’s shorter, lower and weighs 45kg less than the regular Range Rover, and it feels a whole lot more wieldy on the road. Compared with the old Sport, it’s up to 420kg lighter, which explains why it feels so much more agile. There are some very impressive rivals that the Range Rover Sport needs to see off, though, not least the Porsche Cayenne and BMW X5, both of which are bang up to date with modern engines and technology, and also drive extremely well for such large cars.

What’s it like inside?

Not only is the Sport spacious inside but there’s the option of 5+2 seating with occasional ‘plus two’ seats in the boot. The electrically operated seats can be raised when required and fold flush to leave a flat boot floor when not in use.

There’s also an electrically deployable tow bar, Wi-Fi hotspot within the car, a powered tailgate, four-zone climate control with independent regulation for the rear passengers.

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What engines are available?

The Range Rover Sport’s engine range is comprehensive – with a selection of petrol and diesels to suit all tastes, as well as a plug-in hybrid for more cost-conscious buyers. The 3.0-litre diesel will be the most popular, available with three power outputs.

If you want a petrol Range Rover and have deep pockets to afford the running costs, there’s a 3.0-litre six-cylinder with 400hp and a 5.0-litre V8 with a searing 575hp reserved for the top-spec SVR.

The P400 came as part of the engine range update in 2019 – replacing the old supercharged V6 petrol engines with an all-new straight-six turbocharged one. The new unit is a development of Jaguar Land Rover’s modular Ingenium engine family, and in time, all of the Ford-sourced V6s will make way for variations of this unit.

There’s also a plug-in hybrid, badged P400e, using the 2.0-litre petrol engine together with a 105kW electric motor and is capable of travelling up to 30 miles on battery power alone. Combined power is 404hp with CO2 emissions ranging between 74-85g/km.

What’s it like to drive?

The Sport is fitted with a sophisticated suspension set-up that is designed to maximise its performance on- and off-road. It certainly performs off-road, handling deep wading, steep descents and gnarly, deep ruts with incredible ease – not least thanks to the Terrain Response 2 system which can automatically select the right driving mode for the conditions.

On the road the Sport impresses even more, displaying a level of agility and grip that belies its size. There is very little body roll and the car hoovers up twisty back roads with consummate ease. The Dynamic package includes such systems as Torque Vectoring Control that helps the 4×4 turn a tighter line.

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What models and trim levels are available?

There are three main trims: HSE, HSE Silver, HSE Dynamic, HSE Dynamic Black and Autobiography Dynamic, while HST models are reserved for the P400 petrol. The high-performance SVR and SVR Carbon Edition tops off the range.

There is a range of kit that you would expect to find on a large premium 4×4 such as keyless entry and stop/start, soft close doors, electrically heated front windscreen and rear seats that can recline, plus high-quality leather throughout, the latest Land Rover infotainment systems with large touchscreen displays and a set of crisp digital dials.

This might be all well and good, but does the Range Rover Sport stack up well with its rivals? Read on for the full review to find out more.

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