Range Rover Sport Review
Written by David Ross
Quick overview
Pros
- High quality luxury interior
- Incredibly refined and quiet
- PHEV has impressive range
Cons
- Higher list prices new than many rivals
- Others offer sharper handling
- Still question marks over long term reliability
Overall verdict on the Range Rover Sport
"There's no shortage of high-end SUVs on the market and while the Range Rover Sport is more expensive than its rivals - it makes a case for itself as one of the best SUVs money can buy. Hugely desirable, beautifully designed inside and incredibly refined, this generation Range Rover Sport picks up where its predecessor left off, improving key areas along the way."
The Range Rover Sport has long been a symbol of luxury and status. With its sleek design, advanced technology and impressive performance, the latest Range Rover Sport is a compelling choice for those wanting the best luxury SUV out there as we'll explain in our Range Rover Sport review.
With its recognisable profile, Range Rover designers haven't reinvented the wheel here, instead they've refined what was already an attractive SUV. It's a shame the motor for those retracting door handles creates such a din. Still, the interior is impressive, with top notch materials and meticulous craftsmanship creating a truly luxurious environment.
Range Rover has really upped its infotainment game too. The new Pivi Pro infotainment system features a curved touchscreen that is intuitive and responsive but most pleasingly, easy to use. In fact it's one of the best we've tested of late. You get things like wireless phone charging plus Apple CarPlay and Android Auto too.
Unlike its predecessor, the latest Range Rover Sport is no longer a seven seater - you'll want the full Range Rover for that - but losing the third row means better boot space. There's also more rear legroom than before and let's be honest, those seats were always way too cramped.
There's no scrimping on equipment and all models get luxuries like a heated steering wheel, heated seats and a panoramic roof. Which does go some way to making up for the very high list price. Even compared to rivals like the BMW X5 and Porsche Cayenne the Range Rover Sport looks expensive, both as a new purchase or a used buy.
But we think the Range Rover Sport does enough to justify its price. It's impeccably refined on the move, making for relaxing long distance drives, helped by the standard fit air suspension. It's also incredibly capable on more demanding roads with reassuring handling, even if it's not quite a match for the Porsche Cayenne here.
But then the Range Rover Sport is more than just a performance SUV. It's also a genuine off-roader that can tackle genuinely demanding terrain as we've experienced first hand. Nothing from the competition can match it here. It's also ideal for towing with all versions rated at 3500kg.
Engines include the popular D300 and D350 diesels which are our pick of the range helped by economy of close to 40mpg. The plug-in hybrid PHEV models have been improved and the P440e and P510e will cover approximately 55 miles on electric power, making them ideal for those who do lots of short journeys. Petrols include the wonderful sounding twin-turbo V8 powered P530 but if it's performance you want, the Range Rover Sport SV with its P635 engine is for you.
So yes, the Range Rover Sport is expensive, even when compared to already pricey rivals, so you'll pay for the privilege of its sleek interior, off-road ability and simply the fact it's a Range Rover. But you will have one of the best luxury SUVs around and you'll never feel disappointed when you get behind the wheel.
Looking for a used car for sale? We've got 100s of Land Rover Approved Used Cars for Sale for you to choose from, including a wide range of Range Rover Sport models for sale.
Is the Range Rover Sport right for you?
If you want a luxury SUV with a prestige badge, the Range Rover Sport is the car for you. Being a Range Rover, it's incredibly desirable, which goes some way to explaining the higher-than-the-competition price, both new and used.
Range Rover buyers are a loyal bunch so whether you're moving up to a Range Rover Sport from a Range Rover Velar, or perhaps downsizing from a Range Rover, you won't be disappointed. The latest Range Rover Sport looks and feels every inch the luxury SUV it's marketed as.
It's a great family car, albeit not a seven-seater, with wonderful long distance comfort and a high safety rating which will give parents plenty of reassurance. Being a Range Rover it's great for towing, so if you have a carvan or horsebox, there's plenty of appeal here. Plus of course, no rivals can match its off-road ability.
What other cars are similar to the Range Rover Sport?
There's no shortage of luxury SUVs of this ilk out there. The main Range Rover Sport rivals you're likely also looking at are the BMW X5 along with the Porsche Cayenne, both also available as a PHEV plug-in hybrid. We'd also throw the Audi Q7 in the mix, although it has the advantage of seven seats.
Not quite as sporty but similarly luxurious are the Volvo XC90 and the Mercedes-Benz GLE, although the Range Rover Sport is better to drive than both.
There's also competition from closer to home in the form of high performance versions of the Jaguar F-Pace while if you want something a little more unusual, you could look at the hybrid-only Lexus RX or the new Genesis GV80.
Comfort and design: Range Rover Sport interior
"Not only is the interior of the Range Rover Sport beautifully finished, with a noticeable step up in quality over its predecessor, but it's also very spacious and comfortable. It's a wonderfully relaxing vehicle to travel in."
With clean surfaces and a minimalist design, the interior of the Range Rover Sport is refreshingly unfussy. Most functions are controlled through the large touchscreen on the dash with its logical and simple layout.
There's a smaller steering wheel than the previous Range Rover Sport and the driving position is a little lower too, designed to enhance the 'Sport' part of the name no doubt. Don't worry though, there's still great visibility and it feels commanding to drive with a good view to the end of the bonnet.
With loads of adjustment in both the seat and steering wheel, it's easy to find the perfect driving position whatever your size and build. The pedals are well placed too with plenty of room for your feet. The only real criticism we have is around the slightly fiddly touch sensitive buttons on the steering wheel.
As you'd expect, there's acres of space. While it may be smaller, the Range Rover Sport has the same wheelbase as the Range Rover which means as much space in the back with more generous legroom than before. The seats are wonderfully luxurious, offering soft cushioning with good support for longer journeys.
Replacing conventional instrument dials is a 13.7-inch digital display in front of the driver. It's far clearer and sharper than before plus it can be customised with different configurations.
Quality and finish
Range Rover may be a luxury brand but its interiors haven't always lived up to that billing in the past. Thankfully that's not the case with the latest Range Rover Sport. It manages to improve on its predecessor to deliver a beautifully designed interior that feels modern and genuinely luxury, even down to the small details.
The new minimalist design helps, with the interior dominated by a large central touchscreen. Those switches and buttons that do remain are much better than before. The somewhat plasticky switchgear of the old model replaced with buttons that are far nicer to operate. It has the feel of a posh high-end stereo. We also love the feel of the gear selector.
The attention to detail is as top notch as ever with no rough stitching and tight gaps between all the trim. Impressively, despite all the advanced technology and touch sensitive buttons, everything works really well with quick responses.
All models now have perforated Windsor leather upholstery as standard along with 20-way electric heated memory front seats, heated power recline rear seats and a heated steering wheel.
Infotainment: Touchscreen, USB, nav and stereo in the Range Rover Sport
The Range Rover Sport uses Land Rover's latest Pivi Pro infotainment system which is accessed through a stylish 13.1-inch curved touchscreen that dominates the dash. It's the same system used in the bigger Range Rover and the largest touchscreen ever fitted to a Land Rover.
The bright display looks good with a modern layout but the best thing is that it is so easy to use. According to Land Rover, 90% of tasks can be done within just two taps of the home screen, so there's no digging through menus and sub-menus to find stuff.
Indeed, it's one of the best infotainment systems we've used and far less distracting than many. There's haptic controls for the main functions (like the climate control) and while there's no rotary dial as in a BMW, it's not missed. Unlike many systems, this one is refreshingly user-friendly and quick to respond to inputs.
There's the tech you'd expect like wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, along with a wireless charging pad. You can also control functions by saying “Hey Land Rover”, which wakes the cloud-based voice assistant.
This allows you to control functions such as navigation, media, climate and phone controls in up to 31 languages. Land Rover has gone one further and also added Amazon Alexa so you use it to set the navigation, check the news, weather and also traffic.
If you want to keep the kids in the back entertained, go for the optional Rear Seat Entertainment which adds two 11.4-inch touchscreens integrated into the back of the front seats. Curved like the main touchscreen, these can be hooked up via a HDMI or USB port, allowing the kids to watch different things on either screen.
Space and practicality: Range Rover Sport boot space
Unsurprisingly for a big SUV that's near enough five metres long, the Range Rover Sport has a very spacious interior and a huge boot too. While the previous Range Rover Sport was available with seven seats, this generation is resolutely a five-seater.
Given how tight the extra seats were in the previous model, this is no great loss. In fact, ditching those extra seats makes for a much cleaner and more useable boot with 647 litre of space, around the same as a Mercedes-Benz GLE.
Of course if you do want a seven seater, Land Rover will point you towards the bigger Range Rover or the Land Rover Defender.
There's an electric opening tailgate as standard and the good news is that if you opt for a plug-in hybrid PHEV model, you won't lose out on boot space. There's loads of room for a pushchair, lots of shopping or several big suitcase. The wide and square opening, plus the lack of a boot lip, makes it very user-friendly.
You can lower the height of the car via buttons in the boot which control the air suspension, handy if you're struggling to lift something heavy and cumbersome in. The back seats recline to different preset positions and they also split and fold in a useful 40/20/40 configuration.
While there are three headrests across the back, the centre 'seat', if you can call it that, is narrow and firm. You certainly won't be able to get three child car seats across there. There's Isofix on the two outer seats and the design means it's much easier to fit child seats compared to the old Range Rover Sport. You no longer have to try and locate the points at the base of the leather seats.
Handling and ride quality: What is the Range Rover Sport like to drive?
"The Range Rover Sport lives up to its name compared to the Range Rover, with a more agile and focussed feel through corners."
Overall, the Range Rover Sport is a pleasure to drive with an easy nature and undemanding nature. On the motorway it cruises along as effortlessly as you'd expect and around town it's easy to navigate into parking spots despite its size, helped by the standard fit parking sensors and 3D surround camera.
The P530 and P510e models also come with rear-wheel steering as standard. This reduces the turning circle at low speeds up to 30mph making parking even easier while at higher speeds it aid cornering. Get the Range Rover into a few flowing corners and you'll appreciate how reassuring and safe it feels. There's no drama and it's incredibly capable, even with a full complement of passengers on board.
That said, it's not as sharp as the Porsche Cayenne or BMW X5 when you begin to push it to its limits. Granted, this is not the kind of driving many SUV drivers (or indeed drivers of most cars) will do on a regular basis, but it does highlight the fact that the Range Rover Sport feels a bit heavier with more weight transfer.
The steering has a good weight to it, albeit not very much feel, as is common with most SUVs. It's responsive enough, especially in Dynamic mode, while the brake pedal has a consistent feel, even on the PHEV version.
Where none of the competition can match the Range Rover Sport is in off-road ability. Like all Land Rover products, the Range Rover Sport is designed to be a genuine off-road vehicle. It's fitted with the Terrain Response 2 off-road system which makes dealing with tricky conditions straightforward.
You simply select the conditions you're driving in - whether it's snow, mud or sand - and the system adjusts accordingly to give the best grip and ground clearance. Having tried it on proper off-road courses we can say the it's genuinely incredible the kind of terrain the Range Rover Sport can easily cope with, even when fitted with standard tyres.
The ride quality is as impressive as you'd expect from a Range Rover, with the standard fit adaptive air suspension making light work of rough roads and uneven surfaces. It's one of the most comfortable SUVs on the market right now - and there's plenty of competition out there.
The system cleverly uses the nav information to pre-empt the roads ahead and adjusts accordingly. So it will adjust to reduce body roll ahead of a corner and lower when it knows a dual carriageway is immiment.
What engines and gearboxes are available in the Range Rover Sport?
The Range Rover Sport engine range has expanded over the years and this latest generation includes diesel, petrol and improved plug-in hybrid PHEV power. The naming system also makes it very easy to understand - D for diesel and P for petrol followed by the horsepower (well PS) output. Audi take note...
It's the diesels, traditionally the mainstay of big SUVs, that remain the most popular choice among Range Rover Sport buyers. The Range Rover Sport D300 and D350 are powered by the same 3.0-litre six-cylinder diesel engine that also has mild hybrid (MHEV) technology. This essentially recuperates energy from braking and stores it in a small battery to aid starting.
Both diesels have plenty of power, there is after all not a bad engine in the Range Rover Sport range, with the Range Rover Sport D300 delivering 650Nm of torque and the Range Rover Sport D350 giving 50Nm more. Both are impressively quiet, even when pushed hard, feeling strong across the mid range.
Really, there's not that much to choose between them, on paper the Range Rover Sport D300 covers 0-62mph in 6.3 seconds with the Range Rover Sport D350 around half a second faster, but in everday driving you won't feel much difference. Both have identical MPG figures too, around 38mpg.
The Range Rover Sport D350 is only available in top of the range Autobiography trim and costs £4000 more than the equivalent Range Rover Sport D300. We'd suggest going for the D300 and using that money on extras like the Hot Climate Pack.
It's the Range Rover Sport PHEV plug-in hybrid models that really stand out. These have been further improved compared to the last model with larger capacity batteries giving a longer range and better performance.
Both the Range Rover Sport P440e and P510e will cover approximately 55 miles on electric power alone and this isn't just for around town, you can drive on purely electric all the way up to a police-worrying 87mph, should you so wish.
With near silent progress under electric power, the plug-in hybrid models are the most refined models in the range. Both are quick too with a 0-62 time of less than 6.0 seconds, but we'd suggest the P440e is the one to choose, the P510e isn't necessarily worth the extra.
If you want a petrol, there's the Range Rover Sport P400, a 3.0-litre six-cylinder with strong acceleration but for performance, the P530 is the engine to choose. This twin-turbo V8 sounds sublime and will accelerate from 0-62mph in 4.3 seconds.
The high performance Range Rover SV uses the same engine but as a P635 with a 0-62mph time of just 3.6 seconds. You can keep your Tesla Model X.
All models in the Range Rover Sport range are ideal for towing with a maximum rated towing weight of 3500kg and 750kg for an unbraked trailer, regardless of which engine you choose.
There's an eight-speed automatic gearbox as standard on all models. This ZF gearbox works with Land Rover’s Intelligent All-Wheel Drive system to deliver power where needed. It's certainly fast enough when shifting up, although does occasionally lack response when you ask it to kick down a gear for quick acceleration.
Refinement and noise levels
As you'd expect from a luxury SUV with a Range Rover badge on the bonnet, the Range Rover Sport is superlative when it comes to refinement. You feel wonderfully cossetted from the outside world - in every sense - as you make effortless progress.
Very little unwelcome noise makes its way into the cabin and it's the same for vibration and harshness. At motorway speeds you may notice a touch of wind noise from the front pillars, but it's minimal.
Choose the upgraded Meridian Signature Sound System and it comes with an active noise-cancelling feature which uses microphones in the wheels to pick up outside noises and transmits a frequency to cancel them out.
The diesel models are incredibly quiet, even under hard acceleration and are some of the quietest diesels we've experienced in modern SUVs. The V8 has a suitable growl but it's never overly loud while the plug-in hybrid PHEVs are the best for refinement, with zero noise under electric power making for near silent progress.
As refined SUVs go, few things this side of a Bentley Bentayga can match the Range Rover Sport.
Safety equipment: How safe is the Range Rover Sport?
The Range Rover Sport has the maximum five star safety rating from the people at Euro NCAP. Tested in 2022 it received an 85% rating for both adult occupant safety and child safety, helped by side head airbags in the front and rear.
In the crash tests, the front seats and head restraints demonstrated good protection against whiplash injuries in the event of a rear-end collision while the rear seats also indicated good whiplash protection.
The Range Rover Sport has an advanced eCall system which alerts the emergency services in the event of a crash and a ‘Post-Crash Braking’ system which automatically applies the brakes to prevent secondary collisions.
MPG and fuel costs: What does a Range Rover Sport cost to run?
"Traditionally, big SUVs aren't especially economical but you can at least expect up to around 38mpg from the diesel models which come with a mild hybrid system."
No surprise then that the D300 and D350 diesels are still the most popular sellers in the range, helped by the fact they are also cheaper to buy than the more powerful plug-in hybrids and V8 petrols. With an 80-litre fuel tank you'll be looking at a range of around 660 miles on a full tank.
The plug-in hybrid PHEV models are mighty impressive though and make a lot of sense if you do regular short journeys. The electric motor gives both the P510e and P440e a pure electric range of around 55 miles. If you keep it plugged in at home, it means you could cover plenty of local miles without needing to use the fuel in the tank.
Of course when that electric power runs out, you're using a six-cylinder 3.0-litre petrol engine to power a big SUV with the added weight of an electric motor and batteries. Official economy figures are all over the shop due to the way the WLTP test works but don't expect more than 30mpg, even on a good day.
The P400 3.0-litre petrol will return around 30mpg while the powerful twin turbo V8 in the P530 averages 25mpg officially, if you're counting. The Range Rover Sport SV uses the same engine but with even more power, the resulting P635 will return 24mpg.
How reliable is the Range Rover Sport?
Land Rover and Range Rover don't have the best reputation for reliability as many owner and reliability surveys show. Indeed in the 2022 HonestJohn.co.uk Satisfaction Index, Land Rover finished bottom of the pile with owner's unhappy with the brand averaging 8.93 out of 10 for reliability. In contrast, Lexus, which came top, scored 9.89 for reliability.
The previous Range Rover Sport had a patchy record for reliability, especially after three years when the new car warranty ends. Repairs are usually expensive, although no more than rivals from BMW and Mercedes-Benz while the same goes for servicing costs.
Insurance groups and costs
It's no surprise to discover that nearly all versions of the Range Rover Sport sit in the highest Group 50 insurance rating. The D300 SE is in Group 47 but this won't make a huge difference to premiums.
The Range Rover Sport will cost the same as similar SUVs from BMW and Audi to insure. It's also worth noting that it's one of the most popular models targetted by car thieves so consider extra security and possibly a tracker.
VED car tax: What is the annual road tax on a Range Rover Sport?
With the Range Rover being a big car, CO2 emissions are quite high. With first year tax based on emissions this means a tax rate of more than £1500 on diesel and petrols. However, the plug-in hybrid PHEVs have very low emissions which means zero car tax for the first 12 months.
With the cheapest Range Rover Sport priced at more than £80,000, all models incur the 'premium car tax' which means an extra £390 a year in tax. This lasts for five years (from the second time the vehicle is taxed) and is in additon to the annual car tax rate, currently £180 for a petrol or diesel and £170 for the PHEV.
How much should you be paying for a used Range Rover Sport?
"List prices for the Range Rover Sport are higher than much of the equivalent competiton and with limited numbers on the used market, there are few bargains to be had."
As of mid 2023, the cheapest new generation Range Rover Sport we found - a 2022 D300 Dynamic SE - was listed at £87,500 but most are £95,000 or more. If you want a plug-in hybrid PHEV then expect to pay at least £100,000.
Pre-reg models are reasonably rare but tend to be well specified and are a good way of beating the waiting lists if you're not too particular about colour.
The vast majority of used Range Rover Sport models will come through the Land Rover dealer network as Land Rover Approved Used cars which include a 12 month warranty and extras like MoT cover.
Trim levels and standard equipment
There are three trim levels in the Range Rover Sport range. Range Rover Sport SE, Range Rover Sport Dynamic SE and Range Rover Sport Autobiography. The Range Rover Sport SV is the performance flagship model.
Range Rover Sport SE models get LED headlights, heated, electric, power fold, memory door mirrors with approach lights and auto-dimming driver side, a fixed panoramic roof, heated windscreen, heated washer jets, 21-inch alloy wheels (which can be changed to 20-inch alloys for no cost), two-zone climate control, 20-way electric heated memory front seats with heated power recline rear seats, perforated Windsor leather seats and a heated steering wheel.
Technology includes Pivi Pro with 13.1-inch touchscreen, Online Pack with data plan and Amazon Alexa, wireless Apple CarPlay2 and wireless Android AutoTM 3, Meridian sound system, wireless device charging, 3D surround camera, blind spot assist, adaptive cruise control with steering assist, front and rear parking aid, park assist, Secure Tracker Pro (12-month subscription), Terrain Response 2, dynamic air suspension, adaptive off-road cruise control. Choose a P530 or P550e and this adds all-wheel steering, Dynamic Response Pro plus electronic active differential with torque vectoring by braking.
The Range Rover Sport Dynamic SE trim adds dynamic exterior styling, 21-inch satin dark grey alloys with black brake calipers, Moonlight Noble chrome interior finishers, a leather steering wheel with Moonlight bezel plus ebony headlining.
Range Rover Sport Autobiography is the top model for kit and includes a black contrast roof, sliding panoramic roof, soft door close, 22-inch diamond turned alloys, illuminated metal treadplates, premium cabin lighting, four zone climate control, loadspace floor partition, head-up display, perforated semi-aniline leather seats, 22-way heated and ventilated, massage electric memory front seats with winged headrests plus heated and ventilated power recline rear seats with winged headrests.
Range Rover SV models have 23-inch alloy wheels, yellow SV carbon ceramic brake calipers, a carbon fibre bonnet, configurable cabin lighting, 16-way electric heated and cooled performance front seats with massage and heated and ventilated power recline rear seats plus the SV carbon fibre exterior pack.
Ask the heycar experts: common questions
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