Range Rover Sport Review

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.

The current UK line-up is broader than before. Mainstream versions begin with the diesel-only S, then move through SE and Dynamic SE to Autobiography, while special editions such as Battersea Edition and Twenty Edition sit above those. Engines include diesel, petrol, extended-range plug-in hybrid and V8 options, so the Range Rover Sport can be specified as anything from a long-distance cruiser to an all-out performance SUV.

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.

For most buyers, the sweet spot is the Range Rover Sport Dynamic SE D300.

The D300 diesel mild hybrid still feels like the most natural fit for a big luxury SUV like this. It has ample torque, a long-legged character and the sort of real-world efficiency that makes the car easier to justify than the petrols and V8s.

Dynamic SE is the trim we would target because it brings the styling and equipment lift most buyers will want without pushing too hard into Autobiography money. It looks expensive, feels special and still leaves enough budgetary headroom to stop the car becoming wildly indulgent.

The plug-in hybrids are now much more convincing than before, though. If you can charge at home and most of your daily use fits within their electric range, the P460e also makes a strong case.

The current UK Range Rover Sport range starts at £77,620 for the diesel-only S. SE begins at £87,010, while Dynamic SE starts at £90,060.

Above that, the line-up includes the Battersea Edition from £88,670, the Twenty Edition from £116,685 and the Autobiography from £101,990.

Those are very strong prices, even by luxury-SUV standards. The Range Rover Sport has never been cheap, but the current car asks for a clear premium over many direct alternatives.

The defence is that it does feel expensive in the right ways. The design, cabin finish, refinement and sheer sense of occasion are all genuinely impressive. Even so, this is a car you buy because you want a Range Rover Sport specifically, not because it is the bargain of the class.

The Porsche Cayenne is the obvious choice if on-road handling is your priority, because it is more precise, more agile and more overtly sporting than the Range Rover Sport.

The BMW X5 remains one of the smartest all-round alternatives, blending strong drivetrains, a polished cabin and better value. The Audi Q7 is worth a look if you want seven seats, while the Mercedes-Benz GLE and Volvo XC90 lean more heavily into luxury and family comfort.

The Range Rover Sport’s edge is that none of these alternatives matches its particular combination of badge appeal, off-road credibility and long-distance serenity.

The current Range Rover Sport is a five-seater only, and that is no loss. The old car’s third row was too compromised to be especially useful, and deleting it has helped create a cleaner, more practical cabin.

There is plenty of room in the front and rear, helped by the long wheelbase and the more generous legroom than before. The rear seats are particularly impressive for comfort, which underlines the Sport’s long-distance luxury credentials.

Boot space stands at 647 litres, which is strong enough for this class and very usable in practice. The square opening, low boot lip and standard electric tailgate all help make it easy to load.

Importantly, the plug-in hybrids do not sacrifice load space, which means you do not have to choose between electrification and practicality. The rear seats also split 40/20/40 and recline, which adds useful flexibility.

The Range Rover Sport measures 4,946mm long, 2,047mm wide & 1,820mm high.

That makes it a substantial SUV, but not an unwieldy one. It is easier to place than its size suggests, especially given the excellent cameras and visibility by class standards.

The Range Rover Sport uses Land Rover’s latest Pivi Pro infotainment system through a 13.1-inch curved touchscreen, and it remains one of the best setups in this class.

It looks clean and modern, responds quickly and is refreshingly easy to use compared with many rival systems. Land Rover says most common functions can be reached within two taps, and in practice that feels believable.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, as is wireless charging. Voice control is stronger than before too, with both Land Rover’s own assistant and Amazon Alexa integration built in.

The digital driver display is equally slick, and overall this is one of the few large infotainment-led cabins that still feels calming rather than overdone.

The latest Range Rover Sport is much better than its predecessor here. Material quality has stepped up noticeably, the switchgear feels richer and the whole interior has a greater sense of craftsmanship.

Even standard cars get perforated Windsor leather, while the upper-end models add softer, richer finishes and more visual drama. The touchpoints are especially good, from the gear selector to the remaining physical controls.

It is not just a posh SUV cabin by Land Rover standards. It is a genuinely premium interior full stop.

The current engine range is broad. Diesel buyers can choose the D300 and D350 six-cylinder mild hybrids, while plug-in hybrid buyers get the P460e and P550e. Petrol options include the P400 six-cylinder mild hybrid and the V8-powered P530, while the SV flagship uses the P635 V8.

For most buyers, the D300 is still the standout because it combines strong torque, quiet refinement and sensible enough real-world economy.

The diesels remain the natural fit, but the latest plug-in hybrids are now genuinely compelling rather than just tax-driven curiosities.

This is where the Range Rover Sport really earns its money. The standard air suspension gives it a wonderfully calm, composed feel over poor roads and a long-legged ease on the motorway that suits the badge perfectly.

It is also more agile than the full-size Range Rover, with tighter body control and more responsive steering. Even so, it is not as crisp or as eager as a Porsche Cayenne when the road gets interesting.

That does not really matter unless you are driving very hard. In normal use, the Range Rover Sport feels secure, planted and deeply refined.

Off road, it remains in a different league from most luxury rivals. Terrain Response 2, adjustable ride height and serious traction systems mean it can tackle terrain that would stop almost anything else in this class.

The Range Rover Sport has a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating from testing carried out in 2022.

It also comes with a strong spread of standard safety technology, including autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot assistance, adaptive cruise control, a 3D surround camera and lane assistance. The underlying safety story is exactly what you would expect from a luxury SUV at this price.

Official combined economy for the D300 and D350 diesels is up to 38.2mpg, which is respectable for something this big, heavy and powerful.

The plug-in hybrids make the strongest efficiency case if you can charge regularly. Their official numbers look spectacular on paper, but the real story is the electric range. If your daily journeys fit within that 70-plus-mile window, they could make a lot of sense.

The petrols and V8s are inevitably thirstier. The P530 officially manages up to 26.7mpg, while real-world use will often be lower.

Land Rover covers the Range Rover Sport with a three-year manufacturer warranty from first registration.

Anti-corrosion cover lasts for six years from delivery, while the paint surface warranty runs for three years. Service intervals are set by Land Rover’s maintenance schedule and are based on time or distance, whichever comes first. Land Rover advises owners to follow the service schedule shown in the vehicle handbook and online service history record.

Insurance is predictably expensive. Most versions sit in the very highest groups, with even the cheaper diesel models still expensive to cover.

That is not out of line with the rest of the class, but it is worth remembering that a Range Rover badge and this much performance do not come cheaply.

After year one, the Range Rover Sport pays the standard annual VED rate for non-EV cars, currently £200.

Because every current Range Rover Sport sits above the £40,000 Expensive Car Supplement threshold for petrol, diesel and hybrid cars, all versions also attract the additional annual charge from years two to six. At current rates, that takes the annual total to £640 during that period.