When Land Rover introduced the Range Rover Sport in 2005 it was radically different in appearance to the big daddy of the fleet, the Range Rover.
The RR Sport leaped onto our streets with its bold, square lines and didn’t look anything like its ‘wealthy-farmer’ styled big brother, at the time. The sporty youngster boasted a trendy, more boxy design which appealed to a younger, wider audience. Since then the sporty SUV has been so successful it’s almost become a brand on its own.
Now, Land Rover have released a third-generation model, let's take a look at some of its best bits.
Range Rover Sport: Simple, Elegant Design
The new car has a much more sculpted appearance, with cleaner, softer lines. And it's much softer on the eye than earlier versions. We really like the RR Sport's dark tinted canopy of glass, which smoothly wraps around the top of the car. Everything looks smooth, the flush-mounted door handles simply fade into the panel work, there are no hard edges in sight.
From the front, the new model retains its trademark muscular look. The thick, brick-like blunt nose is still there. But, the RR Sport's all-new three-tiered grille makes the car appear even taller. Elegant new LED lighting units flank the top section of the grille, Land Rover’s slimmest yet. And bigger front air-intakes add drama to the car's appearance.
The Sport's door handles have proximity sensing, so you don’t even need to get the key fob out of your pocket when you approach it. Likewise, it will lock itself when you walk away. And one feature that we also like is the soft door close, which adds to the grandeur of this premium SUV.
Smooth, rounded lines continue to the RR Sport's clean-cut rear. It feels like someone at Land Rover just told the engineering team to sand every edge down to make the whole thing flow seamlessly.
We think it's fair to say that the latest Velar-inpired design is more of an evolution, than a revolution. And because it is so smooth, it somehow lacks the sporty, aggressive look of its ancestors.
Range Rover Sport: Good Selection Of Powertrains
There's a range of powertrain options to choose from; petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid versions. The petrol variants carry 3.0-liter, six-cylinder engines, and can serve up to a maximum of 510 horsepower. Or there’s a 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 that belts out 530 horsepower, which will probably be the most fun one to drive.
Land Rovers’s bulletproof diesel variants also have the 3.0-liter straight sixes, and can offer up to 350 horsepower. The plug-in hybrid model uses the same engine too, paired to a 32 kWh battery, and has a claimed range of 70 miles.
All variants have eight-speed automatic gearboxes, and an All-Wheel Drive option. The one variant that’s glaringly missing is a fully-electrified one, but Land Rover promise to have it ready by 2024.
Great On And Off-Road Handling
It’s fair to say that the majority of these cars will never experience any serious off-road adventures. But Land Rover's ‘Go Anywhere’ mantra is still highly relevant for this car. Handling and ride quality are as expected, top-notch.
Land Rover’s MLA-Flex platform and integrated chassis control systems provide the perfect ride for every occasion. The premium SUV’s Adaptive Dynamics 2 technology irons out all the bumps for you, and coupled with its Anti-roll control, the Sport maintains a level of composure that's second to none.
With less steel and more alloy it's 400 kg lighter than its predecessor, which gives it a more nimble feel on the road. Off-road, the RR Sport comes into a world of its own. Whether you want to wade through three feet of water, or climb a small mountain, it won’t let you down. Automatic Cruise Control takes the human effort out of any obstacle that you care to negotiate, and all-wheel-steering means that cornering and three point turns are a breeze.
Superb Cabin And Luxury Interior Of The Range Rover Sport
The RR Sport’s interior is superb. The sleek new layout makes long journeys a pleasure. And the swooping center console gives the cabin a cockpit-effect, making the driver feel comfortably cocooned for an enjoyable flight.
Comfort is obviously a number one priority, and Land Rover certainly deliver it with the 22-way heated and ventilated seats, which also give massages. A new range of non-leather, polyurethane seat covering options are now available too. So if you want to help save the planet, or spare a few cows, you can.
We love to listen to the latest sounds while we’re driving, and the RR Sport’s 29-speaker Meridian Sound System, coupled with its active noise cancellation system (that blocks out road and tire noise) is absolutely epic.
Dominating the RR Sport’s dashboard is a 13.7-inch touchscreen Pivi Pro infotainment system which has Amazon Alexa, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and a whole host of other tech to play with. If you go for the rear-seat entertainment package, your passengers can watch 11.4-inch screens while they enjoy the ride.
Range Rover Sport: Final Thoughts
The 2023 Range Rover Sport is a winning formula, and we’ve only highlighted just a few of its best bits. While its bigger brother is competing with the likes of Rolls-Royce and Bentley for attention, the RR Sport is probably going head-to-head with the likes of the Porsche Cayenne, Jaguar F-Pace and Aston Martin DBX. Stiff competition at a time when demand for luxury SUVs is at an all-time high, and every major manufacturer, including Ferrari, is producing them.
As far as pricing, the new Range Rover Sport starts at around $83,000. But if you want the V8, the starting cost is likely to be closer to $122,000. The diesel versions are likely to be the biggest crowd-pleasers. And judging by past sales, its sleek new design, overhauled tech and extremely welcoming cabin, we think that this third-generation Range Rover Sport will be a big hit.