Range Rover Sport Review 2024

With this third-generation model, the Range Rover Sport has come of age. Based on the same platform as the Range Rover, it benefits from the bigger car’s luxurious interior, impressive engine line-up and marvellous off-road tech. It is, however, expensive, and enters a crammed luxury SUV arena featuring the likes of the BMW X5 and dynamically superb Porsche Cayenne. Read our full Range Rover Sport review to see if it can hold its own...

Despite its undeniable abilities, both on and off road, the first Range Rover Sport was, frankly, something of a marketing-facade phoney. 

Underpinned by the tough but gently unsophisticated ladder chassis of the Land Rover Discovery, it shared the same mechanicals and some of the engines, as well as significant chunks of interior design.

It boasted so little genuine Range Rover DNA that, in family tree terms, it occupied an entirely separate orchard. Such is the power of the brand, though, that no one seemed to mind.

The latest Range Rover Sport, though, is a different proposition.

Those staple Range Rover styling cues of clamshell bonnet and floating roof with blacked-out glazing pillars are now joined by flush fitting door handles that started life on the Range Rover Velar and then graduated to the full-fat Range Rover.

But the Range Rover Sport doesn’t have the hinted-at yacht hull shape of its senior sibling’s lower body, so immediately looks more pugnacious and less svelte.

The climb up into the seats is a reassuringly Range Rover experience, although the driver’s seat is actually almost an inch lower than that of its big brother.

There’s plenty of rear seat space, but no third row seating available. If you need a seven-seater, look elsewhere.

The cabin ambience is a pleasing meld of plush and minimalist modern; the only downside to the minimalism is the removal of physical controls for heating and ventilation, which now lurk within the 13.1-inch centre touchscreen.

Although slightly anaemic to look at and requiring a fairly hefty shove to elicit the promised haptic feedback, the touchscreen entertainment works far better than anything from JLR to date. It offers Alexa voice control, wireless mirroring for both Apple and Android mobiles and wireless charging. 

Four trim levels are available – S, SE, Dynamic SE and Autobiography – and by the time you climb the ladder to the Range Rover Sport Dynamic SE model we drove, the standard equipment specification is pleasingly comprehensive.

A 29-speaker Meridian Signature sound system with as many as four headrest speakers is on the options list, as are rear seat entertainment screens.

The Range Rover Sport’s engine line-up comprises three six-cylinder, 3.0-litre, mild hybrid diesel units – the 249PS D250, 300PS D300 and 350PS D350 – and two six-cylinder, 3.0-litre, plug-in hybrid petrol engines, the 460PS P460e and the 550PS P550e.

All engines are mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission with flappy paddle manual override, and all-wheel drive.

There is also a 4.4-litre V8 petrol unit in the flagship performance-focused Range Rover Sport SV, but that’s sold out at the time of writing.

Whatever your powertrain choice, you can’t fail to be impressed by the Range Rover Sport on the road. Perhaps the best way to describe the car’s artfully engineered combination of everyday comfort and surprising driving engagement is relaxed dynamism…

In the interests of delivering the ‘sport’ the name promises, the air-suspension is slightly tougher than that of the grown-up Range Rover, but the car still thumps down a motorway in comfort.

Through bends, nicely weighted steering that doesn’t let you forget the size and mass of the car teams up with sophisticated suspension damping to deliver plenty of entertainment.

Tighter, narrower roads are, however, somewhat demanding in something this big, and best reserved for Range Rover Sport P550e models, which up the agility (and urban manoeuvrability) ante considerably with the welcome addition of four-wheel steering.

This also proves an asset off-road, where every version of the Range Rover Sport is streets ahead of any rival. 

All in all, then, the Range Rover Sport offers most of what the Range Rover proper affords you, but for less money.

However, with prices starting at £75,255 and the Range Rover Sport Dynamic SE weighing in at £86,925, it is very expensive.

Then again, whilst some rivals may be sharper to drive, none can match it for luxury, comfort and off-road ability.

Based on the full-fat Range Rover platform, this a big car. It’s 4946mm long, of which just under three metres account for the wheelbase. That means cabin space is every bit as generous as you’ll find in the Range Rover.

The front seats offer 20-way electric adjustment (12-way on Range Rover Sport S models, and 22-way on Range Rover Sport Autobiography variants), and are instantly comfortable, plus provide outstanding forward visibility.

Rear visibility can be bolstered by the optional ClearView video rear-view mirror which gives a wide field of vision at the back, compensates for low light levels, and, we find, is particularly uncomfortable to look at.

We also found that the seats became less comfortable as time at the wheel wore on; this has become something of a hallmark of JLR seating.

The 40:20:40 split/folding rear seats offer plenty of legroom, and, thanks to that Range Rover Evoque-evoking sloping roof profile, a little less headroom than you’ll find in a grown-up Range Rover.

However, the seats recline to several set positions at the press of a switch to reduce the impact of this. 

A total of 647 litres of loadspace increases to 1491 with the rear seats folded flat; not class-leading volumes, but more than adequate.

A powered tailgate is standard, and you can raise and lower the height of the car with the air-suspension via loadspace wall-mounted buttons, for the easier loading of heavy stuff.

The Range Rover Sport lacks its larger sibling’s trademark split tailgate, but there is a flip-up section of loadspace floor which makes a serviceable backrest.

Storage in the front of the cabin is excellent, largely due to twin gloveboxes and a two-tier centre console assembly that boasts cup-holders, wireless phone charging and even an optional refrigerated bin to keep drinks cool.

A 13.7-inch digital driver’s display is fitted as standard, with clear, crisp graphics and a respectable level of customisation. Plus the 13.1-inch infotainment screen looks good and works well.

It’s just a pity that the physical heating and ventilation controls of past versions are now embedded in the infotainment system.

Pretty impressive. Everything feels sturdy yet plush, with a high-quality feel that matches the more expensive Range Rover.

That’s just as well, because the almost complete absence of physical switches allows the eyes and hands to focus on the trim finishes and textures far more than they might in a less barren environment.

Even the lowliest model in the range, the Range Rover Sport S, has beautifully stitched full leather upholstery. The chrome inlays are tidily detailed and the piano black panelling is particularly attractive.

However, those gleaming surfaces quickly lose some appeal once sticky fingers have been to work on them. And, from a tactile perspective, the central touchscreen mounting is a tad wobbly and the gear selector not the most pleasing to operate.

Every Range Rover Sport is equipped with JLR’s 13.1-inch Pivi Pro infotainment system, which is miles better than the old InControl system. 

Rather than being integrated into the car’s centre console, the screen’s simply plonked on top, which is a double win for the interior designers.

Frstly, they don’t have to worry about submerging the screen within the dashboard trim, so it can be larger and overhang its background. And, secondly, there’s far less problematic heat build-up within the dashboard, because the screen isn’t fully integrated.

Once you’ve ditched the rather anaemic, Tesla-like white ‘n’ beige colour scheme for something darker and less bathroom showroom, the screen has impressive resolution.

It’s quick to respond to inputs and there aren’t too many sub-menus to stab through in the hunt for a particular function. The screen has some haptic feedback, but requires quite a shove to get it to work.

The system offers Alexa voice control, wireless mirroring for both Apple and Android mobiles and wireless charging.

A 29-speaker Meridian Signature sound system with as many as four headrest speakers is on the options list, as are rear seat entertainment screens.

At the time of writing, and with the high-performance Range Rover Sport SV variant currently sold out, the model range comprises four trim levels, priced from £75,255 to £98,445.

The cheapest model, the Range Rover Sport S D250, is only available with a mild hybrid diesel powertrain. Priced from £83,925, the Range Rover Sport SE offers a choice of engines – a D300 mild hybrid diesel unit or a P460e petrol plug-in hybrid.

The Range Rover Sport Dynamic SE that we drove is available with the same two powertrains.

The current range-topping Range Rover Sport Autobiography costs from £98,445 and boasts a choice of three engines – D300 and D350 mild hybrid diesels, and a P550e petrol plug-in hybrid.

Range starting prices for only two of five rivals we’ve looked at come in over those of the Range Rover Sport – the Mercedes GLE from £76,095 and the Audi Q8 from £76,495, with the £69,560 BMW X5, £62,140 Lexus RX and £70,400 Porsche Cayenne all undercutting it by some margin. 

Factor in the need to equip the Range Rover Sport with a powertrain that’ll live up to its name, and you’ll need to find £83,925 to afford the D300 mild hybrid diesel SE variant.

As mentioned, then, the Range Rover Sport only looks something of a bargain when stacked against the Range Rover itself, the prices of which start at £104,025.

Both the Range Rover Sport’s PHEV petrol powertrains are billed as hilariously economical – the 460PS P460e is quoted as returning an average fuel consumption of up to 382.4mpg, the 550PS P550e up to 362.2mpg.

Once the battery is depleted, however, you can expect a somewhat more honest return in the mid-20s. CO2 emissions for the two PHEVs are quoted at 179g/km and 189g/km respectively.

Back in the real world, the D250, D300 and D350 mild hybrid diesels offer average fuel consumption of 39.4, 38.8 and 38.1mpg respectively, with CO2 emissions of 188, 191 and 194g/km.

The financial appeal of the PHEVs is clearer to see for company car drivers, however. Thanks to the healthy official electric range of 73-76 miles, both plug-in hybrids are placed in the 5% benefit-in-kind (BIK) bracket – lower than the 8% band of rivals including the Lexus RX450h+ and BMW X5.

The PHEV Range Rover Sports have a maximum charging speed of 50kW, replenishing from 0-80% of charge in less than a hour if you can find a fast enough charger, or from 0-100% in five hours from a 7kW home charger.

Bearing JLR’s dismal reliability record firmly in mind, the Range Rover Sport comes with a three-year, unlimited mileage warranty, which can be extended at a cost.

That’s about par for the course, and put to shame by the 10-year/100,000-mile warranty you’re given for the Lexus RX if you service it each year at a main dealer.

Perhaps the best way to describe the Range Rover Sport’s artfully engineered combination of everyday comfort and surprising driving engagement is relaxed dynamism.

In terms of straight-line performance, what pleases most is not the Range Rover Sport Dynamic SE’s ability to thump to 60mph in just 6.3 seconds but, rather, its pleasing delivery of smooth, lusty in-gear performance almost anywhere in the speed range.

This is allied to superior levels of isolation from the outside world, providing a remarkable blend of cabin quietness and surprisingly cosseting ride comfort.

Better still, the Range Rover Sport combines this exceptional ride quality with a level of agility entirely belying its bulk.

In the interests of delivering the sporty drive the name promises, the air-suspension’s a mite tougher than that of the grown-up Range Rover, but the car still tackles a motorway with comfort. There is some wind noise, but the disturbance is limited to a gentle flutter around the door mirrors and windscreen pillars.

Top-of-the-range cars with the upgraded Meridian Signature sound system benefit from an active noise-cancelling feature that uses microphones to monitor exterior noise and then cancel it out with the speakers.

The steering offers a pleasing weight and accuracy, and body control is first class. You might balk at hustling a car this large down a B-road, but on wider roads with sweeping bends, it’ll consistently put a smile on your face without the discomfort caused by tougher-sprung rivals such as Porsche’s Cayenne and the BMX X5. 

Tighter, narrower roads are, however, somewhat demanding in something this big, and best reserved for Range Rover Sport P550e models, which have four-wheel steering.

This also proves an asset off-road, where every version of the Range Rover Sport is streets ahead of any rival. 

The Range Rover Sport’s engine line-up comprises three six-cylinder, 2997cc, mild hybrid diesel units – the 249PS D250, 300PS D300 and 350PS D350 – and two six-cylinder, 2996cc, plug-in hybrid petrol engines, the 460PS P460e and the 550PS P550e.

All engines are mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission with flappy paddle manual override and all-wheel drive.

The D250 delivers 249Ps and 600Nm of torque, which will accelerate almost 2.4 tonnes of car to 60mph in 7.5 seconds and on to a top speed of 128mph. The D300’s 300PS and 650Nm reduces the 0-60mph dash to 6.3 seconds and ups the maximum speed to 135mph.

Only available in Range Rover Sport Autobiography models, the 350PS, 700Nm D350 will punt this massive machine to 60mph in a mere 5.5 seconds and on to 155mph.

The P460e plug-in hybrid petrol engine generates 460PS and 660Nm of torque, good for a 0-60mph time of just 5.3 seconds and a 140mph top speed.

Once again only available in Range Rover Sport Autobiography models, the P550e variant of the same PHEV powertrain delivers 550PS and a whopping 800Nm of torque, flinging the car to 60mph in only 4.7 seconds, and on to 150mph.

The diesels engines are deliciously quiet, remaining smooth even when pushed hard. The eight-speed automatic transmission is excellent at lower speeds, too, but if you want a quick dash of acceleration, it’s a little sluggish compared to the likes of Porsche’s Cayenne.

Then again, it kind of suits the car’s character, making it hard to consider this a shortcoming.

Industry safety body Euro NCAP awarded the Range Rover Sport a top five-star rating, with both adult and child occupant protection achieving an 85% score.

On-board safety systems also performed well, with the Driver Assist category earning an 82 per cent mark.

JLR certainly hasn’t scrimped on safety tech, with all models including lane keep assist and blind spot assist functions, adaptive cruise control with steering assist, a rear traffic monitor, traffic sign recognition and automatic emergency braking.

Front and rear parking sensors and a 3D surround view camera are also offered as standard, which will help make parking manoeuvres a little easier, while the automatic park assist system is available if you trade up to a Range Rover Sport Autobiography.

The Range Rover Sport has an unbraked towing capacity of 750kg, and a maximum braked trailer capacity of 3500kg (except PHEV powered models, which will still lug 3000kg).

Lob in the peerless Terrain Response 2 system allied to ground clearance of 280mm and a wading depth of 900mm, and you have a serious all-environment workhorse disguised as a plush bungalow.

Four Range Rover Sport trim levels are available – S, SE, Dynamic SE and Autobiography, and by the time you climb the ladder to the Dynamic SE model we drove, the standard equipment specification is comprehensive.

A 29-speaker Meridian Signature sound system with as many as four headrest speakers is on the options list, as are rear seat entertainment screens.

The Range Rover Sport S’s list of standard equipment includes a heated windscreen, heated washer jets, heated electric power-fold memory door mirrors with approach lights, toughened front and rear side glass, 20-inch alloy wheels and LED headlights and tail-lights.

There are also rain sensing windscreen wipers, 12-way electric heated memory front seats with two way manual front headrest and power recline rear seats, grained leather seats and a heated steering wheel.

Buyers also benefit from two-zone climate control, a Meridian sound system, cruise control and speed limiter, front and rear parking aid, dynamic air-suspension, adaptive dynamics, Terrain Response 2 and Secure Tracker Pro (12-month subscription).

To these features the Range Rover Sport SE adds 21-inch alloy wheels, Pixel LED headlights with signature DRL, Windsor leather seats and 20-way electric heated memory front seats with heated power recline rear seats.

The Range Rover Sport Dynamic SE builds on the SE specification with 21-inch Satin Dark Grey wheels and the Dynamic Exterior Pack.

To these features the Range Rover Sport Autobiography adds 22-inch diamond turned wheels with Satin Dark Grey contrast, a sliding panoramic roof, digital LED headlights with signature DRL, a Meridian 3D surround sound system and semi-Aniline leather seats,

There are also 22-way heated and ventilated, massage electric memory front seats with winged headrests and heated and ventilated power recline rear seats with winged headrests.