Range Rover Sport Review

Read Caroline’s Range Rover Sport review for everything you need to know about buying the luxury SUV in Ireland.

The Range Rover Sport first debuted back in 2005. It quickly became a byword for luxury and performance with a sportier edge than the brand’s flagship Range Rover.

Now it’s back for a third generation but it’s the new plug-in hybrid that attempts to add more efficiency to the range.

It goes on sale priced from €111,400 for a plug-in hybrid rising to €220,267 for a top of the range 4.4-litre V8. That puts it up against other high-end SUVs like the Porsche Cayenne, BMW X5, Mercedes-Benz GLE and the Audi Q7.

So is the Range Rover Sport still the king of performance luxury SUVs?

What’s so special about the Range Rover Sport?

The Sport is all about performance and luxury worthy of the Range Rover badge, but in a sportier and more dynamic package. Well that’s the premise anyway.

It’s no surprise Land Rover took the prestigious Range Rover badge and expanded its range with models like the Range Rover Velar and Range Rover Evoque. But the Sport is surely the most luxurious and desirable of them all.

It’s built on the same platform as the new Range Rover but is a bit shorter in length with more dynamic styling. For this new generation the styling has been modernised with the brand’s new design language. The standard fit pixel LED headlights are a bit slimmer for example.

A luxury sports SUV wouldn’t be complete without big wheels and this one does not disappoint with standard fit 21-inch wheels, rising to 23-inch. Red brake calipers are a no cost option.

In Ireland the Range Rover Sport is available with a range of powerful engines from plug-in hybrid to 3.0-litre diesels and a range-topping V8 petrol with 530hp. There are a range of trim levels but this SUV is packed with luxury features no matter which one you go for.

Inside the Range Rover Sport

Inside the cabin it’s pure luxury – from the finish of the materials to all the tech on board. It feels like a big step forward. All the materials feel good and leather upholstery comes as standard. There are also electric heated front seats with memory function and 20-way adjustment.

Every Range Rover Sport comes with a digital driver display as well as a new 13-inch touchscreen that is a real highlight of the cabin experience. There’s also a wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connection, wireless smartphone charging and a Meridian sound system.

Most of the car’s functions are controlled from the large touchscreen including the operation of the heated seats and lumbar support for example. But it’s relatively easy to navigate and there are shortcut buttons on the centre console to pull up menus quickly.

Being a Land Rover, there’s also lots of driving aids for off-road driving as well.

The new Range Rover Sport is bigger than before so it feels a bit roomier inside with more legroom and kneeroom. There is loads of space in the back and luxurious features like heated, power reclining seats. There’s also a huge boot measuring 835 litres stacked to the roof with lots of clever features as standard including a power tailgate. You can lower the rear suspension from a button to make it easier to load things. There’s also a handy divider and buttons to release the rear seats, which split fold 60:40, and also bring them back up again. This SUV brings luxury to the next level, even when it comes to practicality.

Driving the P440e hybrid

The new Range Rover Sport is available with a range of high-performance petrol and diesel engines, and two plug-in hybrids. The all-electric version is expected in 2024. The plug-in hybrids use a six cylinder, 3.0-litre petrol engine, with two different power outputs available – 440hp and 510hp. That’s the power box ticked.

Or you can have a 3.0-litre six cylinder diesel or petrol engine with mild hybrid technology, or a top of the range 4.4 litre petrol V8 with 530hp!

But the plug-in hybrids are quite special because the 38kWh battery gives an all-electric driving range of up to 113 kilometres (WLTP) or 88 kilometres in real world driving on a single battery charge. It takes less than five hours to charge the P440e at home from a wallbox. There’s also a CCS adaptor so the Sport can accept DC fast charging, giving 80% battery in just under an hour. You can switch between three different modes – EV, Hybrid and Save – the latter holds on to the battery range for town or city driving for example. But even running in hybrid mode, average fuel consumption sticks around 7.3 litres per 100 kilometres. That’s not bad for an SUV that weighs about 2.7 tonnes.

On the road, the Range Rover Sport P440e is fast when you put your foot down. There’s 620Nm of torque and 0 to 100km/h takes just 5.8 seconds. Standard air suspension offers excellent comfort and control. Yet the Sport is not quite as dynamic as what you might expect from the badge. It’s hard to disguise all that weight on board. It never really feels that sharp or engaging when you’re pushing on through corners.

But what it is very good at is comfort and refinement. There is no noise in the cabin as it glides across the tarmac. That’s thanks to Active Noise Cancellation as standard, which filters out wind and road noise through 29 cabin speakers. Sublime!

Did you like it?

The Range Rover Sport has one of the world’s most prestigious car badges. But it’s not immune from changes in the motor industry towards hybrid and electrification.

Thankfully the brand has done an amazing job with the new P440e plug-in hybrid. It offers all the power and luxury you would expect, with an excellent electric driving range and a high-tech interior. What it misses in pure dynamism it makes up for it in refinement.

If you’re looking for a luxury SUV that’s comfortable and refined with lots of kerb appeal, there’s really nothing quite like the Range Rover Sport.

Model tested: Range Rover Sport P440e Dynamic SE 
Price: From €111,400
Engine: 3.0-litre petrol electric plug-in hybrid
Power: 440hp
Torque: 620Nm
Top speed: 225 km/h
Acceleration (0-100 km/h): 5.8 seconds
Motor Tax: €140 per year

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Written by Caroline Kidd

Founder and Editor of Changing Lanes, Juror for Irish Car of the Year