Review - Land Rover Range Rover Sport

Famed for their off-road ability, luxurious cabin designs and their desirability among Hollywood’s elite, the Range Rover Sport has, in recent years, cemented itself a solid reputation as one of the go-to options for those looking for a luxurious SUV with genuine off-road credentials. 

This growing popularity has, however, seen some sizable price increases across the range in recent years, which leaves us with one burning question. Just how good is the latest Range Rover Sport, and how well does it perform in justifying its lofty price tag in the super-competitive market segment of luxurious SUVs? Let’s find out. 

Starting Price: $115,500

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Land Rover Range Rover Sport - D250 SE (183kW) Specifications

For more details and other variants, check Land Rover Range Rover Sport car page.

How Much Does It Cost?

The Range Rover Sport lineup kicks off from $115,500 in the form of the entry-level D250 SE, with prices climbing to $125,000 for the D300 SE, $128,200 for the P400 SE and $136,180 for the plug-in hybrid SE. 

The range then moves to the HSE variants, which are priced from $141,700 for the D300 HSE, $144,900 for the P400 HSE, $148,600 for the D300 HSE Dynamic, $154,800 for the D350 HSE, $162,130 for the D350 HSE Dynamic and, finally, $177,630 for the P525 HSE Dynamic. 

Opting for the flagship Range Rover Sport variants brings the price tag up to $181,770 for the D300 Autobiography Dynamic, $207,300 for the P525 Autobiography Dynamic, $246,270 for the P575 SVR, $275,920 for the P575 SVR Carbon Edition and finally $295,470 for the ultra-flagship Range Rover Sport P575 SVR Ultimate Edition. 

Keep in mind that these prices are subject to change and do not include on-road costs. 

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What Features Does the Range Rover Sport Have?

The entry-level Range Rover Sport SE variants come riding on a set of 19-inch alloys for the P300 and D250, while the P400 and plug-in hybrid variants receive 20-inch alloys. In terms of features, the SE variants are packaged with automatic LED headlights with fog lights, air suspension, a powered boot lift, a 10.0-inch infotainment system with DAB+ radio, satellite navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, keyless entry and start, a heads-up display, heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, ambient lighting package, eight-speaker sound system, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with paddle shifters, as well as the company’s adaptive dynamics system for off-roading performance. 

Opting for the HSE trim level adds a set of 20-inch alloys, Matrix LED headlights, a power-adjustable steering column, 16-way adjustable seats, acoustic-reducing glass for the windows, an upgraded ambient lighting package and illuminated tread plates. HSE Dynamic variants get a set of metallic pedals for the driver, and ride on 21-inch alloy wheels. 

Stepping up to the Autobiography Dynamic variants adds a black contrast roof finish, heated and ventilated front seats, upgraded 825-watt Meridian sound system, 22-way adjustable seats, an air conditioned centre console cooler, rear-cross traffic alerts and surround-view camera. 

Opting for the sporty SVR variant adds a set of 22-inch alloys, sports suspension, red brake calipers, Pixel LED headlights, SVR performance seats, steering wheel and engine cover, aluminium paddle shifters and three-zone climate control. Finally, the SVR Carbon Edition receives a carbon fibre finish for the engine cover, exterior bodywork and the interior trim. 

Range Features: 

• 19-20 inch alloys in base variants 

• LED headlights 

• Air suspension

• Heated front and rear seats 

• Powered boot lift 

• Head-up display 

• 10.0-inch infotainment system with DAB+, satellite navigation, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto 

• Ambient lighting 

• Matrix LED headlights (HSE) 

• 21-inch alloy wheels (HSE Dynamic) 

• Black contrast roof finish (Autobiography Dynamic)

• Heated and ventilated front seats (Autobiography Dynamic)

• 18-speaker Meridian sound system (Autobiography Dynamic)

• Surround view camera (Autobiography Dynamic)

• Sports suspension with red brake calipers (SVR)

• 22-inch alloy wheels (SVR) 

• Pixel LED headlights (SVR) 

• Sport seats (SVR) 

• Carbon fibre engine, exterior and interior finishes (SVR Carbon Edition)  

What Colours is the Range Rover Sport Available in?

The Range Rover Sport can be optioned with a choice of 12 colours, with Fuji White as the standard finish. Santorini Black, Yulong White, Firenze Red, Eiger Grey, Hakuba Silver, Byron Blue, Portofino Blue, Lantau Bronze, Carpathian Grey and Silicon Silver are available across the range, while Estoril Blue is reserved for the flagship SVR and SVR Carbon Edition. 

Is it Comfortable to Drive?

The Range Rover Sport is an exceptionally comfortable vehicle to drive and be driven around in. While the company may have more experience in designing hardcore off-roaders, in recent years, they’ve transitioned this off-roading know-how into their large, luxurious SUV lineup and the results are staggering. 

The Range Rover Sport is an absolute pleasure to drive in terms of its refinement and comfortable suspension, and in spite of its sheer size, it manages to remain fairly user-friendly for those new to the large SUV segment. The cockpit positions you extremely high above the road, giving you a great amount of visibility through the windscreen for added confidence at speed. The one clear downside of owning a large SUV is how cumbersome they can be at low speeds in tight situations, but at the very least, the Range Rover Sport gives you more visibility than a number of other premium European SUVs. 

With more than six different engines across the range, it’s difficult to give a complete overview in one piece. However, power and torque figures are impressive in even the entry-level models, with the plug-in hybrid remaining one of the most attractive options in the lineup; matching other engines in terms of power while dramatically reducing the fuel economy. Whichever engine you opt for, though, the range of powertrains available offer a smooth, refined and sizable amount of power, paired with a silky-smooth gearbox that takes care of shifts without you needing to think about it. 

In terms of the Range Rover Sport’s overall driving dynamic, it can be summed up with a few simple words: “this is luxury.” Everything from the exceptionally comfortable air suspension, smooth engine and transmission combination and the attention to detail in insulating the cabin from the outside world culminate in a wonderful place to sit, or be driven around in. There are very few cars on the planet that offer the same level of refinement on offer in the Range Rover Sport, however, it does command an extremely steep price of admission. 

Is it Practical and Spacious? 

The Range Rover Sport is an extremely large vehicle, and as a result, it’s perfectly positioned to swallow up people and their belongings for school trips, daily drives and weekend adventures. Stepping inside the cabin, the driver and front passenger are treated to a relatively low-slung dashboard that houses the infotainment system, digital dashboard and climate settings that allows you to get a better view out than other large SUVs. 

The design is clean, and features swooping design lines that make their way to the centre console fitted with even more screens, a set of cupholders and a large folding armrest with storage. All up, the Range Rover Sport is lacking in a number of practical features in the front of the cabin, opting for luxurious and technical showcases rather than family-friendly storage areas, however its sheer size offers more than enough space. The driving position is fantastic, though, with a great view and tonnes of room to stretch out and get comfortable. 

Move to the second row of the cabin and you’ll find a comfortable set of seats that are treated to the same lashings of leather, luxury and legroom. Not only will full-sized adults get comfortable in the cabin, there’s enough room in the rear of the Range Rover Sport for even elite-level basketball players to get comfortable, with huge amounts of headroom and space in the rear of the cabin. Practical touches include a set of air vents for the second row, storage in front of the seats and a large folding armrest with cupholders built in. All up, then, the rear of the Range Rover Sport is an extremely comfortable and luxurious place to sit, and makes daily driving and long commutes a pleasure. Opting for the seven-seat variant adds a set of two compact seats in the rearmost of the cabin that are perfectly suited to children and young teenagers, but no one larger for any long trips. 

Moving to the boot, you’ll find 221L of cargo storage in the boot of a seven-seat Range Rover Sport, while five-seat variants receive 780L of storage in the boot, which expands to 1,686L with the second row folded down. This translates to a huge amount of everyday storage and practicality, with its large and wide dimensions allowing you to squeeze some seriously bulky cargo into the boot of the Range Rover Sport. 

As a complete package, then, it’s clear to see that while the Range Rover Sport is primarily designed with luxury in mind, the company has done a great job in making it a family-friendly SUV with a tonne of space and comfort for the family. 

Is it Safe? 

Surprisingly, the Range Rover Sport is yet to be rated by ANCAP and receive an official ANCAP safety score. To make up for this, the company is packaging all Range Rover Sport variants with autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot assistance, a surround-view camera, driver attention monitoring, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assistance and traffic sign recognition as standard. 

Unfortunately, however, key safety features like rear-cross traffic alerts are reserved for high-spec variants like the Autobiography Dynamic, which is a massive shame considering the steep asking price for even the entry-level variants. 

Is it Fuel Efficient?

With a range of engines available for the Range Rover Sport lineup, there is a number of different economy figures on offer, depending on your choice. As a guide, however, economy figures range from 8.0L per 100km on the entry-level diesel variants, while this figure jumps to as high as 12.8L per 100km in the petrol variants. 

The pick of the Range Rover Sport bunch in terms of fuel economy, however, remains the plug-in hybrid variant which returns figures of just 2.8L per 100km, making it the most logical choice for those looking for a fuel-efficient Range Rover Sport variant. 

Our Verdict: Is the Range Rover Sport Worth it? 

The Range Rover Sport is an extremely impressive vehicle that spares absolutely no effort in providing families with one of the most luxurious and comfortable packages we’ve seen from a seven-seat SUV. Other than the steep asking prices, it’s a difficult car to fault, especially when you compare how smooth and quiet the ride quality is, even against its most fierce European rivals. 

If you can afford it, there are very few reasons not to add the Range Rover Sport to your shortlist for your next premium SUV. We’d recommend adding the plug-in hybrid variant as a particular highlight of the range, offering pure electric driving and saving significant cash on fuel down the line. On that note, if you’re in the market for a new car, you can get a free quote and see how much OnlineAuto can save you on your next car, or call us on 1300 719 925 

Five Specs You Need to Know

1. Five-year, unlimited kilometre warranty 

2. No official ANCAP safety rating 

3. 221L of storage in seven-seat form; 780L in five seat

4. Prices range between $115,00 - $295,000 

5. 2.8L per 100km fuel economy for plug-in hybrid variant 

Pros 

• Exceptional ride quality 

• Great engine and transmission combinations 

• Spacious, luxurious interior design 

• Impressive plug-in hybrid variant 

Cons

• Unimpressive economy figures for petrol models

• Some safety features reserved for more expensive variants 

• Eye-watering options prices 

OnlineAuto Rating: 8/10

Land Rover Range Rover Sport Competition