2024 Land Rover Range Rover Sport

Overview

The Sport in the 2024 Range Rover Sport’s name is not only a reference to its position just beneath the grander Range Rover, but it also stands for the shot of adrenaline it injects into the brand’s lineup. While other Range Rover models aim to deliver comfort and luxury, the Range Rover Sport offers those traits alongside athleticism on par with rivals such as the BMW X5, the Porsche Cayenne, and the Mercedes-AMG GLE53. All its available powertrains pack a reasonable punch, from the 355-hp inline-six to the 542-hp plug-in hybrid. The Range Rover Sport’s cabin is also impressive, with fine materials draped over two comfortable rows of seats. But this mix of prestige and refinement means its starting price is higher than that of other SUVs, so prepare to pay a premium to park the Range Rover Sport in your driveway.

What’s New for 2024?

The big news for 2024 is the addition of the 626-hp Range Rover Sport SV, but we review that model separately. The regular Range Rover Sport gains a new 542-hp plug-in-hybrid powertrain called P550e. This replaces last year’s P440e model and offers both more power and more electric driving range. Elsewhere, the Range Rover Sport’s infotainment system has been upgraded to the latest Pivi Pro 4 software interface. The update includes sliders for volume and climate controls that Land Rover says are easier to use; the system menus have been simplified as well to make it easier to navigate. The V-8–powered P530 powertrain has been discontinued for 2024 to make room in the lineup for the performance-oriented SV model.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

We think the more powerful P400 Dynamic SE is the trim to go with. Its extra horsepower will undoubtedly give it a bit of a boost both around town and on the highway, and it offers a litany of luxury and convenience features without requiring a six-figure bill.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

The entry-level engine is a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six that employs a 48-volt hybrid system and makes 355 horsepower in the P360 SE and 395 horsepower in the P400 SE Dynamic. When we tested the P360 SE, it needed only 5.7 seconds to hit 60 mph but felt more sluggish than that around town. Our test vehicle delivered peerless ride quality, though, which was appreciated over the broken tarmac near our Michigan headquarters. A plug-in-hybrid P5500e setup is exclusive to the fancy Autobiography trim and pairs an electric motor to the inline-six for a combined 542 horsepower. Land Rover estimates the PHEV powertrain will motivate the Range Rover Sport to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds. All models come with an eight-speed automatic transmission, standard all-wheel drive, and an adjustable air suspension. The Range Rover Sport can also be had with an optional performance driving setup called Stormer Handling Pack, which adds rear-wheel steering and torque vectoring. During our initial test drive, we were impressed with the Range Rover Sport’s blend of comfort and athleticism and noted that its rear-wheel-steering system made maneuvering in tight spaces less challenging than in other similarly sized SUVs.

Range, Charging, and Battery Life

The P550e plug-in hybrid model carries a battery that is large enough for a claimed 51 miles of electric driving per charge. We haven’t tested this model yet, but when we do we’ll take it on our 75-mph highway fuel economy route to see how its electric range stacks up to Land Rover’s estimate.

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

According to Land Rover, the P360 and P400 models will deliver 20 mpg city and 25 mpg highway. On our 75-mph highway fuel-economy test route, the P360 SE matched its 25 mpg estimate—not bad for a 5387-pound SUV. For more information about the Range Rover Sport’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

The interior design of the Range Rover Sport is an exercise in minimalism, with few physical buttons and switches and a streamlined appearance throughout the cabin. Buyers can choose from either textile or genuine leather upholstery in attractive two-tone designs. The dark-tinted chrome accents look particularly premium. Power-adjustable front seats are standard, but a set of chairs with up to 22 ways of adjustability as well as massage, ventilation, and winged headrests is optional. An integrated air purification system is available and is said to reduce odors, bacteria, viruses, and allergens from the cabin.

Infotainment and Connectivity

The Range Rover Sport’s dashboard offers plenty of digital real estate, with a large 13.1-inch curved touchscreen serving infotainment duties and an even larger 13.7-inch screen parked in front of the driver to display the gauges. Land Rover’s Pivi Pro interface is the company’s best attempt at in-car infotainment yet, but as we’ve learned using it in other models such as the Defender and the Discovery, it’s not without its quirks. The displays are crisp and clear, though, and it looks high-end floating above the Range Rover Sport’s upholstered dashboard. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity are standard, and all Range Rover Sports come with Amazon’s Alexa. A wireless smartphone charging pad is cleverly integrated on a shelf just beneath the infotainment screen, too. A 29-speaker Meridian stereo system is optional and incorporates speakers in the Range Rover Sport’s front and rear headrests.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

A host of driver-assistance features are standard, including automated emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and a 360-degree exterior camera system. An adaptive cruise control system is also included, and it even has an off-road feature. For more information about the Range Rover Sport’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:

• Standard automated emergency braking
• Standard lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist
• Standard adaptive cruise control

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

The Range Rover Sport’s warranty coverage is about average for its class, but it doesn’t include complimentary scheduled maintenance. The purchase price of three of its key competitors—the BMW X5 and X7 and the Volvo XC90—include three years or 36,000 miles of complimentary scheduled maintenance.

• Limited warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles
• Powertrain warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles
• No complimentary scheduled maintenance

More Features and Specs

Source: www.caranddriver.com