Range Rover Sport
Latest British SUV retains great image and off-road ability. Question is if it stars elsewhere
MODEL TESTED: Range Rover Sport SDV6 HSE PRICE: £67,500 ENGINE: 3.0-litre V6, 302bhp
THIS is the first opportunity we’ve had to test the facelifted Range Rover Sport, but with more technology and fresher styling compared with the previous model, including a new infotainment system, can the £67,500 SDV6 HSE (our pictures show an HSE Dynamic model) take victory here?
Design & engineering
THE Range Rover Sport’s updates include new lights, bumpers and the upgraded infotainment system first seen in the smaller Velar. The facelift also brought the addition of a £72,185 P400e plug-in hybrid to the range, so there is that option here as well as with the Porsche.
However, it’s the 302bhp 3.0-litre diesel V6 we’re testing that matches the Audi more closely. It uses an eight-speed automatic gearbox and four-wheel drive, plus Land Rover’s Terrain Response system, which offers Comfort, Grass/gravel/snow, Mud and Ruts, Sand, and ECO modes to choose from. Air suspension is standard, and can be raised and lowered manually to help with ground clearance while off-roading.
The Range Rover’s roots as a talented mudplugger still show through despite its relegation to city traffic by many owners, and it’ll be the best choice if your plans involve any serious driving over rough terrain. But that roadgoing customer base means Land Rover has also engineered the Range Rover Sport to be good to drive wherever you are.
The interior takes cues from its big brother, too, setting itself apart from the Audi and Porsche with a more traditional look thanks to the large leatherlined sections around the cabin, although the new infotainment system, which features two screens, is a more modern-looking touch. Build quality isn’t up to the standards of the German cars’, however, even if the level of standard equipment is.
Driving
STANDARD-FIT air suspension means there’s a good range of ability in the Range Rover, but it’s still easily the least dynamic car, with a focus placed more on cruising comfort. Well-weighted steering and a punchy engine add to the car’s on-road appeal, too.
It doesn’t have the versatility of the Cayenne, which is more comfortable and better controlled than the Sport as well. And while the Q8 is a little more unsettled at high speed, the Range Rover’s medium-speed ride is the worst of the three cars, because it bounces in and out of potholes and bumps with more of a thud.
However, that issue is better resolved at lower and higher pace, because around town and on the motorway the Range Rover is very comfortable.
It’s the Sport’s strong engine that holds the most appeal here, because with 302bhp and 700Nm of torque it’s powerful. It managed 30-50mph in fourth gear in 3.6 seconds, and while that was slower than the 3.1 seconds it took the Q8 and the hybrid Porsche’s 2.7 seconds, it still feels reassuringly muscular. In seventh gear it went from 50-70mph in just 7.1 seconds, quicker than the Audi (9.6 seconds) but still behind the Porsche (5.7 seconds).
That translates to strong performance on the motorway, because getting up to speed on sliproads is effortless. The engine is marginally more noticeable than the Q8’s V6, and the eight-speed automatic transmission holds on to gears longer.
One of the Range Rover’s downfalls is its high 2,178kg kerbweight, which reared its head in our braking tests: from 70mph the Sport took 58.1 metres to come to a standstill, while the lighter Audi completed the same test in just 43.5 metres, with the Cayenne between its two rivals. The British car’s bulk dents performance and handling, too.
Practicality
ALL three models have a 3,500kg towing capacity, which means anyone who is planning to pull a caravan or trailer with any of our test trio won’t lose out.
But if you’re planning on carrying passengers and want to use the boot, the Range Rover Sport is the best choice, because it has a huge 780-litre load bay with the rear seats up. That’s much bigger than its rivals’ capacities. You do sacrifice space in the back for all that extra room, because the Sport has much less space than both opponents. There’s less leg and headroom than in the Q8 and Cayenne, too.
Fold the seats down and there’s 1,686 litres, which is more than enough for most people, but is less than in the Audi. At least the loading lip is designed to make it easy to slide long or heavy items inside.
Ownership
THE Range Rover Sport hasn’t been tested by Euro NCAP, but with six airbags, AEB, a reversing camera and lane-keep assist as standard, it’s just as well equipped as the Audi Q8. The blind spot warning is cheaper here, too, at £510 compared with the Audi’s £1,375.
Land Rover performed well in our Driver Power 2018 manufacturer survey, with a solid seventh-place finish. However, that was marred by a poor result in the dealer section of the poll. Readers told us Land Rover garages were disappointing overall, with the brand’s network finishing last in that section.
Running costs
STRONG residual values mean the Range Rover Sport depreciates relatively slowly. Our experts predict the Sport will hold on to 53.7 per cent of its list price over three years, while the Audi and Porsche manage 51.9 per cent and 48.8 per cent respectively.
That means after 36 months the Sport will be worth an estimated £36,227, having lost £31,273. The Q8 is predicted to shed £31,265 in the same time, with the Cayenne losing a predicted £35,033.