Range Rover Sport (2022 - ) review

Goodness, this car has got more and more expensive with every new version launched, albeit to match the levels of luxury which have also risen with each generation. But, still, ouch. And given the issues around thefts of cars bearing a Range Rover badge insurance premiums have gone the same way, with some providers refusing outright to cover the cars even after updates to the security systems to address the issue. On top of this extra investment in tech Land Rover has launched its own insurance service while the two petrol plug-in hybrid versions look good if financed through a company car scheme thanks to cheaper Benefit In Kind rates. Last but not least Range Rover Sports appear to hold their value better than some German competitors and we’d say this version will do even better.

We’re glad to be getting all the negatives out of the way up front. Land Rover has an awful reliability record right now, thanks to countless software glitches and failures dogging nearly all its models. The brand appeared in 28th place, out of 32 car brands, in What Car?’s 2023 reliability Survey. As standard the new Range Rover Sport comes with a three-year/unlimited mileage warranty which you can pay to extend, which looks like a very sensible precaution. The new model is built on the same platform as the new Range Rover, so it’s too new to have any data on yet. Suffice to say Land Rover is painfully aware of all the issues and is working hard to rectify them, and we felt there was a new-found build quality to our test car that bodes well.

You’ve got all the height, visibility and four-wheel drive traction you could want in this car, plus an advanced level of safety features. Every model gets automatic emergency braking, a warning if you are reversing out into oncoming traffic or deviating from your lane accidentally, parking sensors and camera, and active cruise control with the car moderating both braking and acceleration. There’s also off-roading information such as a wading sensor to show when you’re getting too deep, and the wheel direction and angles. You can pay for extra gizmos of course – every conceivable creature comfort is covered and the trick will be learning how to turn much of it off.

The Range Rover Sport is an unbelievably comfortable car with levels of passenger space, light and soft materials that used to be found only in a Bentley. You can choose the leather on the seats and steering wheel in split colours (our interior was a white and black mix), with leather or wool, or different wood veneers with open-grain textures. Rear passengers can stretch their legs and there’s still a huge boot for suitcases and large dogs. At motorway speeds, it is incredibly quiet and smooth. There are plenty of cup holders and places for water bottles, coffee cups, phones and large wallets. The door mirrors are large and the buttons are chunky, so you feel supremely relaxed and in control.

If you’re worried about manoeuvring such a large car, don’t be. The all-wheel steering means it has a turning circle on par with the new Mini Cooper. If you ever find yourself off the beaten track the Adaptive Off-Road Cruise Control can drive you up and over hills by itself, all you need to do is steer. Every Range Rover Sport gets a 360-degree camera system for parking and off-roading ease, and you can upgrade to the ClearSight rear-view mirror which turns into a camera feed, meaning you can pile the boot to the ceiling and still see what’s behind you. Depending on how big your wallet is, you can tick the box for massaging, ventilated and heated seats. We’d also suggest choosing the upgraded Harman Kardon audio system for clarity and excellent bass. You also get Amazon Alexa and wireless charging for your smartphone.

Every version has its upside. The diesel offers great value for money and the best economy out of the standard engines, while the petrols no doubt have better residual value and are quieter. The SV, with its 4.4-litre V8 engine, is bonkers if it’s speed you’re after even if we might humbly suggest you’ve gone for the wrong format of car if that’s your priority. Our pick of the pops, meanwhile, is the P460e plug-in hybrid version, because it has an industry-leading 70-plus miles range on electric power alone, and it can charge quicker than most competitor plug-in hybrids. Depending on what your average week looks like you might well find yourself doing most of your driving on electric power in this car which, if you have a home charger, will really cut your bills. There’s a slightly more powerful P550e plug-in hybrid but the range isn’t as good and performance feels about the same so why bother? All versions have a dreamy drive, too. The steering is light and accurate, they all feel quick off the mark, there’s very little noise and vibration at speed and the ride is cushioned and luxurious. We could talk about the fact there is nothing better out there for off-roading, but you won’t be doing any mud-trawling in yours, so why bother? It’s very good on the M40. There you go.