2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport SUV

　　

2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport Review

byJosh JacquotCorrespondent

　　Josh Jacquot is an automotive journalist at zzdcar.

　　The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport is fully redesigned for 2023. This midsize luxury SUV slots into the Land Rover lineup between the flagship Range Rover and the smaller Range Rover Velar.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport P360 SE 4dr SUV 4WD (3.0L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$213/mo  for Range Rover Sport P360 SE

　　Range Rover Sport P360 SE

　　P360 SE 4dr SUV 4WD (3.0L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) - $83,000 MSRPP400 SE Dynamic 4dr SUV 4WD (3.0L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) (Most Popular) - $90,000 MSRPP440e Autobiography 4dr SUV 4WD (3.0L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric plug-in hybrid 8A) - $104,200 MSRPP530 First Edition 4dr SUV 4WD (4.4L 8cyl Turbo 8A) - $121,500 MSRP

　　vs

　　$183/mo

　　Avg. Midsize SUV

　　For 2023 it features a sharper exterior design, a luxurious and tech-savvy interior, and an abundance of advanced driver assist features. With a curved 13.1-inch infotainment touchscreen and a 13.7-inch digital instrument cluster, the Sport's interior is state of the art. Under the hood is one of four available powertrain options. The most interesting ones are: the plug-in hybrid P440e, which Land Rover says can go more than 50 miles on all-electric power, or, for a more "heck with mpg" experience, the turbocharged V8 in the P530 that's good for 523 horsepower. 

　　The 2023 Range Rover Sport retains the brand's off-road heritage with an advanced all-wheel-drive system capable of decoupling the front axle in certain situations and a standard air suspension that can raise the SUV to offer 11.1 inches of ground clearance. The top trim offers four-wheel steering, which tightens its turning radius, plus a torque-vectoring rear axle. But the Sport is less focused on absolute off-road capability when compared to its larger Range Rover counterpart. In fact, a dual-range transfer case is optional on the two lower Range Rover Sport trims but comes standard on every Range Rover. Think of the Range Rover Sport as its name implies — a tidier driving, if still not highly on-road-focused, version of the Range Rover.

　　Other alternatives to the Range Rover Sport include the Audi Q8, BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz GLE. There's also a fair amount of overlap among Land Rover's lineup of SUVs, and certain versions of the regular Range Rover, Range Rover Velar or Defender might also meet your needs. Check out our test team's Expert Rating to get the full report on the new Range Rover Sport's hits and misses.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Average

　　7.6

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.5/10

　　How does the Range Rover Sport drive? The Range Rover Sport is available with a variety of powertrains that range from a frugal plug-in hybrid to a muscular turbocharged V8. Our test vehicle was equipped with the midlevel P400 mild hybrid inline-six, which provides adequate acceleration for a luxury SUV. At the zzdcar test track, it accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds. The throttle can feel lazy unless you're in the sporty Dynamic drive mode, but power delivery is smooth and the engine pulls well at high rpm.

　　Despite the name, the Range Rover Sport isn't really sporty around turns. It lacks grip and the stability control system intervenes abruptly at relatively modest speeds. The suspension is softly tuned, so the Range Rover Sport leans in corners and suffers from a bit of dive when you hit the brakes. The Range Rover's steering, too, doesn't feel quite as direct as what competitors offer. But on the upside, the adjustable air suspension can be raised for better clearance off-road, and capability is aided further by Land Rover's capable all-wheel-drive system.

　　

Comfort

7.5/10

　　How comfortable is the Range Rover Sport? There's a certain level of comfort expected from anything wearing a Range Rover badge, but the latest Range Rover Sport doesn't quite deliver on what we expect. That's not to say it's uncomfortable. The seats have excellent padding and decent support in both rows. The seatback angle is adjustable in the rear, so passengers in both rows should be set. It's generally quiet, too, with only a mild amount of wind and road noise entering the cabin.

　　But ride comfort disappoints. Given the standard air suspension, we expected the Range Rover Sport to mute most imperfections in the road. It didn't. Bumps and potholes won't rattle your fillings, but you still feel more of the road than we might expect in a luxury SUV. Part of the blame is likely down to our test vehicle's massive 23-inch wheels. We suggest sticking with the standard 21-inch wheels for their additional sidewall. The climate control system is a letdown too. While the controls are easy to use, the fans are loud and the AC shuts off when the engine's stop-start feature engages at stoplights.

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