2023 Range Rover Sport
Overview
It’s a neat trick for any car manufacturer to conserve the best of older models while providing the excitement of new styling, updated handling, and technology—all without creating sensory confusion. Land Rover has pulled it off with its 2023 Range Rover Sport. The redesign of this midsize crossover has produced an uncluttered look, featuring a tapered roof and incredibly smooth lines, with door handles, windows, and moldings integrated seamlessly into the body. For all that minimalist sleekness, the 2023 Range Rover Sport has lost none of its ruggedness off the paved road. The redesign has also resulted in a bit more cabin space, including improved rear-seat foot room, plus stiffer torsion, making for smoother handling and improved safety.
The Perfect Ride for …
The driver who wants it all—luxury and ruggedness, comfort and performance—without paying for it all. Yes, the Sport costs a bundle. But this mid-size luxury SUV costs less than its big brother, the top-of-the-line Range Rover, without losing too much space or off-road oomph. It’s no wonder that the Sport has long been the most popular vehicle in Land Rover’s lineup. That ranking is likely to hold true.
Drive and Handling
Apart from the 8-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive common to all Sports, the four trims are sufficiently diverse to appeal to a wide range of driver priorities. The entry-level P360 is a “mild” hybrid generating 355 HP from its turbocharged, 3.0-L, 6-inline cylinder engine, with 369 lb-ft of torque. The P400 SE Dynamic trim is a beefier hybrid capable of 395 HP, with 406 lb-ft of torque. Both of the mild hybrids get 20 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the open road. The P440e, another turbo-six, is a plug-in hybrid that can cover 48 miles in all-electric mode before tapping the gas tank. Its muscularity is evident in its 434 horsepower and whopping torque, 619 lb-ft. For drivers more interested in flexing their road muscles than saving on fuel, the top-of-the-line P530 gets 523 horsepower out of its fully gas-powered V8 and zooms from zero to 60 in an impressive 4.3 seconds.
Adaptive air suspension enhances stability and control on both the highway and the path less traveled. The Terrain Response system makes the Sport particularly nimble in off-road conditions, by offering drive modes to handle sand, gravel, grass, snow, mud, or rocks, as well as dynamic mode, for a sporty feel on the highway. Die-hard off-roaders should opt for the Stormer Handling Pack, featuring all-wheel steering and a brake-based torque-vectoring system. That system automatically adjusts the amount of torque delivered to a given wheel, thereby improving traction.
Key Features
The Sport includes all the high-tech bells and whistles consumers have come to expect from all but the most basic automobiles. Safety features include adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, automated emergency braking, and a 3D surround-view camera. The Sport gets more sophisticated with its Clear Sight camera providing a ground view in front, a handy tool when trying to negotiate big rocks and other obstacles that would otherwise be obscured by the hood. Another unique safety feature is wade-sensing, a system that measures water depth on the road.
In addition to 22-way adjustable seats that massage, heat, and cool driver and passengers, the Sport takes cabin comfort to a new level with Active Noise Cancellation. This option makes for one of the quietest rides possible, with road buzz, tire noise, and vibrations chilled, without dulling the purr of the engine.
Alternative Options
Love the Range Rover Sport but want even more? The iconic Range Rover offers a little more of everything for drivers who want the best of Land Rover. Drivers who want a perfect city SUV will adore the Range Rover Velar. Need to see them all up close? Contact the Client team online today or visit our virtual showroom. We'd be happy to give you an in-depth look at the entire Land Rover lineup.
Image Credit: Land Rover