Land Rover Range Rover Sport

Cabin

The cabin is a cohesive environment to be in. You can control music, find parking, or communicate with smart-home devices without touching a screen with the Online Pack, which includes a Wi-Fi hotspot and embedded apps, such as Amazon Alexa (when available in the market). From the base S, a Meridian Sound System is standard.

Front Seat

The trims really begin to differ on the seats:

• 12-way electric heated memory front seats in grained leather.
• SE and Dynamic SE: 20-way electric heated memory front seats in Windsor leather
• Dynamic HSE: 20-way heated and ventilated electric memory front seats in semi-aniline leather

Rear Seat

All models have power recline rear seats. The SE gets heated rear seats, while the Dynamic HSE gets additional ventilation, making it the only core trim to cool the back row.

Convenience

ClearSight Ground View is an optional feature which requires the 360 Surround Camera. It displays the area at the front of the vehicle on the screen but it is not real-time footage – please do check for your surroundings.

Charging

The P460e and P550e plug-in hybrids are powered by a 3.0-litre, 6-cylinder Ingenium gasoline motor and 160 kW electric motor. Rapid DC charging brings the battery to 80% in less than 60 minutes (depending on battery condition, temperature and charger used) and is estimated to reach 92 km in real-world conditions.Rapid DC charging can fill the battery to 80% in less than 60 minutes (depending on battery condition, temperature and charger used) and is estimated to provide up to 92 km in real-world conditions.

With data gathered from more than 143,000 Range Rover and Range Rover Sport cars, Land Rover has found that 75% of all their average daily journeys are 94 km or less – meaning that many owners could be out on their daily drive on electric power alone. The petrol engine offers a total range of up to 732 km and CO2 emissions from 61 g/km.

I can't quote the crash-test rating for this car, nor the number of airbags, nor the complete list of driver-assistance features, but they are not published by Land Rover. It does cover the technology that prevents the car from getting into trouble:

• Technologies that read the road conditions in front of the car before the driver, in advance.
• Improved fuel economy and reduced fuel consumption.
• Dynamic Air Suspension which adapts in 200 milliseconds.
• Low-speed awareness with ClearSight Ground View and 360 Surround Camera (optional)
• All-Wheel Steering and torque vectoring by braking are features of the Stormer Handling Pack.

Check with your retailer for the complete safety specification of the specific variant you are looking into.

Front

The face is imposing yet not fussy. The S receives LED headlights and signature daytime running light. Up from the SE they turn into Pixel LED, and that's something that is apparent at night.

Lifting the side profile and wheels

That's where the trims reveal themselves. The S has 20" wheels, the SE and Dynamic SE 21" wheels, and the Dynamic HSE 22" wheels. The Dynamic SE is also more sporty and utilitarian than the SE it's based on, with the Dynamic Exterior Pack.

Designs and Finishes Packages

There's a Stealth Pack of dark finishes, an Enhanced Black Pack and a Satin Finish that is available on Land Rover. The dark treatment works well with the proportions of the car, Carpathian Grey paint and the Stealth Packs are also Rover's own, as are the Light Cloud and Ebony interior.

Colors and Personalisation

Land Rover offers a variety of unique colours, wheels and roofs, and the configurator allows you to freely mix them. For those who wish to go further, Bespoke is available and Special Vehicle Operations models are also available.

3.8 seconds with carbon fibre wheels & carbon ceramic brakes. The P635 produces up to 750 Nm of torque, which can reach up to 800 Nm in Dynamic Launch mode.

The top speed of the Land Rover is 266 km/h on the SV version.

City Performance

The plug-in hybrid can continue to drive in electric mode – and during short distances the petrol engine might not start at all – while crawling through Dubai Marina traffic.

The mild hybrid petrol and diesel engines can reuse energy when braking, across a short distance in Jumeirah, helping to maintain smooth gear changes in stop-start traffic.

This size car will need assistance in a packed car park in a crowded mall, and with the optional ClearSight Ground View and 360 Surround Camera, it is easier to place.

The Online Pack's connectivity enables you to queue music or search for parking without touching the screen, while on the school run through Al Barsha.

Highway Performance

The range is at its best when approached from Sheikh Zayed Road. How fast it feels, depends on the engine you select, as the P400 accelerates to 100 km/h in 5.5 seconds, the P530 in 4.5 seconds and the P635 in 3.9 seconds.

The body roll control ensures the car remains stable during lane changes on the E611 road to Sharjah, while the road-reading feature takes the initiative.

On a run from Dubai to Abu Dhabi, the plug-in hybrid has an estimated combined range of 732 km, so the trip is not a concern.

Dynamic Launch optimises gear changes and torque, for speedy, smooth acceleration when it's time to pass, but this isn't available on the plug-in hybrid.

Ride and Handling

The Dynamic Air Suspension's reaction time of up to 200 milliseconds is what ensures the ride on Sheikh Zayed Road is composed.

The Sport lives up to its name on the winding road up Jebel Jais, where the Stormer Handling Pack (when fitted) provides All-Wheel Steering and torque vectoring by braking.

The car is pitched as commanding off-road and the diesel's added power is designed for controlled off-road driving and towing, on a desert drive to Liwa.

ClearSight Ground View, when used, displays what is underneath the nose, assisting in the placement of wheels, on a rocky trail near Hatta.

The Range Rover Sport is built in transparent stages and every model comes with what is underneath it.

The S, SE, Dynamic SE and Dynamic HSE are available in petrol, diesel and electric hybrid variants, allowing for trim and engine selection to be made separately.

Our Recommendation

The Dynamic HSE is the first one to consider, for most UAE buyers, since it is the first model to offer ventilated seats in both rows, and in the UAE, it's very hot in the summer. The SE retains the Pixel LED headlights, Windsor leather and 20-way seats if you're looking to save a bit of money. If you can charge at home, consider the plug-in hybrid as the plug-in will give you the range you need on most daily drives and the hybrid range will take the stress off on longer trips. The price depends on the specification - please check with a retailer for the latest prices.

The Range Rover Sport has a message to send: a luxury SUV can be sporty and electric, and still be a Range Rover. It is supported by engineering. The injection of air suspension that responds in less than a quarter of a second, the body roll control known as Land Rover class-leading and an optional Stormer Handling Pack bring real dynamic ambition to the car. The range from 300 PS diesel to 635 PS V8 and up to 118 km electric range for the plug-in hybrid is for almost everybody.

The weaker points are those of choice and cost. The Dynamic HSE seats are ventilated, a number of the most desirable features are optional and some of the connected features are market-specific or subscription-based. The electric range of the plug-in hybrid is also not as good as the advertised range. Buyers looking for a sports-oriented Range Rover and willing to give direction to their purchase will find the Sport one of the most comprehensive vehicles in its class.

If you're looking for a comparable luxury performance SUV, take a closer look at these alternatives to the Acura TLX.