It is already without doubt one of the most aspirational cars in the country,
and now a third iteration of the Range Rover Sport has landed in Australia.
Claimed to be the most dynamic and capable Rangy sport ever built,
the third iteration also boasts a healthy uptick in luxury and, of course,
price. So rather fittingly, we're starting at the top with our first Australian drive,
we're behind the wheel of the Range Rover Sport First Edition. Let's see what it's all about.
The Range Rover Sport has become a sales darling in its own right since launching
as a sporty supplement to the more conventional Range Rover SUV in 2005, with well over 1 million
examples sold since. But aficionados have had to wait about 10 years between new models,
so this third iteration is quite critical. Key to the new model are several new powertrains,
including a 375 kilowatt plugin hybrid version, plus a new interior,
slightly larger proportions, and of course the latest safety and tech. Not surprisingly,
those changes have coincided with a healthy uptick in starting price, to the order of about $20,000.
It means that the D350-First-Edition tested here now retails for $196,000 before on-road costs,
but this particular forense red example that we're testing adds about another $30,000 in
options. They include these Mammoth 23 inch wheels, rear wheel steering and air
suspension as well. Now I don't often talk about design in these reviews, it is very subjective,
but I would argue this is probably one of the most gorgeous SUVs that graces our roads. And when you
put it up against the old model, the design now just looks cleaner, it looks more flush,
but it still has that unique Range Rover Sport profile so I think it really works. Officially,
designers call it reductive design cues, so things like smaller shut lines,
smaller headlights, smaller taillights, it certainly looks a lot cleaner in the skin.
Our test example features a couple of minor inconsistencies with its shut line, particularly
around the single piece tailgate. But, all told, feels well put together and is devoid of squeaks
and rattles inside. The elephant in the room here for some will be the Rangys after sales provisions
and ownership credentials, but on paper it reads strongly. The new sport is based on the same
platform as its larger Range Rover sibling, which kinda sounds like semantics but I reckon it will
be actually quite influential in the way that this vehicle drives. We'll find out more on that in the
drive section in a moment, but there's also a new family of Ingenium inline six cylinder engines,
and that includes the the D350 twin-turbo three liter diesel that's driven here. It outputs 258
kilowatts and 700 Newton meters, and it shuffles drive via an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Now naught to 100 officially takes just 5.9 seconds, which is quite an incredible feat
considering the weight of this thing. You've also got quite a commendable average fuel efficiency
claim as well, so we'll see how that transpires on the road. Now, although many owners aren't
gonna take these vehicles off-road, the truth is this is claimed to be the most capable Range Rover
Sport in history. And it certainly reads quite strongly, 900 millimeter water weighting depth,
a new Terrain Response suite two, and also an adaptive cruise control off-road function.
It looks pretty cool on paper. Comparisons with the larger Range Rover continue inside,
with the sport employing the same 13.1 inch center floating display, and the same basic center fascia
and layout. I have to say, again, sounds like I'm drinking the Kool-Aid here but it is one of the
nicest designed and executed SUV interiors that I can remember. Beautiful material treatments,
nice tactile surfaces, and quite a clean interface as well. Speaking of the screens, I also like the
way that Range Rover has integrated them as floating displays without looking like they've
just been sort of stuck in place, everything has been thoughtfully thought out and executed.
Now one big gripe of mine with a lot of new cars is a lack of traditional dials and switch gear,
but thankfully this still has a helpful array of them as well. Basic controls, which mean you don't
have to dig through screen sub menus to be able to find basic functions, including recirculated
air. Range Rover's also found a nice little place here for a wireless phone charger. Above all else,
this interior is luxurious and it is cosseting, it's a really nice place to spend time and it
feels really insulated from the outside elements. It's also super comfortable with nice broad,
comfortable front seats and plenty of vision to the front and the rear. The infotainment system
incorporates the latest Pivi Pro version of Land Rover's infotainment software, and I have to say
it works quite well. I know from the global launch there are a few little bugs that need
to be ironed out, but we're about 250 kilometers into this drive experience with this new model,
and it's been quite good. The screen reacts really nicely to commands, it integrates wireless Apple
CarPlay and Android Auto really seamlessly, even making a separate icon here, which means you can
shortcut between traditional menus in the car and the Apple CarPlay menus. The entire system
works really well and it's augmented by a lot of touch buttons here on the steering wheel,
and really nicely matched to the driver instrument cluster. Just means that on the road there's
minimal distraction and all the functions are really easy to access. The other really noteworthy
feature with this car is its sound system, it's a 19-speaker Meridian audio system that is one
of the best that I've listened to in memory. Land Rover has complimented those features with
brilliant 1% touches on the new Range Rover Sport. Things like dual sun visors, fold down armrests,
and quality furnishings. It all conspires to create a sumptuous cabin environment, yet one that
isn't short on storage or space. The Rangy ticks all of our infotainment boxes as standard, as well
as offering excellent clarity and vision with its cameras. There's also a full compliment of
standard safety equipment, contributing to a five star safety rating. The third generation Range
Rover Sport now rides on a 74 millimeter longer wheel base, now officially measuring about three
meters in size. Now, of course, that translates to more leg room, more knee room, better comfort,
and posture for rear seat passengers, according to Land Rover. I have to say, just like the front
seat, you jump into the rear and it carries a real sense of thoughtfulness and occasion inside.
Beautiful appointments everywhere you look, this particular test car has $4,000 rear screens, just
because, but even without those features, rear air vents, beautiful tactile surface treatments,
pop out cubbies pretty much everywhere you look, and handy day-to-day functions for adults and
little ones alike, including these integrated door shades. It's a really nice execution of the rear
seat space. There's more good news when it comes to boot space, which officially increases to 835
liters claimed, or 1,860 liters if you stow the second row. But, as always, it's the attention to
detail touches that really distinguish this Range Rover Sport from any other before it,
and from a lot of other premium SUVs. Take a look at this, little seat that's integrated into the
boot area. The other thing that I love, and we talk about this all the time, rugged go anywhere
SUVs need a spare wheel. That's a fact, and a lot of them now make due with a tire inflation kit,
but that's not the case with the Range Rover Sport. Take a look underneath, it is a full
size 23 inch wheel spare on this particular car, which I reckon is quite remarkable in terms of
packaging. Otherwise, there is a really nice flat floor space and a really cool LCD panel,
which controls things like the towbar, you can stow it or bring it out on the go as you please,
you can raise the suspension, you can even stow these seats or recline them as you please.
Well, it might be the Range Rover Sport by name but, I have to tell you,
behind the wheel this is absolute luxury by nature. The new third generation model really
does step it up in terms of that luxury factor, the refinement, and of course the ease of use too,
for such a big vehicle. That's sort of what struck me immediately, just how easy it is
to get a sense of awareness of where the car is, just how manageable it feels as well with the key
tuning of all the main controls. This particular car has quite a few options on it, as we said
before, about $30,000 worth, that include air suspension, that include rear wheel steering, so
at low speeds the rear wheels turn in the opposite direction to the front wheels,
and that means it tightens your turning circle so it feels quite nippy through car park spaces,
but then at higher speeds the rear wheels turn in the same directions as the front
wheel to give you more lateral stability and outright agility as well. So there's
those options that I mentioned, but also this car, and this is what's really blown me away,
this car rides on 23 inch wheels. Now, to me, in isolation all I can think about is thudding,
crashing, lots of harshness through the cabin, but you couldn't be further from the truth, with the
air suspension fitted. I'm going over a really rough pop mark section of road at the moment,
and the cabin is so well insulated from everything else around you, it really is quite remarkable.
It'd be remarkable on 20 inch wheels but to get this kind of suppression from bumps on 23s,
it's really next level. Otherwise, though, this really is luxury personified inside. We mentioned
some of the little cabin appointments that make you feel special, but it's very similar with the
driving experience. It gets all the basics right, light steering at low speeds, really
nice brake pedal feeling for such a big car, and the powertrain, which we'll get to in a moment,
but the ride itself feels controlled. If you tip the Range Rover Sport into a faster corner,
it does handle itself quite commendably. Keeping in mind this is a big heavy car, it can be agile
but weight is a constant consideration and that sort of can be said of Range Rovers before it as
well. But even now, 70 kilometers an hour on a B-grade country road, bit of residential stuff,
and it is an absolute breeze to drive. Easy placement within the lane,
really good at telegraphing all of the feedback from the road, and, above all,
just so quiet and refined inside the cabin. If you bought a car purely on the way it made you feel,
well, I think nearly everyone would be lining up at Range Rover dealerships because this does
make you feel special, and it's almost empowering being behind the wheel, just
the sum of all of its parts and everything that it does well. Again, it sounds like I'm drinking
the Kool-Aid but it is just so impressive in the skin, words don't really do it justice.
Now the engine, there is this new Ingenium family of engines,
on paper they look and sound great but in reality what are they like? Well, you could easily mistake
this diesel Ingenium twin-turbo six cylinder as a petrol motor 'cause it is so refined,
it is devoid of that typical clatter that you get from diesels, and it actually makes a really nice
soundtrack. Albeit a synthesized one, you can feel a little bit of sound coming in through the cabin,
but particularly if I turn this corner here and if I ratchet it up to the sportiest drive setting...
That's muscular, it sounds really good. It's also devoid of lag, which is great. A lot of
like-minded SUVs kind of on this level, things like the Volkswagen Touareg, it's a great engine
but lots and lots of lag and delay. You're not getting that with the new Range Rover Sport,
particularly with this diesel Ingenium six cylinder. But pickup is really nice,
and the corresponding automatic gearbox does a really good job of kicking down gears,
as it needs to, or pushing for efficiency.
It's a really nice drive train pairing for around town stuff without that hesitation, it just is
nice, seamless progress in all situations, but it's a great accomplice on the open road as well.
You're just ticking along barely at idle speed on the highway, and in sporty situations alike,
really nice tractable power. It revs out cleanly to the 4,000 RPM redline,
and it's just a cinch to drive at speed or cruising, alike.
Now speaking of efficiency, we have done, as I said, a few 100 kilometers in this car.
The on-paper fuel claim does seem a little bit ambitious when you consider the weight
and everything else, but I have to report it's pretty impressive in the skin as well,
8.7 liters per 100Ks in a mix of conditions. I've done a very, very short stint of towing as well,
and a little bit of stuff on gravel surfaces, and that's been the figure that we've arrived at and
it's held steady at that point. I think if you are purely driving in the city or urban driving,
maybe a little bit more than that, closer to 10, but I still think that's pretty admirable
for a car of this size. To summarize, the third generation model unequivocally takes
the Range Rover Sport badge to new heights. It is an impressive machine, even with price
increases across the board and a couple of little nuances on our test car. I would argue that this
third generation model is more Range Rover than it is sport, but in the skin it really
does make for a better luxury execution than ever before. It's enjoyable to drive, it has all the
latest tech, it's comfortable, and it screams aspirational, probably more than ever before.