The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport from Jaguar Land Rover is a premium luxury SUV that combines the off-road capability of the Land Rover Defender and the luxury of the Range Rover, with a sporty and dynamic drive. The car comes with features such as the latest Pivi Pro infotainment system, front and rear adjustable air suspension, adaptive cruise control, terrain response management system, and mild hybrid technology. In SIngapore, the new gen Range Rover Sport will not be available with the 4.4 litre turbocharged V8, and will instead come with a 3.0 litre turbocharged 6 cylinder which is a mild hybrid. It will be available in the entry level SE trim, as well as the higher spec HSE trim. The plug in hybrid version is currently unavailable in Singapore.
High End Luxury
Sitting just below the full fat Range Rover in the Land Rover product line, and above other Land Rover models like the Velar and Discovery, the Range Rover Sport is supposed to be a smaller, sportier version of the Range Rover, and is a car that beautifully combines the off-roading pedigree of the Land Rover brand with high end luxury that sets it apart from other premium luxury SUVs. While the exterior looks polished and imposing, it is the Range Rover Sport's interior that shows off its chops as a lifestyle SUV.
In terms of fit and finish, the Range Rover Sport is comparable to the Range Rover, and offers users a generous amount of some of the plushest leather you've ever felt, along with a beautifully styled cabin that oozes class and regality.
In fact, the interior is so upmarket and polished that it is easy to forget that under its skin, the Range Rover Sport is as rugged and off-road capable as Land Rovers come. For that reason, the Range Rover Sport is perfectly primed to function as a lifestyle SUV for the well heeled crowd who desire something a little more special than the next premium luxury SUV.
Buttery Smooth Turbo 6 Cylinder
The opulence in the cabin of the Range Rover Sport is well accompanied by a buttery smooth 3.0 litre turbo 6 cylinder that offers up 394 bhp and 550 Nm of torque, propelling the Range Rover Sport from 0-100km/h in a brisk 5.7 seconds. Armed with adjustable air suspension, the Range Rover Sport delivers superb ride quality that is befitting a car in this segment and does a great job at wafting over any imperfections on the road surface.
There is perhaps some disappointment that the 4.4 litre twin turbo V8 version of the Range Rover Sport will not be made available in Singapore. After all, consumers operating at this price point are unlikely to be bothered with the extra upfront costs and higher maintenance costs. While the 3.0 litre 6 cylinder power unit is more than enough for Singapore's driving environment, and while the 4.4 litre twin turbo V8 is probably a little bit of an overkill for our market, this feels like an unnecessary half measure that isn't in line with its target demographic.
More Lifestyle than Performance
While the performance aspects of the Range Rover Sport have been dulled, and is now actually slower than the Range Rover, it is still a wonderfully appointed vehicle that will do very well as a lifestyle SUV. Unfortunately, it's hard to view the Range Rover Sport as the performance SUV it was always meant to be, especially when performance SUVs like the excellent Audi SQ8 are quicker and less expensive, albeit a little less luxurious and perhaps not as stylish.
Want something a little sportier? Check out the Audi SQ8 Review.
For those reasons, it would make more sense for the Range Rover Sport to be positioned as a lifestyle SUV rather than a performance SUV capable of driving up spillways and stairs (as shown in some of Land Rover's marketing content) - at least in Singapore's context.
Who Will it Appeal to?
Overall, the Range Rover Sport is an extremely luxurious vehicle that makes a wonderful first impression, making it the perfect vehicle for consumers who want to enjoy the finest things in life, but are perhaps not too fussed about performance. In fact, it probably makes more sense than the Range Rover, being more manageable in size, and also sleeker in appearance. Perfect for those international school runs and Dempsey brunches.
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