RANGE ROVER SPORT D350 HST

What is it?

When the ‘Sport was first introduced back in 2005 I couldn’t see its relevancy. Back then I wasn’t into fast, sporty SUVs and consequently unaware of Land Rover’s need to compete with the likes of Porsche and BMW. Then I borrowed one for a week, and all of a sudden its purpose dawned on me and I instantly fell for its charm, agility and speed.

That was almost 17 years ago, and the Range Rover Sport continues to be a success for Land Rover, even though this current design is pushing 8 years old, and like all vehicles over the years it’s grown, both dimensionally and technologically.

This year Land Rover has treated the ‘Sport to 2 new diesel engines. I say 2 new engines, they’re the same 3.0-litre sixcylinder motor, but with either 296bhp and 650Nm of torque, or 345bhp and 700Nm, both with 48-volt mild hybrid technology.

On the road

You know what, and don’t tell Bentley this, but I enjoyed driving the ‘Sport more than I did the Bentayga. It wasn’t because that the ‘Sport felt more nimble, which it did, but the elevated driving position gives the ‘Sport a certain regality, though it’s obviously more prominent in a full fat Range Rover.

With a 0-60mph time of 6.6 seconds, the 350bhp D350 is no slouch, but it isn’t just about beating boy racers, that 700Nm of torque will put a smile on your face at any speed when you prod the accelerator. Admittedly, burying your foot into the carpet is quite addictive, as soon as you press the accelerator the bonnet rises slightly and your catapulted forward, I just wish it had a throatier exhaust note.

Despite weighing in at almost 2.3 tonnes, it’s agile enough to make you forget about its size. Its steering is accurate and crisp, and a little lighter than you’d expect. On twisty roads there’s barely any body roll, and if there is you can always stiffen things up using a choice of dynamic modes.

During ‘normal’ driving, the experience is exactly as you’d expect from the ‘Sport - incredibly comfortable and cosseting, and a lovely place to be as you watch the world pass silently by. Lovely.

Fuel wise, covering just over 500 miles during our week together, the computer told me that we had achieved and average 33.2mpg, which I consider to be really quite good considering how I drove it.

Off-road

Off-road driving is what Land Rover do, it’s in their DNA, and the Range Rover Sport is no exception. The trouble was, finding lanes that were challenging enough to....errr, challenge the ‘Sport without accidentally damaging it can be quite difficult around my neck of the woods.

Driving my local lanes in the ‘Sport was a bit like giving my Dad an iPhone 13 Pro that he’ll only use for phone calls and checking Facebook - totally wasted! The ‘Sport is a far more capable offroader than most people give them credit for.

Interior

After jumping straight from my 1996 Toyota Surf into the Sport, I had a thought that the last time I was confronted with this much technology was probably when I last wandered into an Apple store.

Once in, my first thought was, it’s a bit cramped. No, let me rephrase that, I don’t mean cramped as what a 6’ 2”, 19 stone bloke feels like whilst driving an older Defender, perhaps snug is a better word. It obviously isn’t uncomfortable, and you and three of your ‘big boned’ mates can travel anywhere in serious comfort.

Once you’re in, everything is in place, with only a few buttons and knobs to hand as most of everything else is controlled via the nicely integrated screen. That said, it still has JLR’s Touch Pro Duo infotainment system instead of their new Pivi Pro that’s fitted to the new Defender and Evoque. It still works fine, though.

If I’m going to moan about anything, it’s that the only open cubby space available for keys, sunglasses and mints are the two cup holders between the driver and passenger. Of course there’s a huge cubby box between the seats and in front of the passenger, but sometimes you just to grab something quickly without lifting a lid rummaging. That said, the overall layout is lovely and sleek.

Conclusion

Resplendent in Firenze Red with a black roof and wheels, (by far the best colour combo), I ended up falling for the ‘Sport all over again, in fact, I even began checking used prices, which was a mistake as it reminded me of how financially poor I am.

The Sport is an absolute joy to drive, it handled everything I threw at it with ease, from city driving, cruising along the motorway to green laning, and it made me smile, which is always a bonus. As I mentioned earlier, the elevated driving position gives the Sport a certain regality, there’s just something about driving a Range Rover that other manufacturers simply don’t have, no matter how much they try to replicate it.

When you see a Range Rover Sport outside a school or fancy restaurant, don’t be fooled by its sleek looks and leather interior as it’s easy to forget that not only are they an accomplished ‘pavement princess’, but they’ll hold their own off the beaten track whilst regularly outperforming their competitors.

One last thing before I sign off is that official figures state that the top two selling vehicles in the Land Rover fleet are the Evoque and Discovery Sport. However, during my week with the RRS, for every Evoque I saw on the road, there were 3 Range Rover Sports - they are everywhere!

Price as tested - £89,545