2018 Landrover Range Rover Sport SUV Review & Ratings

Performance

The 2018 Land Rover Range Rover Sport luxury midsize SUV has the option of either a V6 or a V8 engine, and an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive are standard. The SE and HSE trims start with a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 producing 340 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque. The SE Td6 and HSE Td6 trims have a diesel-fueled 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 producing 254 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque. The Supercharged, Supercharged Dynamic, and Autobiography trims start with a 5.0-liter supercharged V8 producing 557 hp and 502 lb-ft of torque. The SVR trim has the more powerful tune of the same V8 engine producing 575 hp and 516 lb-ft. With the eight-cylinder engine under the hood in the Range Rover Sport Supercharged, there was a rush of power right upon pressing the pedal. It reached 60 mph from a standstill in under five seconds, which very few in its category was able to match. There was more than enough oomph on tap even when the vehicle is fully loaded. The Range Rover Sport felt agile for its size and it handled through twists and turns confidently. Body roll was slight but there was ample grip on the pavement. The steering was responsive and changing direction was almost effortless. The effort required to turn felt progressive, especially when increasing cornering speed. The brakes stopped from 60 mph in 124 feet, which was of an average performance among its rivals. Nosedive was reduced under sudden braking and it didn’t shudder too much. The pedal wasn’t too soft nor too firm and the response felt linear.

Technology

The base SE trim comes standard with adaptive air suspension, LED headlights, power-folding heated mirrors, a hands-free liftgate, keyless entry and ignition, power-adjustable front seats, driver-seat memory settings, a power-adjustable steering wheel, navigation, satellite and HD radio, and an infotainment system with a 10.2-inch touchscreen and an eight-speaker sound system. Several advanced safety and driver aids come with this trim. The HSE trim adds foglights, power-folding side mirrors, power-adjustable heated front seats, and an upgraded 11-speaker sound system. More advanced safety and driver aids are added to this trim. The Off-Road package adds a low range transfer case and upgrades to the traction control and off-road driving aids. The HSE Dynamic trim comes standard with the Off-Road package and adds paddle shifters, power-adjustable heated and ventilated front seats, and a power-sliding sunroof. The Supercharged trim is similarly equipped as the HSE trim but comes with the V8 engine as standard. The Supercharged Dynamic trim is similarly equipped as the HSE Dynamic trim but comes with the V8 engine as standard. The top-of-the-line SVR trim comes with the most powerful engine and adds performance parts upgrades. Standard features on higher trim levels are optional in lower trim levels, which include a refrigerated center console, a heated windshield, a 23-speaker Meridian sound system, and a rear-seat entertainment system. The Drive Pro and Park Pro packages add more advanced safety and driver aids. The Towing package adds towing equipment.

Safety

The 2018 Range Rover Sport was not yet given an official safety rating from the National Highway and Traffic Safety Association and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The advanced safety and driver aids available with the base trim include front and rear parking sensors, a rearview camera, lane departure warning, and automatic emergency braking. Additional features are added to higher trim levels and they include a driver monitoring system, traffic sign recognition, 360-degree parking sensors, automatic high beams, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, lane keep assist, rear cross-traffic alert and park assist.

Appearance

The 2018 Range Rover Sport has a length of 192 inches, a width of 78.1 inches, a height of 71 inches and a wheelbase of 115 inches. The Range Rover Sport retains a silhouette that is reminiscent of its bigger sibling. The front fascia still sports a square jawline but with narrower headlights. The rear features a more tapered roofline than its bigger sibling. The base trim starts with 19-inch wheels and all trim levels can go as big as 22-inch wheels. The panoramic sunroof can be added for all trims as well.

Comfort

The ground clearance was lowered by the air suspension and getting inside resembled more of a step-in rather than a step-up. Stepping into the cabin felt smooth and uninhibited because the doors opened wide enough. Both the first and second row still had ample space and did not feel more compact than its bigger sibling. The third row is optional but the lower roofline and tight legroom suited short passengers and kids better. The two rows of seats can accommodate up to five people inside and can add two more when opting for the third row. The seats offered all-day comfort and the heating and ventilation worked as expected. The range of adjustability allowed for the majority of passengers to fit in the seats. The ride quality was compliant over bumps and cracks despite its athletic handling. Impacts were dampened well and harshness was barely felt. Road and wind noise are kept at bay but the throaty roar of the engine gave an exhilarating sensation when driving.

Cargo

There is 27.5 cu-ft of space behind the second row of seats. Folding the second row of seats down opens up 62.2 cu-ft of space.