The third-generation Range Rover Sport has been on sale for about six months now. The manufacturer also started accepting bookings for the same, with a steady stream of orders coming in. The deliveries for customers who booked the CBU-imported SUV early on will commence today, and we take a first look at it.
2023 Range Rover Sport: price, engines and variants
Where the flagship Range Rover is available with two wheelbase lengths, three seating layouts, three engine options and five trim levels for a staggering 37 variant combinations, the new Range Rover Sport gets just five variants. For now.
There are just two engines on offer – petrol and diesel 3.0-litre mild-hybrid straight-six units – and four trim levels – SE, HSE, Autobiography and First Edition. The P400 petrol produces 400hp and 550Nm, while the D350 diesel makes 350hp and 700Nm, and both are mated to 8-speed torque-converter automatic gearboxes, with 4WD and air suspension as standard. All the off-road hardware is there too, with All Terrain Progress Control off-road traction control, on and off-road drive modes, plus 900mm of water wading ability and up to 281mm of ground clearance.
| Range Rover Sport prices (ex-showroom, India) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Variant | D350 Diesel | P400 Petrol |
| Dynamic SE | Rs 1.64 crore | |
| Dynamic HSE | Rs 1.71 crore | Rs 1.68 crore |
| Autobiography | Rs 1.81 crore | Rs 1.78 crore |
| First Edition | Rs 1.84 crore | Rs 1.81 crore |
The First Edition can only be ordered in the first year of production. Interestingly, even if you choose a lower trim level, you can add most features individually, at a per-item cost, to get the exact specification you want without going to the higher trim.
Prices of the New Range Rover Sport range from Rs 1.64 crore to Rs 1.84 crore (ex-showroom India). For reference, prices for the flagship Range Rover go from Rs 2.39 crore to Rs 4.17 crore, while the locally assembled Range Rover Velar, positioned below the New Range Rover Sport, costs Rs 89.41 lakh. As for Land Rover’s other large, CBU-imported SUVs, the Defender is priced from Rs 91.80 lakh to Rs 2.29 crore, while the Discovery ranges from Rs 93.90 lakh to Rs 1.32 crore.
2023 Range Rover Sport: gets more distinctive exterior
With so much price overlap in the Land Rover large SUV model range, you could be forgiven for confusing the previous Range Rover Sport for the similar-looking Range Rover, but that won’t be the case this time. Though about the same size as the standard-wheelbase Range Rover, with an identical 2,997mm wheelbase, the new Sport gets far more distinctive styling.
The headlamps and grille are far slimmer, while the front bumper features sporty air intakes. The nose isn’t as bolt-upright, and neither are the front or rear windscreens, while the roofline dips gently towards the rear.
What has been incorporated is the new minimalist profile, with door handles that sit flush with the bodywork and a window line that joins the doors without any visible sill. In India, the Dynamic styling pack is standard and adds bronze accents all around, and the wheel sizes, ranging from 21 to 23 inches, are all very sporty designs.
The rear has the biggest difference, though, with slim, horizontal, wraparound tail-lamps in place of the cool new concealed vertical lamps in the big Range Rover. And of course, you don’t get the split tailgate or ‘Event Suite’ picnic seating that’s reserved for the flagship, but you will get a full-size spare wheel.
2023 Range Rover Sport: interior quality vastly improved
The interior too has been given greater distinction from the Range Rover, and its sportier, raked-back dashboard is more akin to the Velar now. The centre console flows out at more of an angle, the seats are set a few millimetres lower, and the steering wheel is a new three-spoke unit, all in the interest of imparting a sportier feel. It’s still a relatively tall driving position, however, and not quite as low-set as all-out performance SUVs.
It benefits from all the tech upgrades to the cabin too, like the latest Pivi Pro infotainment software, displayed on a crisp 13.1-inch touchscreen and a sharp new digital dial screen. The intuitive context-sensitive HVAC controls return too, with a push to control fan speed and a pull to handle seat ventilation. It’s refreshing having these, and a few other physical controls at hand, but secondary operations like, for example, seat massage and lumbar support, are within the touchscreen.
Also impressive is that the quality jump we saw in the new Range Rover has translated to this SUV too, and it’s a huge step up from the previous Sport. Interior panels and trim pieces feel altogether better built and finished, and the materials look expensive. Of particular note are the new dark chrome and forged carbon trim pieces unique to the Sport, and you’ll notice the options available are less skewed towards classic luxury than in the Range Rover.
You can, of course, still get semi-aniline leather upholstery, but you can also switch it out for a leather-free interior that uses Kvadrat Ultrafabric, and like a good hi-fi audio system, the 19 speakers for the 800W Meridian system are concealed under a layer of high-quality fabric. The rear seat is where you’ll see the biggest difference between the Range Rover and Sport, as the seats here aren’t quite as plush.
There is 37 degrees of powered recline, but that aside, it’s a pretty standard bench seat with comfortable cushioning. There’s a bit more legroom than before, thanks to the 74mm longer wheelbase, and there are now rear window blinds, but they are optional and not even powered, which feels like a miss at this price.
2023 Range Rover Sport is less of a niche player
With a clearer identity than in previous generations, and a consolidated variant line-up that won’t overwhelm the buyer, the new Range Rover Sport feels like it has a better-defined place in Land Rover’s burgeoning luxury SUV line-up. It helps that the flagship Range Rover has moved up the luxury ranks, and with it its price, competing firmly with the likes of the Bentley Bentayga now.
This allows the Sport the grow out of its ‘Range Rover Lite’ perception and into a compelling offering in its own right, which is a very capable luxury SUV that packs in a lot of the good stuff at a relatively more sensible price. In fact, we hope Land Rover consolidates more of its model line-ups for India to reduce the huge overlap. As for whether this third-generation model does justice to the Sport part of its name, stay tuned for our review to find out.
Also see:
2023 Range Rover Sport walkaround video
2022 Range Rover, Range Rover Sport get 5-star Euro NCAP rating