The Range Rover Sport wasn't sporty when it debuted in 2005 either. Now the third generation is getting ready to bring its human cargo to any destination, not in a sporty way, but more gently than ever. ntv.de has now run the latest variant - in the strong PHEV version.
The curiosity is great, there it is now - the new Range Rover Sport. After you can see the fairly fresh Range Rover of the classic series now and then even on local roads, the ten centimeter shorter edition trickles in homeopathic doses from the production halls of the Land Rover main plant in Solihull between Birmingham and Coventry. The big off-roader is still rare, the big firework display of registrations will only come next year, if at all. No wonder that the test car is still rolling through Germany with a British license plate.
That's good, in this way ntv.de can already feel and get an impression. And the first impression is: the stately British off-road vehicle looks like a flokati on wheels. A quick look at the lavishly high upholstery of the luxurious-looking armchairs from the side is recommended - this noun is used again and again in exactly this context, but it has rarely been as applicable as here.
And anyone who now thinks that the cuddly, soft surfaces are made of leather is wrong. In truth, it is a vegan substitute material that can be identified as a leather substitute with its microfiber structure, but looks no less noble than real cowhide. The material, which goes by the name "Ultrafabrics", looks absolutely valuable. So valuable that Land Rover is not ashamed to cover a lot of the interior of the Range Rover with it, for example the entire dashboard.
But now it's time to start - initially purely electrically. Because the Briton weighs in at a rather unsportsmanlike 2.8 tons with double drive, but this mass includes a fairly large battery with a capacity of around 32 kWh. This allows you to comfortably cover more than 100 kilometers silently - this is how the plug-in hybrid actually lives up to its role of being able to move it electrically in practice and not just on paper. There is nothing to criticize about the electric driving performance, with 142 hp electric power the all-wheel drive pushes diligently. Thanks to the CCS connection, the power storage unit can be pumped up again with 40 kW - after 60 minutes, an electric range of around 110 kilometers is again available.
But the beauty of moving around with the Range Rover Sport cannot be reduced to the type of drive alone. It is this mixture of the skills of the chassis and the performance of the two machines together that makes the experience with the off-roader exciting. After just the first few meters, it becomes clear that you can hardly be more comfortable than with the Range Rover Sport. With its standard air suspension, it irons wavy slopes so effectively that you couldn't imagine a better car for long distances at this moment - and that despite the huge 23-inch wheels mounted on the test car.
After a few kilometers driven electrically, however, the temptation to add the combustion engine increases. After all, the model designation "P510" stands for the exact number of horsepower available - but that applies to the combined power from the combination of the electric motor and the three-liter straight-six. And therein lies an explosiveness at the same time. Because it means hard work for the engineers, more precisely for the specialists in operating strategy (many machine builders have already completed their doctorates on this subject), to let the two engines and also the eight-speed automatic transmission work harmoniously with each other, it is worth taking a closer look at the result under to take the magnifying glass.
Lo and behold - the developers have done a good job. Traction power interruptions are as good as non-existent, the creamy-sounding six-pointer is almost imperceptibly started or thrown off depending on the load requirement. And the machine changes its speed levels with maximum jerk-free. By the way, the Range Rover Sport still develops a sporty note under full load - namely when it rushes towards the 100 km/h mark on the virtual speedometer with pressure and with a sonorous rumble. Is done after 5.4 seconds. The forward thrust only ends at 241 things.
Oh yes, for a heavyweight of this caliber, the range tears through winding country roads quite well. A standard roll compensation promotes transverse dynamic skills. The all-wheel steering, which is also mandatory, also supports this. The latter, however, is even more striking in urban areas. The impact of the rear wheels shrinks the turning circle to less than eleven meters - so the 4.95 meter liner maneuvers just as easily as a compact car.
However, so much power and dynamics also have their price at the gas station - dynamic driving inserts in hybrid operation can sometimes gobble up twelve or more liters (per 100 kilometers) of premium petrol - at this point homeowners with a photovoltaic system on the roof are happy. However, if the range rolls along moderately on the motorway, the values drop significantly and range on this side of the ten-liter threshold.
Incidentally, the Range Rover Sport is also a fairly useful high-performance mountaineer with features such as an active limited-slip differential on the rear axle, off-road reduction and a center differential lock. The wading depth is almost one meter - you have to find such deep puddles in this country. But the multifunctional newcomer comes around the corner with a really rare ability. Because while most plug-in hybrids literally get on their knees when it comes to the trailer load, the luxury off-road vehicle with a partially electric drive can tow a whopping three tons.
After the duty now the freestyle. Being able to fold down the rear seat backrests electrically using a switch in the trunk is a small comfort boost. And the small row of switches also has two buttons that can be used to quickly lower the rear for better access to the luggage compartment (with a potential luggage compartment volume of 1860 liters).
Finally, a word about the further developed infotainment system with an almost never-ending number of displays (everyone can decide for themselves whether the attached touchscreen is architecturally pleasing or not) including a head-up display. Whereby the navigation system does not pose any riddles to brand connoisseurs.
Alternatively, you can switch to the voice system - although the competition here is consistently more powerful. Commands are not understood despite multiple repetitions. It can hardly be the microphone because Siri (Apple's voice recognition) works perfectly and, for example, recognizes the requested navigation destinations perfectly.
Incidentally, there is just as little lack of assistance as there is a lack of performance. Of course, there is the full package from autonomous emergency braking to assisted parking features plus detection of whether traffic is crossing in any formation, to partially automated driving. After all, the technicians have now managed to fine-tune the adaptive cruise control better. Braking to a standstill automatically now works largely without jerks.
If only there wasn't the tiny problem with the base price - which requires proper financial strength in view of the 138,500 euros for the P510e. Even if the PHEV will at least no longer be subsidized when it is purchased from 2023, successful self-employed persons or employees who are entitled to a company car can still benefit. Namely from the company car tax - if you tax your private driving share at a flat rate, you can do so on the basis of half the gross list price and in this way save drastically on monthly costs.
Unfortunately, the Range Rover Sport is not a savings offer, so it is only small consolation that the basic model starts at 93,000 euros (249 hp six-cylinder diesel with three liters displacement). The 530 hp eight-cylinder petrol engine at the basic price of 142,600 euros is at the top end of the price list. And even with the purely electrically powered version available from 2024, you are unlikely to get away cheaply.
