2022 Land Rover Range Rover Sport

 Although the base SE trim is pretty much loaded with most features that one might need, we recommend opting for the HSE Silver Edition trim, which although costs more, adds quite a few creature comforts and driver aids. Some of these features include a refrigerated center console, quad-zone automatic climate control, heated & ventilated front seats, a panoramic sunroof, and many more. 

The Range Rover Sport has a very reasonable starting price for all its status- Autotrader

Land Rover offers the Range Rover Sport in the form of SE, HSE Silver Edition, and HST trims. Prices start from $69,500 while the HST model has an MSRP of $84,000. These prices exclude the $1,350 destination charge. The Range Rover Sport is also offered in HSE Dynamic, Autobiography Dynamic, SVR, and SVR Carbon Edition which we have reviewed separately.  

The Range Rover Sport is loaded with features to the brim right from the base SE trim as is the trend of this segment, to justify the high asking price. Many of the features are available as options, and one needs to shell out more money to completely enjoy the premium appeal of this Land Rover. Be it safety or comfort features, they can be added at an extra cost from the base trim itself. 

The optional $4,915 Driver Assist package bundles all the available latest driver-assist features to keep your ride safe. If you are a rugged SUV user, the Off-Road package will be of great help as it adds All-Terrain Progress Control, adaptive dynamics, and a two-speed transfer case for $1,800. Some standalone options include $250 heated steering wheel, $625, soft-closing doors, etc. 

Leave the confines of city life and the Range Rover Sport reveals its trump card- Autotrader

The 2022 model year sees the omission of the PHEV and diesel models from the Range Rover Sport lineup. Land Rover only offers a single 3.0L turbocharged mild-hybrid powertrain in two states of tune. The base P360 SE and HSE variants generate 355 hp and 365 lb-ft. of torque, while the P400 HST trim gets a bump to 395 hp and 406 lb-ft. of torque. The engine is mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission, while a 4WD system is standard across the range. 

The Range Rover Sport is capable of driving both on and off-road. The steering is excellent, especially for a tall heavy vehicle designed for serious off-roading. The 4WD system provides a good grip further adding to the overall driving experience. However, the sheer size and the bulk of the SUV don't go unnoticed. The overall ride quality of the SUV is pretty impressive. While riding on large wheels, the Range Rover Sport has a tendency to toss you around in the cabin. 

The performance from this SUV is pretty competent as it manages a 0-60 MPH run in 6.2 seconds while covering the quarter-mile distance in 14.4 seconds. Add to that the impressive towing capacity of over 7,716 lbs, and the Range Rover Sport becomes a potent machine both on the tarmac and off it. The more powerful version speeds to 60 MPH in an impressive 5.6 seconds from a standstill. In the brake test, the Range Rover Sport was able to stop from 60 MPH in 113 feet. 

The Range Rover Sport is slower than its peers and offers a tugging prowess on par with the segment, although the off-road capabilities are the best in the segment. The Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 is the most affordable and quickest SUV here, while the Audi Q8 matches its performance to the GLE 450 but is priced similarly to the Land Rover. The lack of grunt from the Porsche Cayenne can be felt as it is half a second slower than the other two Germans. 

The most fuel-efficient models in the range are the two mild-hybrid variants- Carbuzz

With mild-hybrid technology being incorporated into the Range Rover Sport, one might expect considerably higher fuel efficiency ratings, but that is not the case. The P360 and P400 models are rated at 19 MPG in the city, 24 MPG on a highway, and 21 MPG combined.  These ratings are on par with the segment. 

The P525 with the supercharged V8 returns 2 MPG less in both city and highway conditions. The most-powerful SVR variant is the least efficient and has a combined mileage of 16 MPG. The large 27.6-gallon fuel tank offers an impressive and class-leading driving range between 442 and 580 miles no matter the driving conditions. 

The Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 is the most frugal of the lot, but the smaller gas tank limits its driving range to a certain extent. The Audi Q8 and the Porsche Cayenne have identical fuel economy ratings, but the larger fuel tank capacity on offer by Porsche aids it in offering a superior driving range, although it is less than the GLE and miles behind the Range Rover Sport. 

Build quality is superior, with soft surfaces and controls that look and feel expensive- CarAndDriver

The cabin of the Range Rover Sport feels upmarket with clean design and premium materials and no compromise on the build quality. The abundant dab of leather and wooden inlays looks tasteful and classy. The feature-rich nature and abundant amount of technology on offer make it look up to date with modern-day standards. In standard configuration, the Range Rover Sport is a five-seater but there is also an option to opt for a third row which increases the occupant count to 7.

The seats are well-bolstered and feel comfortable but the thick side bolsters might be an issue for people with large body frames. The front seats get standard power adjustability but heated and ventilated functions are available on higher trims. In terms of space, there is ample space on offer in both rows. That being said, the third row feels very cramped, and it's best to not opt for it. In terms of visibility, the front view is good but the larger B-pillars can block the rearview. 

The dual 10-inch Touch Pro Duo touchscreen panels positioned at the center of the dashboard one below the other look very futuristic and are very convenient to use. That’s because one can set the navigation course on the top screen while utilizing the lower one for controlling the cabin functions. But, it needs fiddling around a bit which becomes difficult while driving the SUV. The base audio system does pretty well, but the 19 and 23-speaker Meridian surround sound systems are a class apart.

The luggage space at the back is limited to 27.5 cu-ft, which can be maxed out to just 63.7 cu-ft by folding down the rear seat. If you opt for the third row, the trunk space reduces to 10.8 cu-ft. In comparison, its rivals offer more cargo space. However, the cargo space is decent for a small trip with your family. Some important interior features are:

• 22-way power front leather seats 
• Heated & ventilated front seats
• Heated rear seats
• Power-adjusting heated leather steering wheel 
• Panoramic sunroof
• Power tailgate
• Tri-zone automatic climate control
• Color-adjustable ambient lighting
• Dual 10-inch touchscreens w/ Android Auto & Apple CarPlay
• 12.3-inch digital driver instrument cluster
• 19-speaker Meridian sound system

The Range Rover Sport has the kind of presence that would fill another car’s rearview mirror- Kelly Blue Book

The modern and sleek approach towards styling can also be seen with the exterior of the Range Rover Sport. The front fascia has nicely integrated LED headlights, DRLs, and fog lamps. The grill intakes down below are wide open and are fully functional. From the side profile, Land Rover has maintained the squared-off look with that rectangular boxy shape. The Land Rover Sport is the middle child in the Range Rover family. 

At 192.1 inches, the Range Rover Sport is the perfect midsize option for a lot of people here in America. It has a ground clearance of 8.4 inches but its adjustable air suspension raises the ride height up to 11 inches. There's also an access height which will ower it to help short people get into this vehicle. The base model gets 19-inch wheels but higher trims are offered with larger 21-inch wheels. The rear design is also striking like the front.  

The Audi Q8 is a more urban SUV and hence, has a very low ride height. The Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 and the Porsche Cayenne are also too sophisticated to take on the dirt and ridges. The short wheelbase of the Cayenne helps it to burn quicker during acceleration. The GLE 450 is less wide than its rivals. Meaning, driving on narrow roads cannot be a problem. Some other exterior features are:

• LED headlights, taillights, DRLs
• Front & rear fog lamps
• Puddle lamps
• Power-folding, heated exterior mirrors
• Dual integrated chrome exhaust tips
• Black grille
• Rear roofline spoiler
• 19/21-inch alloy wheels

Land Rover offers many desirable driver-assistance technology systems, but many are optional- CarAndDriver

As is the case with most premium high value and low sales volume vehicles, the Range Rover Sport hasn’t yet been tested by either of the private or government safety testing agencies. Therefore, safety ratings are not available. Its body structure incorporates recycled aluminum and high-strength steel that can absorb the maximum amount of collision energy. 

There are plenty of safety features and driving aids on offer that not only make driving this SUV a tad bit easier on the road but also aids in maneuvering it off the road with plenty of technology on offer. However, only a few of them are on offer while many features are bundled under different optional packages. A highlight of safety features are:

• Automatic Emergency Braking
• Rear Cross-Traffic Alert
• Blind-Spot Monitor
• Lane Keeping Assist
• Lane Departure Warning
• Clear Exit Monitor
• Driver Condition Monitor
• Rearview camera
• Adaptive Cruise Control 
• Front & rear parking sensors 
• 360-degree camera
• Hill Descent Control
• Traffic Sign Recognition
• Park Assist

2022 Land Rover Range Rover Sport vs 2022 Audi Q8

Though the prices of both these SUVs are pretty similar to one another, they are very different in nature. The Audi Q8 is more sophisticated, sporty, and enthusiastic to drive, while the Range Rover Sport is a comfortable family cruiser that can venture outside the city and into the unknown. The Q8 offers more space on the inside while the Land Rover has marginally better cargo space and fuel efficiency with a larger gas tank aiding in long-distance driving. It is a matter of personal choice and the winner depends on what you want out of your premium SUV. 

2022 Land Rover Range Rover Sport vs 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 

One of the rare instances where a Mercedes is one of the most affordable SUVs of the segment, the GLE  450 offers immense value to its buyers. Not only does the GLE 450 offers impressive acceleration and towing capabilities, but it is also very frugal and will save you loads of money on gas bills. It offers a premium and spacious cabin loaded with plenty of safety and technology while also managing to take on some light off-roading. Therefore, amongst the two, the Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 makes for a better buying option unless you really want to get down and go in the dirt. 

2022 Land Rover Range Rover Sport vs 2022 Porsche Cayenne

The Porsche Cayenne is one of the sportier SUVs of the segment as opposed to the off-road capable nature of the Range Rover Sport. Other than that, both these SUVs are very evenly matched as both offer similar acceleration and towing performance with very little difference between their fuel efficiencies. The cabin is also similarly sized with plenty of technology and creature comforts on offer. But since the Land Rover has impressive capabilities to take any terrain which is a major requirement from an SUV, we believe the Range Rover Sport is worth the minor additional cost. 

The 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Sport has all its bases covered even when it is at the end of its life cycle. With the powertrain packing in enough grunt and the chassis offering enough capabilities, one can never feel disappointed with this SUV. Although better frugality and a larger trunk could sweeten the deal even further, we aren’t complaining much. With the new generation just about a year away, one might want to wait for it, and although that is justified, the current generation Range Rover Sport is absolutely worth the deal as well.