2022 Land Rover Range Rover Sport P400 HST SUV

The base RR Sport comes with more than enough features if you don’t consider the price. The HST trim asks $15,000 extra and considering the luxury realm we can’t complain much about it. We get all the swanky features like the 21-inch wheels, aluminum exterior trims, and a blacked-out roof for the exterior. 

On the inside, leather upholstery and heating or ventilation are the least we can expect on Range Rover. A refrigerator in the center console and proper 4-zone climate control are standard on the HST trim. The infotainment system on this SUV isn’t an issue as all the trims get a fully digital cabin with smartphone integration, you also get a special 19-speaker Meridian Sound system. There are some mechanical extras exclusive to this trim, which we will discuss in the performance section.

Optional Packages

• Carbon Fiber Exterior ($3400) – carbon fiber exterior design elements with sports badge in black color
• Driver Pro ($1900) – Blindspot assist, high-speed emergency braking, adaptive cruise control with stop/go
• Driver Assist ($3800) – Parking distance sensors, 360-degree surround-view camera
• Meridian Sound ($4300) – 23-speaker, 1700-watt sound system
• On/Off-Road ($570) – all-terrain progress control, low/high range gears
• Tow Pack ($1300) – trailer tow prep with hitch and wiring harness
• Soft closing doors – $600
• Deployable side steps - $3500
• Head-Up display - $1300
• Ambient lighting - $250

Which Trim should you buy?

The sad thing is, despite being a standalone trim, it misses out on tiny features like the head-up display and ambient lighting as standard. We have gotten used to such practices. The SUV does come with some active safety features as standard but we still suggest getting the Driver Assist package to complete your RR Sport safety-wise.

The 2022 Range Rover Sport HST will house the same turbocharged inline-6 engine which is distinctly tuned for extra power. The 3.0L, Turbo I-6 MHEV engine produces 395 hp & 406 lb-ft of torque. Every engine on the Range Rover is mated to an 8-speed automatic gearbox while power is sent to all four wheels as standard. Even the base engine with 355 hp has enough grunt for daily use, and having 40 more horses on the HST improves things significantly. 

Press the gas pedal and the engine responds to your commands without any lag or delay. However, the engine gets vocal if pressed hard, but the transmission promptly shifts gears and keeps revs to the lowest. We have a hybrid mill on our hands here but the electric motor assistance isn’t noteworthy. The towing capacity of the RR Sport is 7700lbs but we doubt that anyone will ever utilize this SUV for towing. At least we haven’t seen anyone towing with a RR Sport till now, would be quite a sight though.

The Range Rover Sport is fast enough for most guys and by clocking 6.6 seconds in the short-run test, it does better than the Lexus but its reign ends here. The Porsche and Maserati both are extremely fast SUVs, the Levante S being the quickest to 60mph at 5.0 seconds, is a truly sporty SUV. Porsche is a whole second behind Maserati but as we say every time these one-second differences shouldn’t be your decision-makers. All cars in the competition sport an 8-speed automatic gearbox and come in standard AWD/4WD configuration.

Not every time we will have to settle with dismal fuel efficiencies speaking of the luxury SUVs as the Range Rover Sport P400 HST will give you a really good fuel economy compared to its rivals. The 2022 RR Sport HST returns a 19/24/21 city/highway/combined fuel economy and with a massive 27.6-gallon fuel tank at its disposal, the overall driving range is just phenomenal at 580 miles combined.

We are so used to seeing the Japanese ace the fuel economy game every time, that it hurts to see the Lexus getting the lowest economy, averaging a mileage of 15 MPG. The 2021 Porsche Cayenne S, on the other hand, is the closest rival to the Range Rover Sport, both SUVs have a turbocharged engine of slightly different capacities, but its combined range of 474 miles, feels rather underwhelming in comparison. Maserati Levante S has better performance and so the engine is working overtime resulting in mediocre fuel economy and the lowest range in the segment. 

As with other Range Rover SUVs, the Sport P400 HST is also curated keeping luxury in mind. On the inside, there aren’t many differences compared to the Evoque and the Range Rover. The Range Rover Sport HST gets full leather and suede treatment and the dashboard is similar to what you see on the other SUVs from the brand; every inch of it is covered in leather. Overall, the dashboard design isn’t something we call futuristic but those digital displays for the instrument cluster, climate control, and the infotainment screen make this cabin look much more modern without even trying hard. 

The seats on the 2022 Range Rover Sport HST are one of the best in every aspect; the leather they have used for the upholstery is just super soft, like really very soft. Range Rover Sport is a 5-passenger vehicle with almost full-size SUV dimensions. So we are not going to criticize much about interior space as it would be an insult to this SUV. The second row gets similarly bolstered seats and is exceptionally comfortable for 2. Yes, only 2 would be comfortable on the second row as the third passenger seating is deliberately designed for hand rests and cup holders. With heating, ventilation, and reclining seats this SUV is the best you can get in terms of comfort in the market today.

Range Rover Sport P400 HST has ample space inside; why wouldn’t it be? We have a full-size SUV with seating for only 5 and acres of space for everyone. Porsche does have ridiculously good passenger space but the passenger head will scrap the roof slightly. The Maserati Levante has that similar coupe-like design but still, they have managed to provide more headroom than the Porsche, it does lack a little on the knee room. But at 41 cubic feet, it is the cargo capacity of the Levante that seals the deal for the SUV. Lexus and Range Rover are the only 2 SUVs that have truly spacious cabins without any compromises at all.

Standout interior features of the 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Sport P400 HST include:

• Ambient lighting
• 4-zone climate control
• Aluminum interior trim
• Leather and simulated suede upholstery
• Heated and ventilated seats
• Front console refrigerator
• Cabin air ionizer

What’s there to keep you entertained?

The 2022 Range Rover Sport is very well equipped in the infotainment section as standard and the HST trim gets a better sound system. The SUV comes with a 10-inch touch screen display with another dedicated screen for climate control as well. The 19-speaker sound system is mesmerizing and yet there is an optional 1700-watt system available with a 23-speaker setup. 

Android Auto & Apple CarPlay are available as standard. The only downside of this system is the startup time and this has been this way since the 2nd generation made its way onto the roads. Sadly, it hasn’t been fixed yet.

Standout infotainment features:

• 10-inch touch screen display
• Android Auto & Apple CarPlay
• SiriusXM
• 19-speaker Meridian sound system
• Navigation
• Bluetooth

Range Rover already has an iconic design they have stuck with for so many years and any changes in that will ask for an identity crisis for the SUV. With its traditional and boxy shape, the RR Sport is the most unique SUV in the segment and stands out from the crowd. The Range Rover Sport HST has taken some liberty in design language as the name suggests it should look sportier than the full-size RR while not overshadowing the Evoque. The front end has some sharp design elements on the bumper. 

The doors have the most noticeable design changes; the body line and the protruded side skirts are the main differentiating factors on the RR Sport HST. To achieve the sporty nature Land Rover has added some fake vents on the fender and even the exhaust tips at the back are fake. The matrix LED headlights and taillights look very menacing at night combined with those signature DRLs. We haven’t ever expected the automaker to make drastic design changes. The brand manages to provide an SUV that looks different and stays relevant for the corresponding year.

The Range Rover Sport is a heavy SUV and that reflects in the driving dynamics but nothing serious. The Lexus and Porsche both are at least 1,000 lbs heavier than the Rover Sport while the Maserati Levante is the lightest of the bunch. The ground clearance on the Levante is good for off-roading but it isn’t meant for that so please don’t try. Lexus LX 570 and Range Rover Sport both are the most capable adventure machines in today's comparison with ground clearances of 8.9 and 8.4 inches, respectively. The Range Rover Sport P400 HST also sports a longer wheelbase than most of its competitors of 115.1 inches and is only shorter than the Levante that is almost 3 inches longer. 

Standout exterior features:

• 20-inch wheels
• Matrix LED headlights and taillights
• Deployable or fixed running boards
• Adaptive suspension
• Contrasting black roof
• Black exterior trim
• Panoramic glass roof

Well, let’s just move on to the active safety features the 2022 Range Rover Sport comes with as the NHTSA and IIHS don’t crash-test these expensive vehicles. The aluminum chassis technology the SUV is built upon should do just fine nevertheless. As standard, the 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Sport P400 HST comes loaded with plenty of safety features. The optional features make it a completely safe SUV for your loved ones.

Some standout safety features include:

• Forward Collision warning
• 360-degree camera
• Automatic emergency braking
• Adaptive cruise control
• Lane keep assist and lane departure warning
• Blindspot assist
• Parking sensors
• Driver attention monitor

2022 Land Rover Range Rover Sport P400 HST vs 2021 Lexus LX570

Regarding passenger space and cargo-carrying capacity both the SUVs are similar but the interior on the LX570 looks dated and has started to show its age. Lexus even lags behind the fuel economy section but it's not all bad news. However, it is probably the most reliable SUV in the group today. If you can compromise with the interior and the overall oldish design the Lexus LX570 isn’t a bad SUV to consider.

2022 Land Rover Range Rover Sport P400 HST vs 2021 Porsche Cayenne S

Porsche Cayenne S and RR Sport HST are meant for different things in life. You can drive the Porsche like a sports car even if it’s an SUV and everything on the Porsche screams performance. While feature-wise both SUVs get an adaptive air suspension, supremely luxurious interiors, and an extensive list of convenience features, the main differences between these two are the design and the off-road capability. Range Rover has a timeless design and gets through any muddy situation without an iota of difficulty.

2022 Land Rover Range Rover Sport P400 HST vs 2021 Maserati Levante S

Maserati Levante S is a serious performance SUV that handles unlike any SUV and sounds like a natural V8. The interior is supremely luxurious with wood and leather trims covering every inch of the inside. The Levante, as it is obvious, lacks passenger space but averagely sized people will be fine inside. As it does provide an insane performance the fuel economy is bound to take a hit but you will forget about that once you start driving one. Overall the Maserati Levante S is a superb performance SUV.

The 2022 Range Rover Sport P400 HST is the sweet spot for buying a Land Rover. It comes with all the luxury features like leather upholstery, 4-zone climate control, and most of the safety features are standard. The passenger space and comfort weren’t the issues here; the price was. Comparing it with the rivals, it sure does look like we are getting fewer features but it is not about quantity every time. The kind of experience 4 passengers will have in this SUV would be hard to replicate. If you are looking for an ultra-luxury SUV for 4 then the 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Sport P400 HST is the best you can get without spending 6 figures.