- New Exterior Smooths Out the Wrinkles
- Interior Amenities and Tech Overhaul
- Powertrains: Extended-Range PHEV, New V-8
- On-Road Improvements, Off-Road Cruise Control
- Pricing and Release Date
Competes with: Audi Q8, BMW X6, Porsche Cayenne
Looks like: A sleeker version of the outgoing Range Rover Sport
Powertrains: 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder with 355 horsepower (SE) or 395 hp (SE Dynamic), 3.0-liter six-cylinder plug-in hybrid with 434 hp (Autobiography), or 4.4-liter turbo V-8 with 523 hp (First Edition); all-electric model to be introduced in 2024; eight-speed automatic transmission; all-wheel drive
Hits dealerships: Fall 2022; orders open now
After redesigning its flagship Range Rover SUV for 2022, Land Rover is turning its attention to the Range Rover family’s middle child, the 2023 Range Rover Sport. The SUV slots under the top-tier Range Rover and above the Range Rover Velar and Evoque models. It enters its third generation with styling tweaks, interior refinements, new powertrains for higher trims and a technology reboot.
The Range Rover Sport will be available in four trims at launch: SE, SE Dynamic, Autobiography and a performance-oriented First Edition that replaces the outgoing model’s SVR trim. Land Rover also said to expect an all-electric model for 2024.
At first glance, the 2023 Range Rover Sport doesn’t deviate much from its predecessor, but a closer look reveals a sleeker exterior, new plug-in hybrid and V-8 engines, and a tech overhaul inside — all updates of which come with a sizable price hike.
New Exterior Smooths Out the Wrinkles
The 2023 Range Rover Sport’s exterior remains recognizable, with the vehicle’s front and rear seeing the bulk of the changes. The front gets a new grille and lower bumper design with redesigned LED headlights and slimmed-down daytime running lights. The rear gets more noticeable updates including a restyled tailgate, a single bar incorporating the taillights and the “Range Rover” lettering, and a lowered license plate mount. The SE Dynamic trim features gray alloy wheels, different bumpers and body-color lower cladding.
Interior Amenities and Tech Overhaul
Inside, drivers will find an updated cockpit with a new center console and redesigned gear selector. The outgoing model’s dual 10-inch touchscreens are swapped for a single 13.1-inch tablet-style screen also found in the new Range Rover. The lower screen in the outgoing model incorporated many multimedia and climate-control functions that Cars.com editors found cumbersome in a 2020 review; although there are more physical buttons in the new SUV, touch-sensitive controls are still abundant. The new Range Rover Sport also ditches the wired connectivity in favor of standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, wireless charging and built-in Amazon Alexa with advanced voice recognition.
The SUV’s instrument cluster also grows in size from 12 to 13.7 inches. The new screen mirrors the layout of the center touchscreen and allows drivers to customize their preferences on a three-panel layout.
Unlike the new 2022 Range Rover that gained an optional third row, the Range Rover Sport still offers only a two-row seating configuration. Land Rover says backseat occupant comfort has been improved with ergonomically optimized seats and a small increase in legroom and knee clearance. New sustainable textile materials and two-tone interior color options are available along with a leather interior. Additional changes aim to make the SUV’s interior cleaner and quieter, such as a new cabin air purification system and an available Meridian Signature Sound system with active noise cancellation.
Powertrains: Extended-Range PHEV, New V-8
2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport | Manufacturer image
Four engines are offered for the 2023 Range Rover Sport, their availability dependent on trim. Each engine is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, and all-wheel drive is standard. Specs for the base engine remain unchanged from the outgoing model: The 3.0-liter turbocharged mild-hybrid six-cylinder makes 355 horsepower in the SE trim; a 395-hp variant is available for the SE Dynamic.
The Range Rover Sport Autobiography’s PHEV powertrain is a 3.0-liter six-cylinder mated to a 105-kilowatt electric motor and a 31.8-kilowatt-hour battery for a combined rating of 434 hp. Land Rover estimates the new model will get an all-electric range of 48 miles. Those are improvements over the outgoing powertrain, rated for 389 hp and 19 miles of all-electric range. The brand says the 2023 Autobiography PHEV will not only go further per charge, but it will also be faster off the line, estimating a 0-60 time of 5.5 seconds, down from 6.3 seconds in the previous model.
In addition to the PHEV powertrain update, performance-oriented shoppers will find a new twin-turbo 4.4-liter V-8 engine in the range-topping First Edition. The V-8 replaces the outgoing Range Rover Sport SVR’s 575-hp, supercharged 5.0-liter V-8. Although the horsepower is down to 523, torque jumps from 516 pounds-feet to 553 and the estimated 0-60 time remains unchanged at 4.3 seconds.
Following the introduction of the new PHEV and V-8 powertrains for 2023, an all-electric Range Rover Sport model is expected to arrive for 2024.
On-Road Improvements, Off-Road Cruise Control
2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport | Manufacturer image
Not only is the First Edition the quickest and most powerful model, it also offers additional performance benefits over lesser trims: The Stormer Handling Pack includes a new Dynamic Response Pro system to enhance body control and cornering. Also standard are all-wheel steering and an electronic active differential with torque vectoring that allows drivers to personalize the driving modes for on- or off-road driving .
All trims benefit from chassis system upgrades and Land Rover’s dynamic air suspension that now employs switchable-volume air springs for the first time. All-wheel steering aids agility by allowing the SUV’s rear wheels to turn in the opposite direction of the front wheels by up to 7.3 degrees. The vehicle’s turning circle is reduced to 36 feet — a substantial improvement over the outgoing model’s 41-foot turning circle and 2 feet less even than the Range Rover Evoque.
For off-road enthusiasts, Land Rover’s Terrain Response system adds adaptive off-road cruise control. The feature allows the system to adjust the vehicle speed automatically while drivers simply steer on off-road terrain. It joins four driver-selectable modes: Grass/Gravel/Snow, Mud and Ruts, Sand and Rock Crawl, and Eco.
Pricing and Release Date
2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport | Manufacturer image
The 2023 Range Rover Sport is available to order now on Land Rover’s website and is expected to arrive at dealerships in the fall. Pricing for the trims starts at the following:
- SE: $84,350
- SE Dynamic: $91,350
- Autobiography PHEV: $105,550
- First Edition: $122,850
The base SE’s starting price climbs nearly 17% over the outgoing equivalent’s $72,250 price tag. Among rivals, 2023 pricing is not yet available, but the 2022 BMW X6 starts at $68,345, the 2022 Audi Q8 at $71,995 and the 2022 Porsche Cayenne at $73,650. While the 2023 Range Rover Sport carries a higher price tag than the competition, it still falls well below its Range Rover sibling; the redesigned 2022 Range Rover starts at $105,350.
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Keyword: 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport: New Powertrains and Tech, EV En Route