The range-topping Land Rover Range Rover recently got a major overhaul, and now it’s time for the smaller, more athletic Range Rover Sport model to see some changes. The biggest news with the 2023 Range Rover Sport is its new electrification. North America will get four powertrain options at launch, with a fifth, fully electric Range Rover Sport in the cards for 2024. Until then, customers will have a choice of two mild-hybrid powertrains, a plug-in hybrid model, and if you don’t want any of that electric business, you can still opt for a twin-turbo V-8.
Electrified Power
The electric revolution has smacked into the new Sport hard, offering plenty of performance at each price point, built on Land Rover’s flexible MLA chassis architecture. The P360 mild hybrid, built around the company’s Ingenium 3.0-liter I-6 motor, is tuned to 355 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque, and the P400 mild hybrid is tuned to 395 hp and 406 lb-ft.
The Range Rover Sport P440e Autobiography is the PHEV model, good for 434 hp and 619 lb-ft, and Land Rover claims it’ll go up to 48 miles on electricity alone using its 31.8 kWh battery pack and a 105-kW electric motor paired to its 3.0-liter I-6.
Finally, the “flagship” twin-turbo 4.4-liter V-8 makes 523 hp and 553 lb-ft. Each Sport trim is equipped with an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission, adaptive air suspension, and the company’s Intelligent All Wheel Drive system. Performance and range estimates for the fifth model, the 2024 Range Rover Sport EV, will be announced later.
The new Sport is also fitted with all-wheel steering for maneuverability at low speeds and stability in cornering at high speeds, and the company claims it gives the new Sport the “turning circle of a hatchback.” Off-road, the new Sport gets the latest Terrain Response 2 system and an adaptive off-road cruise control that helps the driver focus on steering while the vehicle manages throttle.
A Modern Design
As for its looks, head-on there are familiar Sport design elements reshuffled with a Velar-like slickness to the layout of the three stacked grille openings, topped by new slim headlights—the slimmest ever fitted to a Land Rover. Everything has been pressed to a super flat wall of a face, with a fully incorporated bumper and minimal surface flaring at the edges to visually define the corners of the vehicle. The company claims the slick new Sport has a drag coefficient of just 0.29.
One of the greater challenges of designing the new Sport was incorporating the necessary sensory equipment behind the reworked grille. Every Sport now comes with automated emergency braking, wade sensing, maneuvering lights, advanced cruise control with driver monitoring, lane keep assist, traffic sign recognition, and the company’s 3D surround-view camera and ClearSight ground view camera that lets you see “through” the hood and front of the vehicle on screen for careful off-road maneuvering.
Surface flaring has been scaled-back to a minimum for a “sophisticated” sleek result, and trim details have been minimized compared to the outgoing model. In profile, the new Sport looks faster, dropping the outgoing model’s boxier proportions with a more swept-back stroke to the roofline, and an uninterrupted shoulder line detail that stretches from the headlight to the taillights.
The team of designers were particularly excited about the new Sport’s flush glass glazing, which tucks away any visible gaps between the window and body, hiding unsightly trim edges. The Sport also finally gets the automaker’s flush door handles that premiered on the Velar, to further simplify the surfacing, and soft-close doors. The red color seen in the press images may not be available at launch; at a preview event in March, Land Rover execs told us the vibrant multi-coat paint job may join the lineup of hundreds of available colors if there’s enough customer interest.
A new “SE Dynamic” model of the Sport gets some unique design work on the front and rear bumpers, with satin burnished copper finishes, a graphite-colored grille and lettering, and satin grey alloy wheels. There will also be a First Edition available for the first year, with the Stormer Handling Pack that includes Dynamic Response Pro, a 48-volt electrical system for active body roll control.
2023 Range Rover Sport Interior
Inside, there are 22-way adjustable front seats with massage functions and winged headrests, and the rear seats gain 0.8-inches of legroom over the outgoing Sport. A 29-speaker Meridian sound system is available, as is Active Noise Cancellation that cuts down outside road and tire noise while maintaining the “undiluted soundtrack” of the powertrain. There’s also an advanced cabin air filtration system for filtering out allergens, odors, and pollutants from the exterior, if you’re worried about fresh air.
There’s a new 13.1-inch touchscreen with the latest infotainment system capable of over-the-air updates, joined by a 13.7-inch driver display screen, each with a configurable user interface.
“Living with the New Range Rover Sport couldn’t be easier thanks to its suite of connected technologies. Our award-winning Pivi Pro infotainment is at the heart of the experience and its haptic, curved floating touchscreen provides intuitive control of the vehicle systems,” said Alex Heslop, Director of Electrical Engineering, Jaguar Land Rover. “To help drivers maintain their focus, embedded Amazon Alexa voice AI is on hand, so customers can keep their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel while doing anything from setting the navigation and placing calls to selecting media sources.”
U.S. customers account for a third of Range Rover Sport sales, with New York City, Los Angeles, and Miami in particular bringing home the bacon for the brand. Deliveries for the new Sport begin in September.
2023 Range Rover Sport Pricing
Here’s a pricing and performance breakdown to keep things simple:
- P360 SE Mild Hybrid 3.0L Turbocharged I6 (355 hp / 369 lb-ft): $83,000
- P400 SE Dynamic Mild Hybrid 3.0L Turbocharged I6 (395 hp / 406 lb-ft): $90,000
- P440e (PHEV) Autobiography Plug-In Hybrid 3.0L Turbocharged I6 (434 hp / 619lb-ft): $104,200
- P530 First Edition 4.4L Twin Turbocharged V8 (523 hp / 553 lb-ft): $121,500
Keyword: 2023 Range Rover Sport First Look: The Flagship V-8 Survives an Electric Overhaul