With plug-in hybrid power, the Range Rover Sport is cleaner and greener than ever, but has that made it lose its appeal? Cameron Richards finds out. What is it? The original Sport was launched back in 2005 and became an instant success in the world of premium SUVs. Now in its third generation, the Range Rover’s smaller sibling has become more luxurious, has improved its onboard technology and is now kinder to the environment thanks to a plug-in hybrid setup.
Does the new car have what it takes to shrug off the BMW X5 and Porsche Cayenne? Let’s put it through its paces. What’s new? To make a car instantly recognisable, it has to update itself subtly. This new car still has a taller, rakish design, but there are more curves and swooping lines to make it look more svelte and modern.
The door handles are now flush into the bodywork to improve aerodynamics and the door mirrors have been redesigned, too. The interior has upped its gain in terms of technology, with a large 13.1-inch touchscreen, which houses Apple Carplay and Android Auto as well as a more modern digital driver’s cockpit and redesigned centre console and gear selector.
There is optional rear-wheel-steering which enables this big old bruiser to have an 11-metre turning radius, too. What’s under the bonnet? We are driving a plug-in hybrid petrol model that is badged P440e. It comes with a 3.
0-litre twin-turbocharged engine that is mated with a 38.2 kWh battery pack that gives a combined 446bhp and 620Nm of t.