Used Land Rover Range Rover Sport 2014-2022 review

The first Range Rover Sport gained a bit of an unfortunate reputation, not only for the type of person who bought it but also for the rather agricultural Land Rover Discovery chassis that the car rode on. Many thought the moniker ‘Sport’ was sadly misplaced and some of the traditional Range Rover values debased.

This 2014 to 2022 second-generation version was a completely new car, however, and it rode on the same up-to-date underpinnings as the contemporary 2013-2022 Range Rover, although the Sport variant was smaller, lighter and lower. Much use was made of aluminium in both cars, and the Sport, despite not being a lightweight, was now competitive with its rivals in this regard, despite its obvious opulence.

Engines: The engine range initially kicked off with an entry-level 236bhp 2.0-litre diesel. This was followed by the 302bhp 3.0-litre SDV6, while completing the diesel range was the venerable 4.4-litre V8. The petrol engine option consisted of two supercharged units, a 335bhp 3.0-litre V6 and a 5.0-litre V8 in two power outputs – 503bhp and 542bhp in the mega-swift SVR version. Later models added a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol, known as the P300 or, if attached to a battery pack and an electric motor to make it a hybrid, the P400e, and the entry-level 2.0 diesel was dropped. There is also a P400 with mild-hybrid assistance.

Trims and equipment: There are four trims to choose from: HSE, HSE Dynamic, Autobiography Dynamic and the rabid SVR. Entry-level models come with 20in alloy wheels, xenon headlights, keyless entry, front foglights and a reversing camera as standard, while inside there is perforated leather upholstery, heated seats all round, lane departure warning and Jaguar Land Rover's InControl infotainment system complete with sat-nav.

Upgrade to HSE Dynamic and the car gains red Brembo brakes, a twin-speed transfer box, JLR's all-terrain mode, lots of gloss black exterior mouldings and 21in alloy wheels, while Autobiography Dynamic adds a panoramic roof, ventilated seats, a 19-speaker Meridian audio system, a heated steering wheel, adaptive cruise control, blindspot monitoring and a 360deg camera system.

Range-topping SVR not only gets the rapid 5.0 V8 motor, but also a quad-exhaust system, darkened headlights, blue Brembo brake calipers and a specially designed rear spoiler.

Ride and handling: It’s the diesel engines that are the most popular in the Range Rover Sport, since they provide the best combination of performance and reasonable fuel economy. The 2.0 is refined enough, but not quick. The SDV6 has plenty of low-rev shove, helping to mask the car’s mass. However, rivals such as the Audi Q7 3.0 TDI 272 and BMW X5 40d are still that little bit faster. If you can afford it, the 4.4 V8 provides the car with effortless pace and acceptable running costs.

As far as the petrols go, the 2.0-litre models are surprisingly swift, and of course the 3.0 V6 propels the Range Rover Sport down the road fairly swiftly. However, you need to rev it harder than the diesels and it’s too thirsty to recommend. The 503bhp 5.0 supercharged V8 delivers plenty of performance and noise, making the Range Rover Sport something of a super-luxury SUV dragster. Fuel bills are, as you’d expect, scary.

Fuel bills are marginally more manageable in the hybrid versions, if it fits your lifestyle. The P400e is good to drive and swift, and the P400 is too, albeit its mild-hybrid system is one that only helps out the existing engine, rather than offering the ability to run separately on electric power alone, or together with the conventional engine, like the P400e.

The SVR model is the full-house, go-faster model. It’s thunderously powerful, noisy and exciting, but with sufficiently good manners to soothe the miles away when required.

All Range Rover Sports offer an excellent blend of stability and relative agility. It isn’t the most athletic SUV of its kind, nor is it one that feels smaller than it actually is, and some rivals also offer more grip and tighter body control. However, it’s an easy car to drive along a twisty road – and you can’t say that of all Range Rovers.

There’s good news in the ride department, too; most versions of the Range Rover Sport offer exemplary ride comfort. Particularly impressive suppleness at high speed makes this a superb car to drive on a long journey. The best-riding cars are at the bottom of the range – those on standard 20in wheels.

Interior and practicality: Inside, there’s an incredibly comfortable driver's seat and an excellent and commanding driving position; visibility is excellent. All Range Rover Sports get a pair of 10.0in touchscreens, one at the top of the dashboard and the other below it, just in front of the gear selector. This second screen is the one that you use to access the air conditioning and off-road modes, but you can also operate the multimedia system through it while the main screen displays the navigation.

The fit and finish of the interior is exceptionally high, with good use of soft-touch materials and plenty of leather, although one or two of the switches seem a little tackier to the touch.

The Range Rover Sport is not short of space, either front or rear. The only person who might complain is the passenger in the middle rear seat, because the two outer ones are quite sculpted. The car also has a third row, with two flip-up seats in the boot, although these are difficult to access and tight for space. They’re best suited to children or small adults.

With these seats folded away, the boot is large, wide and fairly tall, and easy to get things in and out of. Dropping the rear seats can be done electrically.

If you're interested in finding a used Range Rover Sport, or any of the other SUVs mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.

You can find some high-mileage (100k plus) 2014 cars for around £20,000 now but you’ll need at least £22,000 to get yourself inside a Range Rover Sport with a more reasonable mileage. Look for one with an average mileage from 2015 and you’ll pay closer to £25,000-£30,000. If you’re prepared to spend around £30,000 to £35,000 you should be able to net a good 2016 or 2017 car with an average mileage and a full service history, bought from an independent dealer. Between £35,000 and £40,000 will net you a 2018 or 2019 car, while £45,000 to £50,000 will get you a good 2020 or 2021 model, a fraction more for the last 2022 cars. Expect to pay at least £45,000 for either of the two 5.0 supercharged petrol models.

MPG

Choose the 2.0 diesel and the official figures claim an average fuel consumption of 46.6mpg, recorded under the older NEDC tests, with corresponding CO2 emissions of 164g/km. The punchier 3.0 diesel claims 40.4mpg NEDC and a CO2 output of 185g/km, while the 3.0 petrol won’t see more than 30mpg and cars with the rip-snorting supercharged 5.0 won’t better 22mpg.

Under the newer, more realistic WLTP tests, the 3.0 SDV6 diesel claims an average 32mpg, the 2.0 petrol 26.1mpg, the V8 diesel 27mpg and the petrol SVR 18.9mpg.

Road tax

Tax for cars registered before April 2017 is based on CO2 emissions and is therefore heavy for all models. However, those registered after that date will pay tax at a set flat rate, but will also incur the luxury car surcharge because they all cost more than £40,000 when new. The current annual flat rate is £190 a year (£180 a year for hybrids), and the supplementary luxury surcharge is taxed at £410 a year for five years from year two.

Insurance

Insurance costs are high, too, with groups ranging from 44 to 50. Servicing will be expensive, especially if you stick to Land Rover franchised servicing agents. At least many offer fixed-price servicing, payable by direct debit, with plans available for two years plus two services right the way up to five years and five services.

Reliability

What Car? readers have shared that the Range Rover Sport often encounters faults, ranking it as the second most unreliable luxury car in our annual Reliability Survey.

Owners report a spectrum of issues, from minor glitches with the infotainment system to significant mechanical problems involving the air suspension and engine.

Additionally, the cost of replacing consumable items during routine maintenance is noted as expensive. While interactions with Land Rover’s dealer network are generally positive, some owners highlight the inconvenience of travelling long distances to access dealership services.

With all that in mind, you might want to read our dedicated reliability page for the Range Rover Sport if you’re thinking of buying one.

The SDV6 is the big seller, with plenty of low-down oomph and better fuel economy than most, so that’s the one we’d seek out.

Entry-level HSE trim keeps the price from getting too silly and comes with lots of equipment, so it’s the level we’d go for.

Our favourite Range Rover Sport 3.0 SDV6 HSE

The Audi SQ7 is the sporty version of the firm’s luxury SUV. It has prodigious performance, excellent handling and a roomy, high-quality interior. If you can’t stretch to the SQ7, take a look at the standard Q7, which rides exceptionally well.

The Volvo XC90 has a big, classy interior, seating for seven and comes well equipped. It is not as refined as its price tag might lead you to think, but it’s a good used buy and should prove more reliable – just – than the Range Rover Sport.

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If you're interested in finding a used Range Rover Sport, or any of the other SUVs mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.