Range Rover Sport long-term test: report 6
This luxury SUV aims to blend the opulence of the latest Range Rover with a sharper drive, but does it succeed? We're living with a nearly new example to find out...
The car Used Range Rover Sport D350 Autobiography Run by Steve Huntingford, editor
Why it’s here To see if the full-sized Range Rover's sportier sister feels as special as it should during everyday use
Needs to Offer the comfort, refinement and general wow factor that you'd expect from a £100k luxury SUV, while mixing in the driving fun you wouldn't
Mileage on arrival 6200 Mileage now 9200 List price when new (2022) £99,245 Price new with options £100,790 Value on arrival £100,186 Test economy 31.2mpg Official economy 36.7mpg
15 November 2023 - Challenging preconceptions
As recently as 2014, half of the new cars sold in the UK were diesels, whereas so far in 2023 they've accounted for less than 4% of the market.
Yes, these days buying a car that sips from the black pump is about as fashionable as wearing socks with sandals. However, with the exception of company car drivers – who will benefit from the low benefit-in-kind tax bills that the plug-in hybrid model brings – I'd urge anyone in the market for a Range Rover Sport to seriously consider the D350 engine that I've got.
For starters, you can put aside any thoughts you might have about all diesels being unrefined; this 3.0-litre six-cylinder unit is super-smooth, even when cold. What's more, it's all but inaudible when you're cruising at speed or pottering around town, and emits a lovely burble when you put your foot down.
Performance also impresses, whether you want your Range Rover to live up to the 'Sport' part of its name, or are looking for a car with the sort of torque that makes towing effortless.
In fact, the only thing that might leave you a little underwhelmed is something that's traditionally been seen as a diesel strength: fuel economy. I'm currently averaging a little over 30mpg; not terrible in an SUV that weighs the best part of 2.5 tonnes, but hardly something to boast to our Real MPG test team about.
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