Land Rover just premiered its 3rd generation premium off-roader, the 2023 Range Rover Sport, with a refreshed design, a plethora of engine options, and a major tech overhaul!
The Sport model is a road-focused version of the regular Range Rover, with more powerful engines and better handling. Since 2005, it has captured the hearts of many off-road enthusiasts with its sleek appearance and versatility in various driving conditions. For its latest avatar, Land Rover decided to move on from Tianmen Mountain in China to the cold and unforgiving conditions in Iceland to push the limits of the new Sport.
Sleek and Minimalistic Design
Thanks to the ‘Reductive’ design philosophy, the 2023 Range Rover Sport looks subtly more menacing than its predecessor. The front fascia is flanked by full-LED headlamps integrated with sharper DRLs and a sleeker grille with horizontal elements, giving it a cleaner and meaner visual. Meanwhile, the bumper gets most of the vents and air curtains on either side, mimicking Jaguar’s sports sedans.
Switching to the sides, the reductive design is clearly visible with minimal body lines, just like the fully loaded Range Rover. However, thanks to the Black Pack, it’s not all boring, which adds glossy black elements on the front fender, roof, side skirts, and tailgate. Land Rover further pushes the boundaries of exclusivity by offering a set of 23-inch alloys with carbon fiber inlays within the spokes.
Thanks to the new, streamlined design, the 2023 Range Rover Sport boasts a drag coefficient of only 0.29 — the lowest among its peers.
All-New PHEV and Twin-Turbo V8 Engines on Offer
Beyond the design, though, the 2023 Range Rover Sport will be available in many variants: the SE, Dynamic SE, Autobiography, and the limited First Edition. Based on the grade, Land Rover offers a row of powertrains such as the P360 and P400, featuring the 3.0-liter six-cylinder Ingenium engine with a mild-hybrid system, developing 355 and 395 hp, respectively.
The British brand also offers a brand-new plug-in hybrid that combines the Ingenium engine with a 140-hp electric motor. Interestingly, LR opted for a fairly large 31.8-kWh battery pack, which should provide 70 miles of range in ideal conditions, and up to 54 with normal driving. This range is more than usable for daily driving, unlike most rivals, which offer half the range. The PHEV model will accelerate from 0-60 mph in brisk 5.5 seconds.
Finally, the flagship variant receives a characterful 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 from BMW with a 48V MHEV setup that blitzes out 523 hp out the crank. With this engine onboard, the 2023 Range Rover Sport will hit 60 mph in just 4.3 seconds, which is almost supercar territory. However, real performance enthusiasts might want to wait for the SVR, which would probably go beyond 600 hp.
All Range Rover Sport models are paired with a standard 8-speed automatic transmission and AWD.
Intelligent Suspension for Improved On-Road and Off-Road Performance
But the 2023 Range Rover Sport isn’t only about straight-line speed. British carmakers have always emphasized handling, and the same is true here. Hence, the SUV features an intelligent torque vectoring system, Dynamic Air Suspension, and rear-wheel steering.
Land Rover also didn’t forget about off-roading — the new Sport also comes with a novel adaptive off-road cruise control, part of the Terrain Response system. Notably, the cruise control utilizes other systems in the car, like the 3D surround camera, terrain control response, and the air suspension to maximize the grip levels on any surface in any condition.
Hi-Tech Interior with Luxury-Driven Features
The interior quality also reached new heights in the new Sport, with plenty of tech and other nifty features. The most noticeable change in the cabin is the bezel-less 13.1-inch Pivi-Pro infotainment suite, which allows the driver to toggle 90% of the car’s settings and supports wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay to stay connected on the go. Land Rover also incorporated a 13.7-inch display in front of the driver, showing most data from the center display. In addition, there’s a Heads-Up color display showcasing essential information while driving.
Passengers are also spoilt for choice between sustainable microfiber and two flavors of semi-aniline leather upholstery. Other nifty features include a 1350W high-fidelity Meridian audio system, 22-way adjustable seats with massage function, and a comprehensive air purification system to bring in fresh air from the outside.
The 2023 Range Rover Sport seems to be a complete package, with various powertrains, great performance, and off-roading capabilities. Prices start from $84,350 for the SE, $105,550 for the plug-in hybrid Autobiography, and $122,850 for the range-topping First Edition!
Gallery: 2023 Range Rover Sport
More details on Land Rover’s website!
