The Land Rover Range Rover Sport enters 2018 with a host of updates, including an all-new hybrid powertrain that makes the Sport the first Land Rover to work toward the company's promise of complete electrification by 2020.
What's New for 2018
Headlining the changes for 2018 is the introduction of the plug-in electric hybrid (PHEV), a Jaguar Land Rover first. This new powertrain marries a 2.0-liter four-cylinder gas engine with an electric motor juiced by a 13.1 kWh lithium-ion battery. The combined total of 398 horsepower and 472 pound-feet of torque is enough to propel the SUV from zero to 60 miles per hour in 6.3 seconds.
If they avoid mashing the throttle, drivers can eke out up to 31 miles of zero-emissions, near-silent electric driving. Beyond that, the gas and electric motors work in tandem to efficiently hustle the big Range Rover everywhere and anywhere. In the classic Land Rover spirit, "everywhere and anywhere" is truly that; the system is designed to offer full-electric and hybrid capabilities even once the pavement ends.
Charging the battery takes seven and a half hours when plugged into the standard 10-amp home-charging cable. A larger 32-amp wall box shortens charging times to two hours and 45 minutes. A Range Rover Sport PHEV will start at $79,295 including the destination charge, but will not be available in the US until summer 2018 as a 2019 model.
Other updates include a restyled front fascia, a new dual-screen infotainment unit, more charging points (bringing the total count to 14) and an Active Key, which replaces the standard key fob with a wearable wristband designed to be waterproof as well as tolerant of extreme temperatures.
Choosing Your Range Rover Sport
With an all-you-can-eat buffet of engine choices and trim levels, it can be difficult deciding what to spring for and what to leave on the table. Five available engines range from the mild 3.0-liter diesel six cylinder with 254 hp to the wild 575-hp supercharged 5.0-liter V8. Certain engines are only available on certain trim levels.
Regardless of engine or trim, all Range Rover Sports are equipped with the off-roading chops that built Land Rover's reputation. This means standard features like hill descent control and the ability to wade into water up to 33.5 inches deep.
Option packages available across all trims include the Towing Package, the Drive Pro Package (which adds driver aids such as blind-spot monitoring, lane keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control), the Climate Comfort Package (adding four-way climate control and a refrigerator in the front center console), and the Park Pro Package (which equips the SUV with self-parking technology). Note that the prices of these packages may change depending on trim level.
Unless a buyer harbors a personal credo stipulating that nothing less than eight cylinders will do, the lower-tier six-cylinder trims – particularly the HSE and HSE Dynamic – provide ample amount of luxury, performance, and capability without the six-figure sticker-price shock. For those trying to rove the land as fast as possible, the SVR is the only way to go.