About six months ago, the third-generation Range Rover Sport went on sale. The maker also started taking reservations for the same thing, and orders kept coming in. Customers who booked the CBU-imported SUV early will start getting it today, and we take a look at it for the first time.
The flagship Range Rover comes in two wheelbase lengths, three seating configurations, three engine options, and five trim levels. The new Range Rover Sport, on the other hand, only comes in five versions.
There are only two engines—3.0-liter mild-hybrid straight-six units that run on gasoline or diesel—and four trim levels: SE, HSE, Autobiography, and First Edition. The gasoline-powered P400 has 400hp and 550Nm, while the diesel-powered D350 has 350hp and 700Nm. Both have 8-speed torque-converter automatic transmissions, 4WD, and air suspension as standard. All Terrain Progress Control off-road traction control, on-road and off-road drive modes, the ability to drive through water up to 900 mm deep, and ground clearance of up to 281 mm are all included.
The New Range Rover Sport costs anywhere between Rs 1.64 crore and Rs 1.84 crore (ex-showroom India). For comparison, the top-of-the-line Range Rover costs between Rs 2.39 crore and Rs 4.17 crore, while the Range Rover Velar, which is made in India and sits below the New Range Rover Sport, costs Rs 89.41 lakh. The prices for Land Rover’s other large CBU-imported SUVs, the Defender and the Discovery, range from Rs 91.80 lakh to Rs 2.29 crore and Rs 93.90 lakh to Rs 1.32 crore, respectively.
The exterior of the 2023 Range Rover Sport will look different.
Due to how much the prices of Land Rover’s large SUVs overlap, it would be easy to mistake the old Range Rover Sport for the similar-looking Range Rover. That won’t happen this time, though. Even though the new Range Rover Sport is about the same size as the standard-wheelbase Range Rover and has the same 2,997mm wheelbase, it looks very different.
The headlights and grille are much thinner, and there are sporty air intakes on the front bumper. The front and back windshields aren’t as straight, and the nose isn’t as straight either. The roofline gently slopes down toward the back.
The new minimalist profile has been added, with door handles that are flush with the bodywork and a window line that goes from door to door without a sill. In India, the Dynamic styling pack comes as standard. It adds bronze accents everywhere, and the wheels, which range in size from 21 to 23 inches, are all made to look very sporty.
Less of a niche player, the 2023 Range Rover Sport
The new Range Rover Sport feels like it has a better place in Land Rover’s growing line of luxury SUVs. It has a clearer identity than previous generations, and the number of different models has been cut down so as not to overwhelm buyers. It helps that the top-of-the-line Range Rover has moved up in terms of luxury, and its price has gone up with it. It can now compete with cars like the Bentley Bentayga.
This makes the Sport more than just a “Range Rover-lite.” It is now a very capable luxury SUV that has a lot of good features at a price that is more reasonable. In fact, we hope that Land Rover combines more of its models for India to cut down on the huge amount of overlap. Stay tuned for our review to find out if this third-generation model lives up to the “Sport” part of its name.
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