Range Rover Sport P550e 2024 Review | Goodwood Test

It’s rare these days to have your mind genuinely blown by a car. We’re thinking the Alpine A110 with its biblical handling, or perhaps the Audi RS e-tron GT with its mind-bending acceleration, there aren’t many cars that have that life-changing effect on you. We’re going to add the Range Rover to that list, especially after we had the chance to put the Range Rover Sport through its paces both on the road and off it.

The third generation of the Range Rover Sport has been on the market since 2022, and the breadth of choice when it comes to engine and specification is huge. Petrol and diesel engines have been supplemented by a new 3.0-litre turbocharged plug-in hybrid inline-six with a range of power outputs that peaks at 550PS (405kW), the second most powerful option behind the flagship SV with its 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8.

In Autobiography trim the price is substantial, but there are several facets to the Range Rover Sport that go an awful long way to justifying the expense, especially if you’re planning to venture off road.

In our eyes this version of the Range Rover Sport has a great look. It’s well-proportioned with mature simplicity to its styling that makes a mockery of many current SUVs tarnished with a litany of complex lines and polygons.

The sleek shape hides the size of the Sport well, and it’s only when you stand next to it, or try to climb up into it, that you realise that even this more compact version of the full-size Range Rover is still absolutely enormous.

The Firenze Red colour our test model came in is particularly attractive, and reasonably affordable at £895, while the black contrast roof comes as standard in Autobiography trim and pops nicely with a set of 23-inch alloys optional at £1,100.

The 2022 Range Rover Sport was introduced with a new 3.0-litre inline-six plug-in hybrid powertrain, it’s available with 460PS (338kW), and range topping 550PS (405kW) power outputs and our time with the most powerful P550e was eye-opening indeed.

We’ll start with the powertrain, which is a turbocharged petrol engine combined with a 160kW electric motor. It’s smooth and refined, and with 800Nm (590lb ft) of torque from just 2,000rpm it’s well rounded, too with power on demand at any speed. In acceleration terms, 0-62mph takes 4.9 seconds and it tops out at 150mph.

That said, the plug-in hybrid system is a little slow to react if you really put your foot down. It’s comparable to turbo lag in that sense, you’re made to wait for the engine to start pulling as the computers sort themselves out, which can make trying to navigate stressful town traffic a little frustrating.

Cruising in the Range Rover Sport is an absolute joy, though, and that really is where the powertrain works at its best. When you’re up to speed and eating up the miles, there’s nothing at all to dislike about the way it drives. It’s quiet, it’s comfortable and it’s compliant, the air suspension irons out any and all imperfections on the surface without making the ride feel too cloud like. On the road at least, this car is at its happiest when it's at 70mph on the motorway, which reflected our own mood as we sat back and enjoyed the ride.

But what of the ‘Sport’? Well, there is dynamic air suspension that will read the road ahead and respond to keep the car feeling settled through corners and undulations, there is a noticeable reduction of body movement and the car does feel pretty well planted, although at 2,735kg it’s hardly spritely. Cornering is consistent and the steering does feel well weighted when set to dynamic, and you can customise your throttle response and suspension settings to your liking via the infotainment.

But it’s when you head off-road that the real impressive stuff happens. Much like heading off down a winding country lane activates the enjoyment in an Alpine A110 or a Caterham Seven, turning off onto a green lane or gravel track turns the Range Rover experience up to 11. We spent a good deal of time testing out everything the Sport had up its sleeve for tackling harsher terrain, and the results were nothing short of spectacular.

The list of off-roading tech has grown steadily since the Range Rover Sport first appeared in 2005, and of the newest additions it’s the Adaptive Off-Road Cruise Control, an evolution of the old All-Terrain Progress Control, that got us the most excited. It’s able to take over control of all the terrain settings available to you and, by scanning the land ahead, set the car up to tackle whatever lies ahead at a speed and comfort level set by you in the driver’s seat. All you have to do is turn the steering wheel and the car will quite literally do the rest.

Then there’s things like Low Traction Launch which will moderate the throttle for you in low grip areas to help you pull away if you’re on a slippery surface or a particularly tricky incline. You can also raise the ride height by up to 65mm in Off-Road mode, which opens up some spectacular gaps between the tyres and the wheel arch, and also gives the car a massive 273mm ground clearance and 90mm wading depth.

Sure, the full fat Range Rover and Defender are even more capable when it comes to off-roading prowess, but there isn’t much in it, and the Range Rover Sport is arguably a better car for driving on road.

It almost feels like we’ve got too used to the Range Rover’s ultimate package approach. It can perform wonders in the worst kinds of terrain, and yet the thought of getting mud on the pristine leather upholstery hardly bears thinking about. The luxury off-roader amalgamation is nonsensical, and yet it works to deliver a car that remains unbeatable on the current market.

The Range Rover Sport’s interior is sublime, there really is no other word for it. Leather runs around the door trims, the dashboard and the heated, ventilated, 22-way electrically adjustable massaging front seats. The two rear seats are also heated and ventilated and electrically adjustable.

Every element feels well finished and well put together. There are no rattles, no dodgy fixings, no loose connections, there’s nothing to pick at even under intense scrutiny. The panoramic sunroof is standard in Autobiography trim and opens up the front and rear seats to a touch of sunlight.

We’ll kick off with the infotainment. It’s a 13.1-inch touchscreen running JLR’s Pivi Pro software, and it’s a very well-presented bit of kit. It’s the sole form of control nigh on absolutely everything in the car though, and that means navigating far more menus and screens than is truly tolerable. All of the off-road systems, the climate control, seat controls, nav, driver assistance are all tucked away very neatly in a virtual space, but there are very few things that are a single touch away. The screen is also large enough that reaching to the far side of the display will require you to lean out of your seat.

It does have wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay so all of your media needs are met, and the screen itself is very responsive and accurate, so you won’t be stabbing around wildly hitting the wrong button too often.

The 29-speaker Meridian 3D surround sound system is quite something. A standard fixture on Autobiography models, it fills the cabin with wonderfully rich and well-balanced sound. It’s the kind of system that will sway you to a purchase if music quality is something you care about, there are few better on the current market.

Rear passengers are well catered for, too, thanks to a pair of screens set into the rear of the front seats. They feature HDMI connectivity so you can connect devices to watch films or even play games if you fancy it.

Of the more standard driver assistance and safety tech, there’s nothing missing from the list. Adaptive cruise, park assist, 3D cameras and adaptive dynamics are just the tip of the iceberg. With all-wheel steering the Range Rover Sport can also manage a 10.95-metre turning circle.

Let’s very quickly mention the Range Rover Sport’s price, which for the model we tested was £127,815, because it is substantial and worthy of your attention. Autobiography spec starts from £113,995, so you can cut down on excess if you’re so inclined, but it’s still a hefty wedge. So, is it worth it?

Well, that depends on what you plan to do with it, because unless you’re intending to take it off road and utilise all of the incredible technology that makes up a substantial chunk of that price tag, you really do have to consider whether this is a car you need. For driving on the road, you could have an awful lot more fun in something like a Porsche Cayenne or Alfa Romeo Stelvio, which even in Quadrifoglio form costs substantially less. You would be sacrificing a good deal of luxury, though, and your passengers may bemoan the lack of screens.

If you are intending to make the most of the Range Rover Sport’s substantial capabilities then there really is nothing better. The mix of off-road potential and copious luxury is still unbeatable.