Design
Land Rover is eager to point out how much weight has been shed compared to the Sport’s predecessor, its aluminium monocoque platform a claimed 39 per cent lighter than the previous car’s less sophisticated steel setup. Popping the car on the scales reveals the news to be less exciting, though; at 2469kg as tested, this is still a bulky car.
Taking many of its design cues – and its overall silhouette – from the hugely successful Range Rover Evoque, the second-generation Sport looks rather more athletic that its predecessor. Its styling belies its mammoth size, though, and at 4850mm long and 2073mm wide, multi-story car parks and tightly packed streets could serve up more than a little stress. Numerous cameras and sensors are an artificial way of easing the pain.
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There’s no escaping this car’s bulk, and it feels predictably over the top in the urban environment which a lot of its buyers will restrain it to. For some, its sheer audacity in its surroundings is the very basis of its opulence; for others, it will be a real turn off. You likely already know which camp you fall into.
Entry-level Range Rover Sport HSEs ride on 20in alloy wheels as standard, while the Autobiography Dynamic trim lavished upon larger-engined variants comes with 21in rims, though 22in wheels are an option across the range. Starting at £3120, they’re the only way to access the full 155mph top speed of the supercharged petrol model.
