2025 Range Rover Sport Review
2025 Range Rover Sport P460e
Price: Starting around $95,100
Engine Specs: 3.0L Ingenium Turbo Straight-Six Plug-in Hybrid
Battery Specs: 31.8 kWh usable capacity
Total System Power: 454 hp, 487 lb-ft torque
Efficiency (PHEV): Up to 55 miles all-electric range; 29 MPG highway (with charge), 25 MPG highway (minimal charge)
The Range Rover is, without a doubt, the genesis of modern luxury crossovers/SUVs. All the way back in 1970, a vehicle designed by Charles Spencer King launched, and little did he know, he did not just create a new SUV; he created an entire segment of vehicle! Before the Range Rover, SUVs were strictly utilitarian modes of transportation. What does utilitarian mean? Well, go for a quick run outside barefoot and tell me how that feels. If you come back with the words: jarring and painful, then you pretty much summed up every SUV pre-Range Rover. What the Range Rover did was take civility and ingeniously incorporate it in such a way that the off-road prowess the SUV is known for was not compromised. So you had a vehicle you could forge through literal rivers and jungles but also a vehicle that could deliver a ride that could eat up a cross-continent drive in an instant. That's what Range Rover gave the world.
So what does the 2025 Range Rover Sport give to the world? Pretty much the exact same thing. The 2025 Range Rover Sport PHEV is decadent in the most unassuming British way possible. It's an elegance that soaks in, unlike most other luxury vehicles which bludgeon you with a velvet hammer instead. It's a 'sleeper' in every sense of the word, from outside to in. And on the inside, the unassuming but clearly evident luxuriousness doesn't stop. From the door pulls to the knee padding on the transmission tunnel, every square millimeter is lined with rich materials. The seats are covered in a leather that actually lets you sink in rather than sitting on. You sit in the Range Rover Sport. It fits around you like a bespoke glove. Around you is acoustic-lined glass from the windshield on back. So it's not just quiet; it's like rolling around in cathedral levels of quiet.
What aids in the deafening silence is the powertrain. The Plug-in Hybrid unit in our Range Rover Sport, yielding a 31.8 kWh usable battery, doesn't just give you a mere blip of range; it's fully usable in everyday driving. This advanced drivetrain seamlessly integrates a powerful electric motor with the aurally luscious 3.0-liter Ingenium turbo straight 6. The electric motor provides instant torque off the line, allowing for silent, emissions-free travel for up to 55 miles on a single charge, and at speeds up to 75 mph. This means you could genuinely go an entire week without touching a single drop of gasoline for most daily commutes! It's brilliant. When the electric power is combined with the 'gasser' component, the total system output is a formidable 454 horsepower and 487 lb-ft of torque. It's also quick. Very quick. Even clocking in at 5,090 lbs, the PHEV Range Rover Sport can scoot to 60 mph in a swift 5.3 seconds, accompanied by a snarly induction noise from that fantastic straight-six. Obviously, since it's a PHEV, it's not all about raw performance; it's obviously efficient. With a sufficient charge of the battery, we netted 29 MPG on the highway on a trip down to Florida. This is with a family of four and the cargo area jammed full, with the adaptive cruise set at 83 mph! Now, if you happen to run out of juice, the efficiency tends to drop rather drastically. On our way back home, on minimal battery, we only netted about 25 MPG on the highway. But for everyday driving situations, where you can park it back at home to charge back up, the PHEV Range Rover Sport is one compellingly efficient beast!
Beyond the numbers and the opulent cabin, the ride quality of the 2025 Range Rover Sport is truly superb. Having reviewed over 200 cars in my career, this vehicle possesses a ride that is so refined and so composed that it stands as one of the top four best-riding vehicles I have ever driven. This exceptional comfort is largely due to Range Rover's sophisticated air suspension system, which constantly monitors road conditions and adjusts damping in real-time. What's truly remarkable is how you completely forget this unit is riding on 23-inch wheels. Normally, wheels of that size would absolutely ruin any vehicle's ride, yet somehow, Range Rover's alchemic suspension knowledge has made it ride like it's on 18-inch wheels with tires made out of Temperpedic foam. This system effectively isolates you from the harsh realities of the road, allowing the vehicle to glide over imperfections with an uncanny ability. Crucially, this civility doesn't take away from its legendary off-road prowess. The Range Rover Sport maintains its formidable capability thanks to features like its advanced Terrain Response 2 system, which automatically adapts the vehicle's settings—including engine, transmission, differentials, and suspension—to various surfaces such as grass, gravel, snow, mud, ruts, and sand. Furthermore, it boasts impressive ground clearance, along with excellent approach, breakover, and departure angles, enabling it to confidently forge through literal rivers and jungles. Options like the configurable programs and the available twin-speed transfer box further enhance its ability to tackle challenging terrains, ensuring that whether you're traversing a rocky trail or cruising down the interstate, the Range Rover Sport delivers an uncompromising experience. It effortlessly blends its rugged heritage with modern luxury, proving that the spirit of the original Range Rover lives on, delivering both unparalleled comfort and formidable capability.
In summary, the 2025 Range Rover Sport P460e stands as a testament to Range Rover's enduring legacy of combining unparalleled luxury with genuine capability. Its plug-in hybrid powertrain offers impressive efficiency and swift performance, while the meticulously crafted interior provides a sanctuary of quiet comfort. Most notably, its sublime ride quality, defying the large 23-inch wheels, solidifies its position as one of the finest vehicles on the road, perfectly balancing decadent refinement with the rugged off-road prowess that defines the brand.
Yousef Alvi
