Range Rover Sport (2024) Review

It is rare, in this day and age, to consider describing a new car as a “good value for money” if it costs north of R2.5 million. However, the Range Rover Sport is no ordinary luxury SUV. It’s truly special. We review the Range Rover Sport D350 Autobiography.

We like: Sumptuous comfort, balance of performance and efficiency, refinement

We don’t like: A few trim pieces lack tactile quality

FAST FACTS

Model: Range Rover Sport D350 Autobiography
Price: R2 520 300 (June 2024, before options)
Engine: 3.0-litre inline-6-cylinder turbodiesel
Power/Torque: 258 kW/700 Nm
0-100 kph: 5.9 sec (claimed)
Energy consumption: 7.4 L/100 km (claimed)
Boot size: 647–1 491 litres

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Where does the Range Rover Sport fit in?

Range Rover Sport D350 Autobiography – front three-quarter view — *The Range Rover Sport’s smooth sheet metal aids aerodynamic efficiency… and contributes to a distinctive look.*

Now in its 3rd iteration, the Range Rover Sport has become one of the most successful products in the JLR portfolio. Even though it’s pricier than similarly-sized (and -powerful) offerings from German brands, customers the world over believe the model offers something a little extra to justify its premium pricing.

The subject of this Range Rover Sport review is the D350 Autobiography, powered by the marque’s refined Ingenium 3.0-litre inline-6-cylinder turbodiesel engine. In Autobiography trim, it offers flagship luxury and, for some buyers, it may very well be all the Range Rover they’ll ever need. Priced at around R2.5 million before options, however, can it truly justify its premium over its capable German rivals?

Compare the specifications of the Range Rover Sport D350 Autobiography with those of the Mercedes-Benz GLE 450d AMG Line and Maserati Levante GT

How the Range Rover Sport fares in terms of…

The D350 Autobiography test unit was specified with handsome, arch-filling 23-inch gloss black alloys.

Design and Features

Range Rover’s contemporary (2024) design language is characterised by smooth sheet-metal surfaces devoid of unnecessary “frills”. Even the door handles retract into the doors when not needed, resulting in a polished overall look. Our test unit’s appearance was further enhanced by a striking Sunrise Copper paint finish that brilliantly accentuated the taut surfaces. It is, however, a pricey option at over R154k!

Range Rover Sport D350 Autobiography – rear three-quarter view — *The Black Exterior Pack makes the Range Rover Sport appear more menacing and emphasises the “floating-roof look”.*

Although the Range Rover Sport follows the design template of other JLR products very closely and is, therefore, instantly recognisable as a Range Rover, it still has more than enough presence to turn heads.

The 23-inch gloss black wheels (a R10 860 option), wide track and several blacked-out elements (part of the Black Exterior Pack, which costs a further R29 100) endowed “our” (oh, we wish!) Range Rover Sport D350 Autobiography test unit with a menacing appearance that most onlookers seemed to love.

Range Rover Sport D350 Autobiography – cabin — *The tasteful contrasting colour scheme of the D350 Autobiography is complemented by splendid finishes*

Hop up and into the Range Rover Sport and you’re presented with a cabin that will leave you in no doubt that you’re seated in a rather special space that’s smartly finished and trimmed in a lovely mix of colours and materials. Our test unit featured “Light Cloud” white leather and trim, combined with Ebony finishes.

Black suede featured on the pillars and roof, while the doors were lined with attractive grey cloth. The only minor criticism is that some trim pieces, such as the “stone-textured” door inlays, felt a bit “fake”.

Range Rover Sport D350 Autobiography – driver's door console — *Kudos for the creative combination of electric seat adjustment and memory buttons, but the back panel looks a bit faux.*

The JLR team deserves to be commended for how it has created a luxurious interior that embraces classical elements, but at the same time, includes all the modern features and tech you may want.

The digital instrument cluster boasts crisp graphics and can be set to display a traditional analogue set-up or show details such as a digital speed readout, flanked by media, navigation- or off-road info.

Range Rover Sport D350 Autobiography – digital instrument cluster — *The digital instrument panel is highly customisable; we favoured this simple segmented configuration.*

The large centre infotainment screen (powered by JLR’s latest Pivi Pro software) is also highly impressive (if not class-leading). Again, the displays are beautifully crisp and the system is quite intuitive to operate.

Some members of our test team lamented the absence of physical buttons for often-used features (such as ventilation controls), but at least there are digital shortcut keys that remain prominent on the screen.

Range Rover Sport D350 Autobiography – infotainment touchscreen — *The interface of the JLR’s Pivi Pro infotainment system looks crisp, operates slickly and is intuitive to use.*

In the best Range Rover tradition, you sit fairly high in the Range Rover Sport, but the raised transmission tunnel does make the model’s front-seat positions feel slightly “sportier” than in the full-fat Range Rover.

Visibility out of the vehicle is great and also beneficial for off-roading – a talent that Range Rover emphasises is still very much present in this model.

Range Rover Sport D350 Autobiography – front seats — *The Range Rover Sport’s shapely front seats are superbly comfortable and feel sportier than expected.*

The rear occupant space (including legroom) is comparable to what is on offer from the likes of the BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz GLE. The seats themselves are also superbly comfortable, making longer trips a pleasure for those who are ensconced in the rear.

Range Rover Sport D350 Autobiography – rear bench — *The Range Rover Sport offers sufficient rear occupant space. Note the rear climate-control console.*

And, on the subject of long-distance family trips, the claimed load-bay capacity is a generous 647 litres, but utility space (with the seats folded down) can’t quite match what is offered by the X5 and GLE. Still, for such an opulent vehicle, the Range Rover Sport cabin offers excellent general usability and flexibility.

Range Rover Sport D350 Autobiography – load bay — *Although the Range Rover Sport lags behind its rivals in terms of utility space, it has a suitably large load bay.*

As expected, the Range Rover Sport is lavishly equipped with features, but there are some very desirable options too. The test unit featured a Meridian Signature Sound system (priced at R63 500), for example.

A Meridian 3D Surround System, by contrast, is standard fitment, along with 4-zone climate control, surround-view camera system, wireless device charging, rear door sunblinds and much, much more.

Range Rover Sport D350 Autobiography – surround camera view — *The 360-degree camera system proves its worth whether you’re parking – or tackling tricky off-road terrain.*

Performance and Efficiency

Turbodiesel-powered derivatives are disappearing from the new-vehicle market, but they remain a force in the large-SUV segment and with good reason… The Range Rover Sport D350 Autobiography‘s powerplant certainly served as an impactful reminder of just how convincing this type of engine can be.

Range Rover Sport D350 Autobiography – instrumentation dials — *The D350 Autobiography offers plenty of performance, allied with a more than acceptable level of fuel efficiency.*

The D350 Autobiography’s 3.0-litre inline-6 (and mild-hybrid) turbodiesel produces 258 kW and 700 Nm of torque – in truth, those are not class-leading peak outputs, but they proved conducive to impressive performance nonetheless. Range Rover claims a 0-100 kph of 5.8 sec for this derivative and we virtually matched that time when we tested the test unit (5.84 sec). Suffice it to say, it is no slouch.

More importantly, the Range Rover Sport delivers its performance with admirable refinement, which also embellishes its general driving experience. Most of the time, the engine is virtually inaudible, and the 8-speed auto transmission shifts between cogs quickly and smoothly. Combined with low NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) and a supple ride quality, the D350 Autobiography is very relaxing to pilot.

*You can actuate manual gear shifts with the steering-wheel-mounted paddles… not that you’re likely to do that often.*

Drive with efficiency in mind (indeed, the Range Rover Sport’s suite of drive modes includes an ECO setting) and you might even get close to achieving the claimed average fuel consumption figure of 7.4 L/100 km. In reality, however, a figure of around 8.2 L/100 km is more realistic – and still excellent.

Of course, with all that torque at its disposal, the D350 Autobiography should prove a great vehicle for towing trailers – it does boast a 3.5-tonne (braked) towing capacity and Trailer Stability Assist system.

Range Rover Sport D350 Autobiography – steering wheel — *It’s a credit to JLR’s electronic stability- and chassis systems that the Range Rover feels so wieldy, considering its size.*

Our test unit featured the Advanced Tow Assist feature, which allows you to reverse a trailer while the Range Rover takes care of the steering – a very useful extra for a not-unreasonable price of R7 700.

Ride and Handling

At the core of the new Range Rover Sport is the brand’s so-called MLA-Flex mixed-metal architecture. This platform is 35% stiffer than the one that underpins the previous-gen Range Rover Sport model, and on top of this reassuringly solid base, Range Rover has added a host of advanced chassis systems to improve on-road comfort, dynamism and off-road performance.

*The Range Rover’s sophisticated air suspension more than makes up for the fitment of low-profile tyres.*

One of those systems is called New Dynamic Response Pro – it is largely in charge of body control and works in conjunction with switchable-volume air springs (an innovation) to minimise roll in the corners.

Then there is Dynamic Air Suspension, which varies the pressure within the chambers to provide a mix of Range Rover-befitting comfort and the dynamism we’ve come to expect from a Range Rover Sport. Also, Adaptive Dynamics 2 continuously monitors external factors to further fine-tune ride comfort.

Range Rover Sport D350 Autobiography – Terrain Response menu — *Terrain Response continues to make off-roading easy for 4x4ing novices – choose a mode, or simply leave it in Auto.*

You don’t have to drive very far in the Range Rover Sport to fall in love with the way it rides; it’s supple in a way that no car fitted with such large wheels should be, and yet it is not clumsy in the corners either.

The clever tech does its job quietly in the background, but whether you’re aware of it or not, you will be left in awe of this rather hefty SUV’s ability to transform from a luxurious, softly-sprung, quiet cruiser, to a rapid cross-country blaster and, of course, serious off-road machine.

Undoubtedly playing roles in the Range Rover Sport’s ability to deliver a level of dynamism that belies its high centre of gravity are all-wheel steering, torque vectoring and an electronic active differential.

Range Rover Sport D350 Autobiography – multifunction steering wheel — *The Range Rover Sport allows you to use adaptive cruise control when cruising on the road – or off it.*

If you plan to exploit the SUV’s off-road talents more often than most Range Rover Sport buyers will (which isn’t a helluva lot), you may want to choose more suitable rubber. Our car’s tyre spec made us hesitant to venture too far into the rough, but the numbers and the tech paint a promising picture…

Terrain Response is a proven quantity, but the Sport adds adaptive off-road cruise control to make it even easier to navigate tricky surface conditions. As standard, you get a single-speed (high-range only) transfer box, but our test unit featured an optional 2-speed (high/low range) ‘box priced at R8 800.

*The ability to adjust the ride height is handy whether you’re off-roading with, or getting into, the vehicle.*

The Range Rover Sport’s adjustable air suspension setup allows you to raise the vehicle from its default ground clearance (216 mm) to 280 mm to improve the approach, departure and breakover angles.

Range Rover Sport price and After-sales support

The Range Rover Sport D350 Autobiography featured in this review sells for R2 520 300 (June 2024) before options. The price includes a 5-year/100 000 km warranty and a 5-year/100 000 km maintenance plan. Equipped with all its described optional extras, the price of our test unit came to R2 821 945.

*Such is the heightened appeal of the Range Rover Sport, that comparisons with a BMW or ‘Benz feel inappropriate.*

Verdict

If you’re looking for a premium SUV that is also a status symbol with genuine off-road capability, then it will be difficult to beat the breadth of ability and appeal offered by the Range Rover Sport, particularly in D350 Autobiography guise. It is by no means cheap, but all members of our test team reported the same thing – the Range Rover delivers a driving experience that is simply beyond the capabilities of its rivals.

In some ways, comparing it with the likes of the BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz GLE, or even the Maserati Levante, appears to be misguided, because the Range Rover Sport feels more like a suitable alternative to the exotic Bentley Bentayga, to name but one example. If you consider that pricing for the Bentaya begins at above R5 million and even a well-optioned D350 Autobiography (as featured in this review) costs less than R3 million (June 2024), the Range Rover Sport almost seems like a bargain, doesn’t it?

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