New Range Rover Sport 2023, what we like what we don't | pros and cons

New Range Rover Sport 2023

When you read the words Range Rover, the connection with comfort and luxury is immediate; the Jaguar Land Rover brand knows this well and in recent years has invested to further improve an extremely successful and increasingly popular product that has become the reference SUV. Those who have always built cars capable of going on any type of terrain have continued to explore this segment, reaching - in an increasingly evident way - a clientele that does not have as its first focus going to remote places but who instead want a car of important, comfortable and extremely luxurious size capable of going anywhere IF needed. The dimensions are increasingly similar to those of the classic Range Rover with 4950mm in length, 2050mm in width and 1820mm in height.

Nothing can prepare you for the majesty and comfort you feel when embarking on a journey with this genre of the car and having had the chance to preview the brand new Range Rover Sport 2023 we decided to immediately put it to do what it does best; grind kilometers in total comfort.

Our test took place on about 700 km, mainly motorway and suburban but with also 20% of city use and, as far as we are concerned, the review could be concluded here with one word: incredible. During our many tests we had the pleasure of trying several cars that we considered comfortable and well finished but the level of attention to detail we found in this Autobiography set-up is definitely a novelty.

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What convinces us?

The attention to detail of this car has amazed us, everything is in its place and everything integrates perfectly without ever giving us the chance to think that something is being done on a budget.

From the first moment you sit inside the car you are catapulted into a dimension of comfort and elegance never experienced before thanks to a seat - better to define it as an armchair - extremely comfortable that can be adjusted to the millimeter through infotainment to satisfy even the most demanding of customers.

The central screen of the PIVI PRO infotainment system is snappy and intuitive, the screen frames are re idle and its position in the passenger compartment makes it extremely comfortable to operate for both front occupants. The perception of space is something you have to get used to even if the presence of multiple cameras helps in an important way in parking operations; making these low-speed maneuvers much easier are the four-wheel steering that makes this SUV turn in a space comparable to that of a much smaller car, a godsend in city environments or in underground garages.


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Federicovecchio.com We must not forget, however, that this car is a true off-road vehicle; thanks to the adjustable suspension, you can have a ground clearance of 280 mm, this allows this car to have a 33 degree angle of attack, 27 degrees off the ground and a 30 degree exit angle. The possibility of wading up to 90cm of water, then, makes it truly invincible and combined with the Terrain Response 2 it is able to move easily on any surface.

What doesn't convince us?

The things we didn't like about this Range Rover Sport are very few but to name one we can talk about the controls on the steering wheel that could transmit more incisive feedback when prompted, moreover the navigation of the menus for the driver itself is a bit confusing. Furthermore, the external design of the rear is initially heavy compared to the sleek and elegant lines of the older brother and may not please everyone.



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How do you drive?

The driving experience of a Range Rover is unique, although the rough road is not perceived by the driver or by the occupants. The version we tested was equipped with monstrous 23 "rims and even so the car seems to fly over the road in a quiet silence - thanks also to the double glazing - exemplary.

The engine of our test is the second most powerful offered by the English brand, we are in fact talking about the 3.0 V6 Plug-in Hybrid from 510 hp capable of 111 declared km of autonomy in full electric which become 80 in real daily use. The electrical part is a fundamental component of this engine, which boasts a 38.2 kWh battery - of which 31.8 kWh can be used - and which, thanks to the CCS2 socket, allows it to be recharged from 0-80% in less than an hour. . The performance deriving from the combination of the thermal engine and the battery is excellent, with a burning acceleration from 0-100 km / h for a car weighing 2810 kg empty - well over 3000 kg in running order - of only 5.4 s.



Federicovecchio.com In city or suburban travel, the use of the electric part is always preferred by the car automatically in Hybrid mode but as soon as the pedal is depressed. gas or speed becomes sustained, the hybrid system wisely supports the petrol engine to drastically reduce consumption. Suffice it to say that the same motorway section traveled by us in SAVE mode - that is the one that deactivates the electrical part to preserve its charge - at 130 km / h of adaptive cruise control guaranteed consumption of about 11.3 l / 100 km or 8.8 km. / l while in Hybrid mode the latter become 7.4 l / 100 km or 13.5 km / l. As far as active safety is concerned, we find automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control.

Is it worth it?

Those who buy this kind of car don't look at convenience. yet it must be said that the prices have risen compared to the previous version. The price list starts at € 95,300 for the 250 hp diesel version and reaches € 142,000 for the sample of our test without options. The Autobiography set-up of our P510e represents the highest level set-up available for this car which includes an infinite list of standard equipment.

The options present in the car under test are varied including the interior in Ultrafabrics Blue and black with 22 electronic adjustments, heated and ventilated 23 "wheels (€ 1,333), the Cold Climate Pack which includes the heated windscreen, the heated steering wheel and the heated washer jets (€ 574) and the Hot Climate Pack including the cooler in the center console, tinted windows and anti-UV windshield (€ 1,798).

In conclusion, the brand new Range Rover Sport is able to satisfy the needs of even the most difficult customers and we are sure that, as it was with the previous model, we will see several circulating for our country.