2016 Land Rover Range Rover Sport

The 2016 Land Rover Range Rover Sport is available in three main trim levels which are the base SE, HSE, and the Supercharged. Right from the base SE trim, the SUV comes in quite a well-equipped state with some brilliant features like ambient interior lighting, auto-leveling air suspension, hands-free power-operated liftgate, dual-zone automatic climate control, and auto-dimming IRVM. The HSE further adds bigger 20-inch wheels, upgraded interior trim with perforated leather upholstery, and heated front seats. The top-end Supercharged gets a more powerful supercharged V8 along with an enhanced 4WD layout, bigger 21-inch alloy wheels, and virtual instrument cluster with flat-screen display, and unique interior trims.

Which trim should you buy?

Considering the number of features and equipment you get as standard on the base SE, we would recommend going for it. However, the features of the HSE can be added as optional extras as well if you don’t like the bigger 20-inch wheels.

As standard, the 2016 Range Rover Sport is powered by a compact, 3.0-liter supercharged V6 motor that pushes out a maximum of 340 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque. The motor offers excellent refinement levels along with adequate power for the effortless city and highway drives. Even under a full load, the performance hardly drops. The 0-60mph sprint takes a fairly quick 6.9 seconds, while the quarter-mile comes up under 13.2 seconds. The SUV gets a standard 8-speed automatic transmission along with a full-time 4WD system. Combined with the brilliant terrain response system, a signature tech of Land Rover, the off-roading prowess of the SUV achieved all the bragging rights, while the vehicle remained as stable as a luxury sedan at straight-line sprints as well.

The Porsche Cayenne gets a naturally aspirated 3.6-liter V6 motor that is good for 300 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. Among the rivals here, it takes the longest to complete the 0-60mph sprint at 7.3 seconds. On the handling aspect, it outshines almost every other vehicle on sale in the segment, but the Range Rover remains the leader in terms of the off-roading aspect here. The BMW X6 has a turbocharged 3.0-liter I-6 mill that pushes out 300 horsepower and 300 lb-ft of torque. Handling-wise it comes closer to the Cayenne than any other options here. The Audi Q7 is the least powerful option here with a 2.0-liter turbocharged I-4 motor and a modest 252 horsepower. Yet, it is the quickest one here to hit both 0-60mph and the standing quarter-mile.

Fuel economy is the biggest drawback with any luxury vehicle, especially SUVs. The supercharged V6 of the 2016 Range Rover Sport might be quite glorious out on the roads but manages to return a mere 17 mpg of city mileage and 23 mpg of highway mileage. The combined mpg figure stands at 19 mpg. However, the SUV gets a huge 27-gallon gasoline tank that allows it to return some exceptionally high driving range figures.

The Porsche Cayenne is marginally better than the Range Rover Sport in terms of fuel efficiency with 18mpg of city and 24mpg of highway mileage. It also benefits from a sizable 23.7-gallon gas tank to offer excellent driving range numbers as well. The BMW X6 and the Audi Q7 have similar city and highway mileage numbers, while the latter is the leader here in terms of combined mpg output, averaging 22 MPG.

The 2016 Land Rover Range Rover Sport interior exudes British elegance and the brand did spice up the cabin with the current generation of the SUV. The quality of materials is among the best and you’d find plenty of premium wood and metallic inlays, making it one of the best interiors among the rivals. The dashboard design along with the lower seating height will give a more car-like feel to the driver yet the all-around visibility is well-preserved courtesy of the big windows. The front seats get full electronic adjustments as standard, while the driver’s seat gets 14-way adjustability along with memory settings as standard. 

The Porsche Cayenne has a plush cabin but the design is sportier than what you’ll find inside the Range Rover Sport. The cabin gets a plethora of customization options and there is no dearth of headroom and legroom at both the front and rear row seats. The cargo capacity of the Cayenne is decent at the most. The BMW X6 is the real disappointment here with its cramped rear seats and impractical cargo capacity. However, it boasts a premium cabin with a handsome amount of standard features on offer. The Audi Q7 has a busy dashboard layout, giving it a cockpit-like appeal, while the quality of the materials used is top-notch. In terms of space too, the Q7 impresses us, but its third-row seats are best suited for small kids and luggage storage.

Some standout interior features are:

• Ambient interior lighting
• 14-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with driver memory function
• Keyless ignition and entry
• Rear privacy glass 
• Auto-dimming IRVM

What’s there to keep you entertained?

The infotainment system of the 2016 Range Rover Sport is the biggest flaw of the vehicle. It comes standard with an 8-inch touchscreen display that has a laggy interface. In terms of features, the system offers voice command, Bluetooth, satellite radio, and the InControl App suite. A 23-speaker Meridian audio system and a rear-seat entertainment package are offered as optional extras.

Some infotainment features are:

• 8-inch touchscreen display
• inControl Apps suite
• Bluetooth 
• USB input
• HD Radio
• Satellite radio
• Navigation

The 2016 Range Rover Sport exterior is more streamlined than the previous generation vehicle while it still has that commanding street presence. At the font, the xenon headlamps along with the LED running lights gel in perfectly with the sleek front grille, while the front bumper gets a blacked-out design at the middle and houses the fog lamps. From the sides, the curvy wheel arches have just adequate space for wheel travel during off-roading and the gradually sloping rear roofline justifies the Sport part of the SUV’s name. 

The Porsche Cayenne is the least sporty-looking SUV here but its elegance is undeniably cool. It has the smallest exterior dimensions among the rivals here along with the shortest wheelbase too. The BMW X6 looks like it had its rear roofline chopped off owing to the steep and rakish angle. While at the front, the X6 looks quite aggressive. The Audi Q7 has one of the best designs here and its huge and aggressive front grille truly stands out as well. It is the biggest one here and it is quite evident from its exterior dimensions as well, making it less off-road friendly.

Some standout exterior features are:

• A streamlined design
• 19-inch alloy wheels
• Signature LED DRL lamps with xenon headlamps
• LED Tail Lights
• Power-folding and heated ORVMs
• Power-operated hands-free tailgate

The 2016 Range Rover Sport has not been crash-tested by both the IIHS and the NHTSA. However, its impeccable build and all the basic safety features as standard make for a safe experience. Moreover, the vehicle comes with a handsome list of optional safety techs such as adaptive cruise control with automatic emergency braking, a 360-degree camera system, a self-parking system, and an automatic space exit feature.

Some important safety features are:

• Anti-lock braking system(ABS)
• Emergency brake assist
• Tire Pressure Monitoring
• Traction Control
• Pre-Collision Safety System
• Blind-Spot Monitoring

The 2016 Land Rover Range Rover Sport makes for a brilliant option if you are reluctant to compromise off-roading for comfort. Apart from that, the vehicle offers well-mannered on-road driving dynamics, a plush cabin with a plethora of standard techs, and strong performance. However, the questionable reliability of Land Rover remains a major concern nonetheless.