2018 Land Rover Range Rover Sport

The 2018 Land Rover Range Rover Sport is offered in 6 trim levels SE, HSE, HSE Dynamic, Supercharged, Autobiography, and SVR. There are various powertrain options available depending on the trim level you buy, starting from a standard V6 to mighty V8 engine options on the higher trims. The standard features with the 2018 Land Rover Range Rover Sport include 19-inch wheels, LED headlights, power-folding heated mirror, keyless entry and ignition, hands-free tailgate, front and rear parking sensors, dual-zone automatic climate control, 10.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and an 8-speaker sound system.`The list of standard features keeps adding as you climb up the trim levels. 

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The Land Rover Range Rover Sport comes with a pretty impressive list of standard features. We recommend going for the HSE Dynamic trim level as it offers the best value for your money. It gets the highest power output from the V6 engine. If you want the V8 engine, you can consider upgrading to the Supercharged trim level. The standard features with these trims also justify the price point. There are multiple optional packages available to customize your Range Rover Sport as per your preferences. 

The 2018 Land Rover Range Rover Sport comes standard with a supercharged 3.0-liter V6 engine. The motor produces 340 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque. The engine comes mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission which sends power to all four wheels. You can also get an optional 3-liter turbocharged diesel engine that produces 254 horsepower and 443 lb-ft of torque. The same engine produces 380 horsepower in the HSE Dynamic trim. The Supercharged trim gets a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 engine that produces 518 horsepower and 461 lb-ft of torque. The same V8 engine produces 575 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque in the SVR trim.

No matter which engine option you choose, the Range Rover Land Rover Sport never struggles for power. Even the base engine is powerful enough to pull the SUV without any power lag. However, the reason for upgrading to the more powerful V8 engines is to improve the performance and acceleration figures for sure. The Range Rover Sport with its base engine takes only 7.1 seconds to reach from 0 to 60 mph, which is quite impressive for an SUV of this size. The acceleration timings get better as you get the more potent V8 engine. 

The outright acceleration is not one of the strong points of the Range Rover Sport at least with the base engine. The BMW X5 is the fastest SUV in the segment in terms of outright acceleration, and it completes the 0 to 60 mph sprint in just 6 seconds. The Audi Q7 comes next with a 0 to 60 mph timing of 6.4 seconds. However, the Audi Q7 gets the least power output in the competition, it manages pretty well when it comes to acceleration. 

2018 Land Rover Range Rover Sport Ride and Handling

The handling does not play a crucial role while buying an SUV that comes with three rows of seating. However, that is not the case when you are buying a luxury and sporty SUV that has Sport in its name. The Land Rover Range Rover Sport handles surprisingly well for its class. The size of the SUV is quite not evident from behind the wheels, which makes it one of the easier SUVs to drive in the segment. 

The Range Rover Sport gets a light but direct and responsive steering wheel. The SUV changes lanes quickly without losing confidence. The steering wheels gain good weight as the speed increases. The suspension setup is also pretty impressive and helps the handling of the SUV. Land Rover has managed very well to minimize the body roll inside the cabin while driving, which not only improves the driving experience but also makes the ride quality better. The overall ride quality feels comfortable and it does not let any road imperfections filter through the cabin.

2018 Land Rover Range Rover Sport Braking Performance

The braking performance is expected to be good when you buy such a big SUV that comes with as impressive powertrain options as the Range Rover Sport. The 2018 Land Rover Range Rover Sport uses 14.3-inch brake rotors at the front and 13.8-inch brake rotors at the rear wheels. The braking hardware is quite capable for the segment and manages to stop the SUV without any struggle. The brake pedal offers good feedback. The overall braking distance is also pretty good as it manages to stop the SUV from 60 mph to a complete halt in just 124 feet.

The Land Rover Range Rover Sport is one of the heaviest SUVs in the segment, yet it manages to achieve an impressive braking distance for the segment. The Porsche Cayenne which happens to be the lightest SUV in the segment takes the highest distance at 126 feet to stop from 60 to 0 mph. The BMW X5 comes at the top in the braking performance too as it manages to stop the car from the same speed at just 113 feet. 

The 2018 Land Rover Range Rover Sport is not known for excellent fuel economy figures and the buyers of the SUV understand that pretty well. The kind of capabilities the Range Rover Sport offers affects the fuel efficiency of the SUV for sure and that’s not in a positive way at all. The Range Rover Sport with its base engine manages to return 17 mpg in the city, 23 mpg on the highway, and 19 mpg of combined fuel economy. However, the fuel economy further reduces if you get the V8 powertrains. Those who want better efficiency from their Range Rover Sport can go for the diesel powertrain option. The Range Rover Sport comes with a 27.3-gallon fuel tank. 

The Audi Q7 gets an edge over the rivals in the fuel economy department. The BMW X5 also offers very similar fuel efficiency figures. Both these SUVs offer a good combination of fuel efficiency and performance. Although the Land Rover Range Rover Sport returns the least fuel efficiency in the competition, it gets the biggest fuel tank, which helps it deliver one of the best fuel efficiency for the class.

The interiors of the Land Rover Range Rover Sport are one of the most luxurious interiors you can get in an SUV. The Land Rover was started with the purpose to make a rugged vehicle to counter all terrains with ease, but now it has become one of the luxury statuses for many. The interior of the SUV plays a crucial role in making the Range Rover Sport such a popular option in the luxury SUV market. 

The Range Rover Sport comes with spacious front and rear seats for the driver and the passengers. However, the space in the rear row feels cramped and it is only good for kids. The quality of the cabin feels up there among the best in the entire class. Land Rover has taken care of all the ergonomics and practical aspects pretty well. The visibility ahead is good and the commanding driving position inspires confidence in the driver. The cabin comes loaded with all the modern features and high-quality materials. 

The Land Rover Range Rover Sport is available in either a 7-seater or a 5-seater variant option. Since the third row of the SUV is not that practical, there is no major reason to buy the 7-seater variant unless you want to use it for your kids. The Audi Q7 is the only car in the segment that actually offers space to accommodate seven passengers inside its cabin. The Porsche Cayenne has the least space in its cabin which does not feel cramped at all. 

Standout interior features:

• 14 -way power front seats
• Electric power steering
• Dual-zone climate control
• Heated steering wheel
• Cruise control

2018 Land Rover Range Rover Sport Infotainment System

The Land Rover Range Rover Sport gets Land Rover’s new Touch Pro Duo infotainment system, which looks modern and stylish. The infotainment system features two different screens of 10.2-inch at the front. Both the screens are touch-sensitive and come with sharp graphics. The lower screen can be used to control the main infotainment screen as well as other controls inside the cabin. Although there are some of the features that are still missing from the infotainment system like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which are available in even cheaper cars nowadays. The standard audio system is an 8-speaker audio system. However, the higher trims get a 19-speaker Meridian sound system as standard with the SUV.

Standout infotainment features:

• 10.2-inch Touch Pro Duo infotainment system
• USB connectivity
• AM/FM stereo
• Bluetooth connectivity
• SiriusXM satellite radio
• 19-speaker Meridian sound system

The 2018 Land Rover Range Rover Sport gets a classic and bold SUV look from the outside. The SUV gets the traditional boxy SUV look and modern design language at the same time. The exterior styling of the car is not as modern as some of the other models in Range Rover’s lineup, but it is still one of the best-looking SUVs for those who love the rugged SUV look. Whenever you take the Range Rover Sport out for a spin, people will not take time to recognize that you are driving a Range Rover. 

The front of the Range Rover Sport gets sleek LED headlights with LED daytime running lights. The Range Rover badging at the front looks good. There is not much visual drama in the SUV from the sides or the rear. It looks familiar and simple which results in a classy SUV that people love. The Range Rover Sport gets a good presence on the road. The two-tone color scheme options look even more attractive on the Range Rover Sport.

The Audi Q7 is the longest SUV in the segment and also gets the longest wheelbase in the competition. The Range Rover Sport has the widest cabin in the segment. The Porsche Cayenne which is the shortest SUV in the class is also wider than the BMW X5 and the Audi Q7. The Cayenne also gets the shortest wheelbase of 114 inches in the competition here. 

Standout exterior features:

• 19” to 21” alloy wheels
• LED headlights
• LED DRLs
• Rain-detecting wipers
• Remote keyless entry
• Power-folding side mirrors

Land Rover is known for making rugged vehicles that perform well in the safety department. The same applies to the 2018 Land Rover Range Rover Sport as it performs pretty well in the safety department. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) or the National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) has not crash-tested the Land Rover Range Rover Sport. Still, it offers a pretty good list of standard safety features along with the strong build quality of the Land Rover. 

The safety features include:

• Adaptive headlights
• Lane departure warnings
• Blindspot warnings
• Emergency braking preparation
• Traction control
• Stability control
• Emergency braking assist

Land Rover Range Rover Sport vs. Porsche Cayenne

The Porsche Cayenne and Land Rover Range Rover Sport have very different characteristics. The Porsche Cayenne is a sportier SUV of the two that handles like a sports car. The Cayenne is ready to go on the race tracks without any external equipment. However, the Land Rover Range Rover Sport is a more rugged SUV that can take on any terrain. The Range Rover Sport is more practical and offers better capabilities between the two. 

Land Rover Range Rover Sport vs. BMW X5

The BMW X5 is faster than the Range Rover Sport in terms of outright acceleration. The Bimmer also manages to return a better fuel efficiency of the two. The fact that the BMW X5 is cheaper than the Range Rover Sport makes it a more appealing option. However, the Range Rover Sport gets the option to get an extra row of seating. The Range Rover Sport is also a better choice for those who want a classic SUV look. 

Land Rover Range Rover Sport vs. Audi Q7

The Audi Q7 is the only SUV in the competition that gets three rows of seating as standard. The Audi Q7 has better managed the space inside its cabin to provide ample space to the third-row passengers. The Audi Q7 is also faster between the two. However, the Range Rover Sport is a better SUV when it comes to off-road terrains. 

The 2018 Land Rover Range Rover Sport retains the charm of the class SUV in the overall design language. The interior of the SUV feels premium and comfortable. The space is also not an issue inside the cabin of the Range Rover Sport. The multiple powertrain options with the Range Rover Sport give you many options to choose the perfect Range Rover Sport for you. The Range Rover Sport is one of the best SUVs in its segment that you can consider getting if you are looking for an SUV on the same budget.