2017 Land Rover Range Rover Sport Reviews, Pricing & Specs

The Land Rover Range Rover Sport offers all the luxury and capability of the larger Range Rover in a smaller package, making it ideal for...

The Land Rover Range Rover Sport offers all the luxury and capability of the larger Range Rover in a smaller package, making it ideal for city drivers or those who want a compact SUV. It provides comfortable seating for up to 7 passengers and can take you pretty much anywhere.

For 2017, the Range Rover Sport gets a few notable updates: 19 new exterior colors, an upgraded InControl Touch Pro infotainment system, and a larger 10.2-inch touchscreen to replace the previous 8-inch version. Touchscreen operation is much smoother, with more intuitive pinch-and-swipe gestures, improved software, and fewer buttons for a cleaner design. New safety technologies for the Range Rover Sport include blind-spot assist, an intelligent speed limiter, and autonomous emergency braking. A new low-traction launch feature has been added to the Terrain Response 2 system to limit torque when the vehicle starts from a standstill on poor road conditions, like mud or snow.

The 2017 Range Rover Sport comes in five trim levels: SE, HSE, Supercharged, Autobiography, and SVR, with increasing luxury as you move through the lineup. Even the base SE trim is equipped with beautiful grained-leather seats, a leather steering wheel with multi-function controls, and ambient mood lighting.

Quite a few powertrain choices are available for the Range Rover Sport, starting with a 3.0-liter supercharged V6 engine paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission and good for 340 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque. The Sport is all about performance, so the standard paddle-shifter transmission, which might seem out of place on a normal SUV, fits well here. A supercharged 5.0-liter V8 offers 510 horsepower and 461 lb-ft in the Supercharged trim and 550 hp and 502 lb-ft in the SVR, and a 3.0-liter V6 turbodiesel with an output of 254 hp and 440 lb-ft rounds out the list of choices.

Daytime running lights, power-washing automatic headlights, rain-sensing wipers, and privacy glass are all standard on the Range Rover Sport. An acoustic laminated front windshield keeps the ride quiet, and worries about ice buildup in snowy weather are reduced thanks to heated wiper rests. Speed-proportional electric power-assisted steering, electronic brakeforce distribution, and a four-corner air suspension help keep the ride smooth and controlled. Electronic cross-linked air suspension with automatic load leveling are included as further ride enhancements—this is a luxury SUV, and Land Rover worked hard to make it feel like one. It has room for 7 passengers, but the third row is more than a little cramped.

The Range Rover Sport SVR trim offers the highest level of luxury, with special 21-inch, 5 split-spoke alloy wheels and SVR badges to let everyone know your Sport is special. With its supercharged V8, the performance-focused SVR can reach a top speed of 162 mph and boasts 20-inch blue-painted Brembo brake calipers up front, matching non-branded calipers in the rear, bright quad tailpipes, and a heated windshield. The interior is equally well appointed, featuring SVR-patterned Oxford perforated leather upholstery and contrasting seat piping. You’ll also find a leather dashboard, a heated leather steering wheel, noble-plated paddle shifters, bright metal sports pedals, and premium carpet mats. The heated front seats are 16-way power adjustable, with 4-way lumbar support, adjustable bolsters, and memory for driver’s settings. Rear passengers also get heated seats, too. Aluminum treadplates with Range Rover lettering and a morzine recycled-polyester headliner are the finishing touches to the SVR’s luxury aesthetic.

Pairing luxury and capability with a wide range of trims and engine choices, the 2017 Range Rover Sport lives up to the Land Rover reputation. The biggest obstacle for potential buyers will be pricing, which starts in the mid $60,000s for the base trim and quickly climbs past the $100,000 mark for the range-topping SVR.