Range Rover Sport P400e review 2019

Model Review

The Sport version of the Range Rover has been around since 2005, although at first, it shared more with the Discovery than its namesake. That didn’t stop Land Rover selling them, though, and it proved that expansion for the nameplate was the way forward. Today, four models are marketed as Range Rovers in total.

The second-generation Range Rover Sport was a vast improvement, finally putting the ‘Sport’ into the model. The first conventional hybrid model has been on sale since 2013, but it went on sale at a time when buyers weren’t as concerned about hybrid and electric models as they are today. Slow sales mean that it’s largely neglected, with just a handful available today. It shouldn’t be ruled out, though.

Latest model

The facelifted Range Rover Sport made its debut in October 2017, with the main changes appearing on the inside. A two-screen system on the dashboard — known as ‘Touch Pro Duo’ — gives the cabin a far more modern feel.

Importantly, the facelifted Range Rover Sport showed off the firm’s plug-in hybrid option, which debuted at a similar time on the full-size Range Rover PHEV.

Producing nearly 400bhp from a combination of a 2.0-litre petrol engine and electric motor, the P400e is punchy and feels quick on the road, with the possibility of impressive running costs thanks to its 31-mile electric range.

Value for money

While the Range Rover Sport PHEV might be cheap to run, it’s far too expensive to make that your sole reason for having one — keeping tabs on the environment or wanting to pay less in company car tax is why many find themselves behind the wheel of the P400e, rather than the petrol or diesel alternative.

Prices start from £72,185 for the base-spec HSE model, which isn’t too much more money than the standard Range Rover Sport, which itself starts at £64,085; and that’s for a less-powerful version, too. Standard equipment levels are superb, including matrix LED headlights, electric front seats and two touchscreens to name but a few features. Top-spec Autobiography Dynamic tops out at £84,475, which is admittedly rather expensive.

At the time of writing, the P400e has only been on sale for less than a year, which means that a rather limited number are present on the used market. And, as £67,000 was the cheapest HSE version available, it’s fair to say that the discounts are small relative to brand new models. There are a number of options for sale at more than list price, with the most expensive listed costing £95,000!

Looks and image

If you are after an imposing luxury SUV, there are not many better options out there than the Range Rover Sport. It might not have the same desirability factor as the big Rangie itself, but the Sport is arguably the better looking out of the two cars. New standard fit matrix LED headlights, the instantly recognisable lighting signature and broad choice of alloy wheel designs give the model an impressive look on the road. Many are fitted with the ‘Black Pack’, which brings gloss black alloy wheels, as well as further black exterior elements. This package won’t appeal to all, but it’s a very popular option nonetheless.

The interior is undoubtedly one of the highlights of the Range Rover, with a good mix between luxury and modern features. A leather interior is standard, with more expensive trim levels featuring higher-quality Windsor leather upholstery, while electric front seats and ambient interior lighting is another highlight. The latest facelifted Range Rover also comes with a fantastic two-touchscreen setup — one 10-inch screen stacked above the other. The screens look superb and are very easy to use, alongside giving the model a fantastic modern feel. The interior quality is also superb, and up to the standards expected from a plush SUV.

Thanks to the torque generated from the electric motors, the Range Rover Sport PHEV is much faster than you would expect an SUV of this bulk to be. Nearly 400bhp is produced in total, which makes the Sport absolutely rapid as soon as you put your foot down. You soon notice the drop in power once the electric is used up, though. It’s quite a bit heavier than the petrol version because of the batteries, but it’s still impressively agile and holds the road well through the corners.

There are more driver-focused SUVs out there, but few get the balance of speed and comfort right quite like the Range Rover Sport does.

Space and practicality

As with many plug-in models, the batteries cut practicality and spaciousness. With the standard Sport, you have the option to equip your car with seven seats, but that isn’t the case with the PHEV due to the reduced boot capacity. Admittedly the third row of seats isn’t suited to adults, but they’re handy to have regardless. The boot offers 701 litres of storage in total, which is still impressive and more than big enough for day-to-day life, although it’s 79 litres down on the standard model.

Happily, the cabin is easily capable of seating five adults in superb comfort, while the interior is supremely quiet and comfortable, which you might expect from a luxury SUV like this.

Euro NCAP has never tested the Range Rover Sport, but fear not as, in our opinion there is very little to worry about where safety is concerned. The Sport comes laden with kit such as a clever stability control system, as well as autonomous emergency braking and blind-spot monitoring. Top-spec models also come with a self-parking function, too.

Engines

Just one engine option is offered on the Range Rover Sport P400e, which is a turbocharged 297bhp 2.0-litre petrol engine paired with an electric motor to produce a combined 399bhp — hence the P400e name. It’s never short of power, and can accelerate from 0-60mph in 6.5 seconds and keep going to a top speed of 137mph.

The only downside is that it can prove to be a bit hesitant when pulling away at junctions and roundabouts before the surge of power comes through.

It will also prove to be highly efficient, particularly for owners who have regular access to charging, and those with short commutes. The electric range offered is a claimed 30 miles, which is a good effort for a plug-in hybrid SUV.

However, thanks to the size of the batteries, the P400e does take a while to charge — 7.5 hours if plugged in at home using a normal plug, or three hours using a faster public charger or dedicated wall box.

Running costs

Compared to the standard Range Rover Sport diesel and petrol engines, the PHEV could prove to be impressively cheap to run for those who can plug it in regularly, with claimed CO2 emissions of 71g/km and a fuel economy figure of 84.1mpg. However, if you do a lot of long journeys and won’t be able to charge it on a regular basis, you will be driving around a rather thirsty petrol-engine model, rather than an efficient plug-in hybrid.

Business users will also find the PHEV appealing with its low Benefit-in-Kind company car tax bracket, which will make it by far the cheapest model to run in the line-up for company car drivers.

As with the majority of luxury SUVs, the Range Rover Sport P400e will not be a cheap model to insure — particularly as it sits in the second highest insurance group available.

Things to look out for

Despite Land Rover’s luxury image, its cars are not known for their reliability and frequently appear near the bottom of reliability surveys from owners. Sadly, the Sport does not fare much better, with most of the problems arising in the software and electrics. Neither are widespread issues, but we highly recommend checking that everything works on any used car you might be buying, and consider taking out an aftermarket warranty once the manufacturer’s three-year period ends. On the plus side, the plug-in powertrain appears to be problem-free so far.

Rivals

Plug-in hybrids are now surprisingly popular, as buyers aim to cut down their footprint in cities and also slash their company car tax. The Sport’s closest rival is probably the full-fat Range Rover P400e, which features an identical powertrain. However, you can also look at plug-in hybrid versions of the BMW X5, Mercedes GLE, Porsche Cayenne and Volvo XC90, as well as the discontinued Audi Q7 e-tron.

Depreciation

High demand for the P400e has ensured that prices remain high at the time of writing, with small discounts available on nearly-new models, and some even advertising cars for above list price to take advantage of the model’s popularity and limited supply.