2019 Land Rover Range Rover Sport Reviews, Pricing & Specs

Last year brought a comprehensive update to the Range Rover Sport, but there are still notable changes for 2019.

The midsize Range Rover...

Last year brought a comprehensive update to the Range Rover Sport, but there are still notable changes for 2019.

The midsize Range Rover Sport is similar in size to the BMW X5, Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class, and Porsche Cayenne. Beneath the athletic roofline sits a generous amount of space for five passengers and as much as 59.5 cubic feet of space with the second-row seats down. Despite not being the largest, it’s the only Range Rover that can hold seven, by way of a small occasional-use pair of flat-folding seats.

For 2019, Land Rover replaced the Range Rover Sport's supercharged 3.0-liter V6 with a new system that makes it a mild-hybrid electric vehicle (MHEV). The new powertrain combines a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline 6-cylinder engine, an electric motor, and a 48-volt electrical system to make 355 horsepower and 369 lb-feet of torque. The electrical system allows the Range Rover Sport to completely shut off the engine when not under load, and to boost the engine’s efficiency in certain scenarios. Fuel-economy ratings weren’t available at the time of this writing. A higher-performance version of the powertrain, with 395 hp and 406 lb-ft, is also available.

For those looking for speed, there’s an available supercharged 5.0-liter V8 making 518 hp and 461 lb-ft. The top-performance SVR trim bumps that same engine up to 575 hp and 516 lb-ft, enough to get you to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds and to a top speed of 174 mph.

On the efficient side, you can specify a turbocharged 3.0-liter diesel V6 with 254 hp and 443 lb-ft. It delivers fuel economy of 22 mpg city, 28 highway, and 24 combined.

However, the fuel-economy champion has to be the new-for-2019 P400e version of the Range Rover Sport. It’s a partial-hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) that combines a 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder engine with an electric motor and a decently sized battery to make 398 hp and 472 lb-ft. Official fuel-economy numbers for the P400e aren’t yet available, but Land Rover estimates 31 miles of electric range when you plug the vehicle in and let it charge from a standard wall socket.

Every Range Rover Sport comes with an 8-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive (AWD). Other standard features include a terrain-response system that optimizes the engine, transmission, differentials, and body to different terrains. Meanwhile, the All-Terrain Progress Control system is a sort of off-road cruise control that works between 1 and 18 miles per hour, allowing you to focus on steering around obstacles. Finally, the Range Rover Sport is capable of wading through as many as 33.5 inches of water. A two-speed transfer case is an option, depending upon the powertrain and trim.

Trims for the Range Rover Sport include SE, HSE, HST, Supercharged Dynamic, Autobiography Dynamic, and SVR. Standard features across all versions include 19-inch wheels, LED headlights, 14-way front seats with memory, a dual 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system, dual-zone automatic climate control, an 8-speaker audio system, ambient interior lighting, keyless access and start, and leather seats. Options include larger lights, fog lights, a heated steering wheel, 4-zone climate control, a console refrigerator compartment, fancier hides of leather, and a head-up display (HUD).

The Range Rover Sport’s standard complement of safety technology includes forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, a reversing camera, and front and rear parking sensors. You can add blind-spot monitoring, driver-condition monitoring, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, automated parking, and high-speed emergency braking. As of this writing, Range Rover Sport hasn't been crash-tested.

The Land Rover Range Rover Sport is a premium SUV with genuine off-road prowess and a powertrain for almost every occasion. Thanks to the new MHEV and PHEV systems, you now have the option of cruising emissions-free, at least for a little while.