2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport Gets Handsome Refresh
The Range Rover may be Land Rover’s most iconic model, but the smaller Range Rover Sport is the sales leader in North America.
Originally introduced in 2005, then fully redesigned in 2013 with actor Daniel Craig appearing behind the wheel at the world premiere in New York, the midsize luxury SUV ushers in a third generation for the 2023 model year.
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Aesthetically, the new Range Rover Sport sticks to the brand’s design ethos while looking cleaner in the process. There’s the clamshell hood, of course, but as you can see Land Rover pulled off a combination of assertive lines and understated elegance.
Head of design David Eburah insists on the three basic lines that define the Range Rover Sport. The first one is the gently sloping roofline, the second is the rising beltline, and the third is the similarly upswept character line on the lower body panels. Together, they give the vehicle a very dynamic profile. Slim headlights and OLED taillights flanking a Range Rover-badged black trim panel complete the package along with a selection of 21- and 23-inch wheels.
In terms of size, the 2023 Range Rover Sport is three inches longer including two extra inches for the wheelbase, which results in more legroom for rear-seat passengers and 10 percent more cargo space in the trunk. As for the chassis, which uses a mix of materials, it’s said to be 25 percent stiffer than the previous generation.
Serene Yet Sporty Interior
Inside the 2023 Range Rover Sport, the heated/cooled front seats have side bolsters providing lateral support, while the door panels incorporate new Tech fabric adding a really nice touch. The cabin will please tech lovers while not going over the top, if you know what I mean.
The centre console features round dials for the HVAC system and blends in with the 11.3-inch touchscreen above. The latter is powered by Land Rover’s Pivi Pro infotainment system but also offers wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well as Amazon Alexa.
The rear seats can recline, while the panoramic roof overhead fills the interior with sunlight. A new ambient noise cancellation system reduces road noise by approximately 50 percent versus the old Range Rover Sport, the automaker claims. The Meridian premium audio system has no fewer than 29 speakers and uses them to amplify the engine’s sound during sporty driving.
Four Powertrain Options
In Canada, the 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport will be available in four trim levels including P400 Dynamic S, P400 Dynamic SE, P440e Dynamic HSE and P530 First Edition, with prices ranging from $101,750-$133,650.
Customers will have many different powertrain options to choose from including mild hybrids and plug-in hybrids. The V8 engine will return exclusively in the limited-production P530 First Edition.
Improved Handling
Engineers have made sure to improve the vehicle’s handling, but just in case you want more, there’s a Stormer Handling Package that adds actuators to the adaptive air suspension for further body roll reduction in corners, plus four-wheel steering and active rear differential for extra agility. Off the road, the Range Rover Sport can scale 45-degree slopes and cross rivers up to 35 inches deep.
Combine that with cleaner yet more dynamic looks as well as a host of new technologies and you get a mighty compelling SUV. We hope to get behind the wheel of the 2023 Range Rover Sport real soon and tell you all about its performance enhancements. Stay tuned.