Range Rover Sport 2023 review: P510e Dynamic HSE

Price and features – Does it represent good value for the price? What features does it come with?

It has got an incredibly catchy name – the Range Rover Sport Dynamic HSE P510e Electric Hybrid – and it carries a price tag that's sure to capture your attention, too.

It lists at around $198,000, but once fitted with the features our test car has been equipped with, that number climbs to more like $225,000.

On the very long standard features list is all-digital LED lighting, a clever electrically deployable tow bar and 22-inch alloy wheels.

Inside, there's twin-zone climate control, heated and ventilated seats both front and rear, all of which are lined with pretty fetching leather,  and then there's the very clear 13.1-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a banging Meridian 3D surround system, a head-up display, and a wireless charge pad.

Our test car then adds a sliding Panoramic Roof, the stunning Eiger Grey in Satin Finish paint, which in and of itself costs more than $13,000, bigger 23-inch wheels, a home charging cable, a heated steering wheel, and more, adding more than $25k to the total  sticker price.

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Design – Is there anything interesting about its design?

Usually we'd say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and that design is subjective, and blah, blah, blah. But not this time.

Because, the Range Rover Sport is the best looking SUV in Australia. Better even than the Range Rover flagship, On this, there's really no argument.

But, if you want yours to look as good as this one, you'll need to pay for it. This spectacular paint, as mentioned, adds $13,531 to the asking price. And these special gloss-black alloys? They're another $2470.

But even without it, this is a seriously special-looking SUV. The Range Rover people have a special skill in making these big vehicles look sexy, rather than bulky, and for mine they've done it again here.

Climb inside, and you'll find a special-feeling space, too. The screen dominates much of the dash space, but it feels polished and of high quality, though the wireless charging pad is madness. With nothing to secure your phone in place, it tends to slide around, and even launch out of the holder, when you're on the move.

Still, we're talking cigar-lounge vibes here, or like someone has fitted an engine to your living room, especially when you deploy the extra armrests and really get comfortable.

Practicality – How practical is its space and tech inside?

At 4946mm long, 2047mm wide and 1820mm tall - and with 2997mm wheelbase - the Range Rover Sport is a sizeable SUV.

And with our vehicle fitted with just five seats, that real estate translates into an acreage of space in both rows, as well as in the boot, instilling a real sense of stretch-out luxury for passengers.

The backseat especially is roomy. I'm 175cm, and I found I had plenty of head room, plenty of leg room, and more than enough room to stretch out sideways, too.

Backseat riders get their own vents and changing sources, too, but quad-zone climate (giving your rear passengers the ability to set their own temperatures) is a cost extra – which seems a little mad, given the $200k price tag.

You'll find 835 litres of luggage space with the Range Rover Sport's second row of seats in place. Fold it flat, though, and that number grows to 1860 litres.

A nifty tow ball emerges from the rear of the vehicle at the push of a button, allowing for a three-tonne towing capacity, while the adjustable ride height unlocks a wading depth of 900mm. There's also proper 4WD with low range, and hill descent control, to help guide you off the beaten path.

Under the bonnet – What are the key stats for its engine and transmission?

It's a clever plug-in hybrid powertrain, in that it delivers plenty of power, and plenty of all-EV driving range.

It starts with a six-cylinder turbo-petrol engine, which pairs with a 105kW electric motor, delivering a total of 375kW and 700Nm.

That power is channelled through an eight-speed automatic and sent to all four wheels, and is enough, Range Rover says, to unlock a 5.4-second sprint to 100km/h (quick for a 2.8-tonne SUV), and a flying top speed of 242km/h.

Efficiency – What is its fuel consumption? What is its driving range?

As always in the plug-in hybrid world, how much fuel you use is largely up to you.

The on-board 38.2kWh battery will deliver a claimed all-electric driving range of around 125kms - which should be more than enough if you plug it in every night, or every other night, to get through your working week without burning any fuel.

Combined, the brand claims a fuel use figure of a paltry 1.6L/100km (and emissions of 37g/km), but those numbers are often wildly inaccurate when it comes to plug-in hybrids. We found that – when letting the Range Rover Sport choose when to use the engine, the motor, or both – fuel use was more like 10.2L/100km.

The 71-litre fuel tank demands 95RON fuel, which – based on prices in Sydney at the time of writing – should set you back around $155.

Driving – What's it like to drive?

I know plug-in hybrids aren't the most popular of the new-technology powertrains in Australia, but the concept is at its very best in a vehicle like this silky Range Rover.

Pulling away from the kerb in smooth silence only really enhances the luxury feel on offer here, while the potent six-cylinder engine waiting in the wings delivers all the grunt you'd expect when overtaking or just pulling off from the light.

What's more, the theoretical 125km driving range in EV mode is pretty substantial, and really should be more than enough to get you through the vast bulk of your working week without needing to recharge.

Most people – whether they drive a PHEV or a fully-fledged BEV – plug in every night, and doing so here will help seriously reduce your fuel bill, which is always welcome in a vehicle this big and traditionally thirsty.

Happily, it also feels smaller and tighter than it looks from behind the wheel when you're on the move, though tight parking spots can prove embarrassing. I'm lightly ashamed to admit that I took not one, not two, but three attempts to ensure all the Range Rover's bits were well inside the white lines in a tricky-angled parking spot.

Those little moments aside, the Range Rover is an easy vehicle to live with, given its size. It's smooth, quiet, and with a suspension tune that irons out much of the world's ugliness before it enters the cabin.

Safety – What safety equipment is fitted? What is its safety rating? (if ANCAP rated, stipulate when it was most recently tested)

We're talking five ANCAP stars here, and a veritable boat load of active safety technology designed to keep you safe whether you're on the road or off it.

That includes a 3D parking camera, adaptive cruise, AEB in both drive and reverse, traffic sign recognition, a rear traffic monitor and front and rear parking sensors.

There are six airbags total across both rows of seats.

Ownership – What warranty is offered? What are its service intervals? What are its running costs?

The Ranger Rover Sport is covered by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, which includes five years of roadside assistance.

You can also buy a service plan, which covers five years or 102,000 kms (whichever occurs first) for $2750.

Verdict