2023 Range Rover Sport PHEV First Test: Smooth Operator

Slide inside the 2023 Range Rover Sport plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and you'll be impressed by the plush cabin, luxury materials, and fancy technology it delivers. As in the larger and more premium Range Rover, the Sport's cockpit provides a luxury experience for the person behind the wheel, while its chassis cossets the other occupants with its smooth ride and quiet cabin. But the Sport PHEV goes even further than that. With 51 miles of EPA-rated electric range, this Range Rover Sport offers a perfect solution for folks who like EV motoring and have short commutes but still desire hassle-free road trips—on or off the beaten path.

With its acres of soft leather and chic design, the Range Rover Sport's cabin will delight anyone lucky enough to find themselves inside. Interior designers adopted premium fabric on the door panels, adding a modern touch, although they also applied too much piano black to the center console and parts of the dashboard. Though it looks great when it's clean, this material inevitably collects fingerprints and, over time, scratches. Everything else lives up to the Range Rover name.

The 13.1-inch infotainment screen has superb graphics and responds quickly to commands, and Apple CarPlay is displayed with big icons and maps that are easy to look at when you're driving.  This, along with the digital instrument cluster and digital HVAC controls, makes the Range Rover feel modern and futuristic. But while the HVAC controls look cool, their functionality is disappointing. The knobs control two separate functions—temperature and fan speed, for example—and you must pull or push the knob depending on which you want to adjust. There's a bit of a learning curve, and we're disappointed that something so simple takes an extra step to do.

Likewise, USB ports should be easy to find and accessible to all occupants. The Range Rover's USB ports are hidden in the center console, however, and there's no space for the cable to pass through when the center console's lid is closed. These small details shouldn't be overlooked, especially in a vehicle as luxurious as the Range Rover Sport PHEV, because getting them wrong degrades the in-cabin experience.

With a 3.0-liter turbo l-6 engine mated to an electric motor, the Range Rover Sport PHEV delivers 543 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque combined, quick enough to launch its 6,301 pounds to 60 mph in an impressive 5.6 seconds. An eight-speed automatic transmission sends power smoothly to all four wheels, and a two-speed transfer case can be used when the road ahead turns treacherous. Even still, the best thing about the powertrain is its 51 miles of electric range, a huge number for a plug-in hybrid that means owners can enjoy the EV lifestyle around town charging conveniently at home and visiting the gas station far less often. Just be sure you do recharge, as otherwise you're carrying around the extra mass of this PHEV's larger battery pack for no reason, harming overall efficiency.

We didn't have time to go on difficult trails with the Range Rover Sport, but we drove over dirt roads with big ruts and potholes. Neither type of obstacle proved challenging for the Range Rover, as it clambers serenely over such imperfections. With Sand mode on, you can see the articulation of the suspension on the screen, where each wheel is, and the torque delivery for each tire. The cameras in the front and under the sideview mirrors display a view of what's going on ahead and to the sides to prevent you from driving directly into an obstacle when off-roading. While overall capability is the most important thing off-road, it's the kind of detail that can make a big difference in whether you make it home with pristine sheetmetal.

On pavement, the suspension is so refined that nothing seems to upset it. Broken pavement or undulations provide no problems for the Range Rover Sport PHEV and its buttery ride quality. Yes, it's big and heavy and you never forget you're driving an SUV, but its ride height and feeling of solidity give a sense of command. With the battery full, acceleration is quick and strong off the line, as well as when passing or merging on the freeway.

Like all Range Rovers, the six-figure Sport PHEV isn't cheap—but we still classify it as a good value. It never feels like it's not worth the money, with a special cabin, state-of-the-art technology, an advanced and efficient powertrain, and luxurious driving manners that rival those from even far more expensive vehicles. While it isn't a mainstream choice by brand or price, those who can afford to shop in this segment owe themselves at least a test drive.