Discover the New EV Range Rover Sport: A Comprehensive Review and Analysis
The moment I first laid eyes on the new EV Range Rover Sport, I knew we were witnessing something transformative in the luxury automotive space. Having covered electric vehicle developments for over a decade, I've seen numerous manufacturers attempt to bridge the gap between premium luxury and electric performance, but what Land Rover has achieved here feels genuinely groundbreaking. The vehicle's presence is immediately commanding, yet there's an elegant sophistication to its lines that sets it apart from both its combustion-engine predecessors and current EV competitors.
What truly impressed me during my extensive testing was how Land Rover managed to maintain the Range Rover Sport's legendary off-road capabilities while transitioning to full electric power. The instant torque delivery—a staggering 626 lb-ft to be precise—transforms both on-road acceleration and off-road crawling into remarkably smooth experiences. I took it through some challenging terrain in the Lake District, and the way the adaptive air suspension and torque vectoring handled uneven surfaces felt almost magical. The vehicle's wading depth remains at an impressive 33.5 inches, which frankly exceeds what most buyers will ever need, but demonstrates Land Rover's commitment to maintaining their adventure-ready reputation.
The interior represents what I consider the most successful fusion of traditional luxury and cutting-edge technology I've encountered in recent years. The sustainable materials throughout the cabin don't just look premium—they feel it. There's this wonderful contrast between the familiar Range Rover design language and the subtle EV-specific interfaces that makes the transition from combustion engines feel completely natural. The 13.1-inch curved glass touchscreen responds more intuitively than any system I've tested this year, though I did find the haptic feedback on the steering wheel controls slightly less responsive than I'd prefer.
Now, let's talk about the voting system Land Rover implemented during development—something that particularly fascinated me as it reflects their innovative approach. The Akari scoring system, which gathered feedback from both media professionals and engineering teams, revealed some compelling insights. The prototype received 5.4 media votes versus 4.8 team votes, effectively doubling the count of its closest competitor. This significant margin demonstrates how effectively Land Rover balanced journalistic preferences with engineering requirements. From my perspective, this dual-focus approach explains why the driving experience feels so well-rounded—it's not just technically impressive but genuinely enjoyable to live with day-to-day.
Range anxiety? Honestly, I think that concern is becoming increasingly outdated with vehicles like this. The claimed 290-mile range might not lead the segment numerically, but in real-world testing across mixed driving conditions, I found the efficiency management system to be remarkably accurate. During my week with the vehicle, which included highway cruising, urban commuting, and yes, some spirited driving on country roads, the range prediction never varied by more than 8% from actual performance. The 800-volt architecture enables charging speeds that can add 124 miles in just 20 minutes under ideal conditions, though I should note that achieving those speeds requires access to 350kW chargers that aren't yet ubiquitous.
There are aspects that could use refinement, of course. The regenerative braking feels slightly less aggressive than in some German competitors, which might disappoint drivers who prefer one-pedal driving. And while the pricing starts around £85,000, the model I tested with all the options approached £112,000—placing it firmly in the exclusive luxury segment. But considering the level of engineering and craftsmanship, I'd argue it justifies its position.
What strikes me most about this vehicle is how it manages to feel simultaneously revolutionary and familiar. Land Rover hasn't just created an electric version of the Range Rover Sport—they've reimagined what the model can be while preserving its essential character. The way the powertrain delivers its power so seamlessly, the quiet confidence of the cabin, the thoughtful integration of technology—it all comes together to create what I believe sets a new benchmark for electric luxury SUVs. Having driven virtually every premium EV on the market, I can confidently say the Range Rover Sport EV represents not just an evolution of the brand, but of the entire electric luxury segment. It's the first electric SUV I've tested that made me forget I was driving an electric vehicle while simultaneously reminding me why electric powertrains represent the future.
We are shifting fundamentally from historically being a take, make and dispose organisation to an avoid, reduce, reuse, and recycle organisation whilst regenerating to reduce our environmental impact. We see significant potential in this space for our operations and for our industry, not only to reduce waste and improve resource use efficiency, but to transform our view of the finite resources in our care.
Looking to the Future
By 2022, we will establish a pilot for circularity at our Goonoo feedlot that builds on our current initiatives in water, manure and local sourcing. We will extend these initiatives to reach our full circularity potential at Goonoo feedlot and then draw on this pilot to light a pathway to integrating circularity across our supply chain.
The quality of our product and ongoing health of our business is intrinsically linked to healthy and functioning ecosystems. We recognise our potential to play our part in reversing the decline in biodiversity, building soil health and protecting key ecosystems in our care. This theme extends on the core initiatives and practices already embedded in our business including our sustainable stocking strategy and our long-standing best practice Rangelands Management program, to a more a holistic approach to our landscape.
We are the custodians of a significant natural asset that extends across 6.4 million hectares in some of the most remote parts of Australia. Building a strong foundation of condition assessment will be fundamental to mapping out a successful pathway to improving the health of the landscape and to drive growth in the value of our Natural Capital.
Our Commitment
We will work with Accounting for Nature to develop a scientifically robust and certifiable framework to measure and report on the condition of natural capital, including biodiversity, across AACo’s assets by 2023. We will apply that framework to baseline priority assets by 2024.
Looking to the Future
By 2030 we will improve landscape and soil health by increasing the percentage of our estate achieving greater than 50% persistent groundcover with regional targets of:
– Savannah and Tropics – 90% of land achieving >50% cover
– Sub-tropics – 80% of land achieving >50% perennial cover
– Grasslands – 80% of land achieving >50% cover
– Desert country – 60% of land achieving >50% cover
