Land Rover, the British manufacturer of predominantly four-wheel drive, off-road capable vehicles is now owned by multinational car manufacturer Jaguar Land Rover. Since 2008, it’s been a subsidiary of India’s Tata Motors.
Its vehicles often have a dual existence. They look great, combine innovative design with high-tech advancements and boast handsome interiors. But they rarely drive as well as their appearances. The 2024 Land Rover Range Rover Sport is an exception.
A midsized SUV available in several powertrains, the 2024 Range Rover, specifically the SE Dynamic trim, is void of former dubious traits. Gone are the backseat bumpy ride and sluggish acceleration. The new Range Rover, despite the word sport in its title, isn’t particularly sporty.
But it is versatile. Seating, well-padded, is firm and easily adjustable. The cabin is quiet for Range Rover’s SUV segment. Road and wind noise are minimal.
The reviewed P400 SE Dynamic featured a turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine and a mild hybrid system. It included 395 horsepower, an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. The 0-to-60 miles per hour acceleration standard is achieved in 5.8 seconds. Gas mileage averages are 19 mpg in city driving, 26 mpg on the highway.
It’s not cavernous, but the new Range Rover has enough cargo space for average-sized needs. It offers 31.9 cubic feet behind the second row; with the 40/20/40-splitrear seats down, the area expands to 53.0 cubic feet. It’s a similar tally to the several competitors, but Mercedes-Benz and BMW, the Range Rover’s top rivals, have larger cargo areas.
Two classy features: the air suspension can be lowered with the touch of a button in the hatch to make loading and unloading cargo easier. Likewise, folding or raising the seats is push-button easy. It’s often a cumbersome task in many SUVs.
Land Rover offers a generous standard features list. Even the base P360 SE features leather upholstery to adaptive air suspension and a 16-speaker Meridian sound system with a 13.1-inch curved center touchscreen. Safety features are plentiful, forward collision warning to parking sensors and lane keeping assistance to a surround-view camera system.
The P400 SE Dynamic includes most of the standard equipment for lower-level trims. But the black-on-black color scheme, including black calipers, black exterior trim and black lettering, adds a unique appearance. It’s a luxury SUV with an attitude.
Standard driving features also include adaptive cruise control, blind-spot warning and surround-view cameras. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto have wireless connectivity. For multi-taskers, there’s a plentiful supply of USB-C and USB-A ports throughout both rows and a wireless charging pad.
Land Rover built its enduring legacy off-road on safaris and in military use. For daily drivers, the carmaker’s strengths are still in place via its ample supply of available “packs.”
The Cold Climate Pack ($450) includes a heated windscreen and heated headlight with washer jets. The Hot Climate Pack ($1,805) features: two-piece sun visors with illuminated vanity mirrors, a front center console refrigerator compartment, four-zone climate control and a cabin air purification system.
Several additional packs were included, pushing the MSRP from slightly more than $90,000 to $104,655.
Like its siblings, the new Land Rover is a luxury SUV with a confident presence. It’s a status symbol with curbside appeal and a legacy to uphold. It’s handsome inside and outside.
And finally, the package is complete. The 2024 Land Rover Range Rover Sport drives like a luxury SUV should.
James Raia, a syndicated automotive columnist in Sacramento, is founder and senior editor of theweeklydriver.com. Email: james@jamesraia.com.
