New Range Rover Sport P550e: Will A Hybrid Option Take From The Experience?

Not all that long ago, the prerequisites of a 4x4 were a bit different to how they’re seen today. SUVs came with a massive lump up front, questionable road manners and an off-road ability that was borderline military. But as with most things automotive, the definition has evolved. What was once seen as a very muddy, very rugged and very agricultural pursuit is now something altogether more nuanced.

SUVs find themselves occupying a more metropolitan environment, one more concerned with refinement, presence and relevance than with shotguns and sheepdogs. And that’s why I’ll tip my cap to the new Rangie, because with the Hybrid Sport, they’ve not just embraced the shift, they’re defining it. It’s managing to bridge the divide between gymkhana and gentleman’s club, all while quietly continuing to raise the bar.

Parked in the courtyard at Silchester Farm, an exquisite event space nestled into the North Hampshire countryside, the Hybrid Sport looked entirely at home. Flanked by honey-bricked barns and bathed in the low sun of a late spring evening, it effortlessly merged agricultural roots with modern elegance. Its classic silhouette, being a long bonnet, a squared-off front and rear and that signature upright presence, still commands attention, even when surrounded by its more ‘authentic’ countryside cousin in the Defender.

Inside, it’s about as far from a livestock hauler as you can get. The seats are broad, plush and endlessly adjustable, the cabin’s materials are satisfyingly tactile and everything feels deliberate and considered. The much-maligned infotainment system, once the Achilles’ heel of the JLR family, is now thankfully transformed. It's slick, fast and now finally even a match for its German rivals. You tap, swipe and scroll through a system that finally feels in keeping with the rest of the car.

Not that it’s all plain sailing though. The touch-sensitive buttons on the steering wheel resemble a work of art, but occasionally require a second press to register. And after spending what seemed like an eternity trying to connect my phone to the rear-seat entertainment, I discovered it remains stubbornly obtuse unless you possess an HDMI cable!?! Because, of course, you do. In an age of seamless wireless streaming, this feels a bit like digging out the old DVD player.

Let’s recalibrate. Comfort. The air suspension handles Britain’s battered B-roads like a memory foam mattress handles a bowling ball. The ride is majestic and I think only matched by another famous British Brand with double-R initials. Wafting is the correct word. And thanks to the all-wheel steering, tight village corners and multi-storey car parks don’t require a Royal Navy escort to negotiate.

Perhaps more surprising is how agile it feels once you do get moving. Yes, it weighs about 2.7 tonnes, but it wears its weight quite well at low to medium speeds and is never clumsy. Point and shoot the Sport, and you will be highly impressed (0 to 60 in 4.2 seconds). However, I would probably avoid any spirited driving around the bendy bits, as any sense of nimbleness quickly fades and is replaced with a mild sense of concern as the car tries its best to comply.

Which gives me a chance to bring you back to the main reason this car exists in the first place: the hybrid powertrain. With an WLTP all-electric range (EAER) of 69.6 miles, you can slink through early morning villages in near silence, preserving both fuel and the goodwill of your neighbours. When required, a 3.0-litre straight-six petrol engine wakes up and effortlessly joins the party. The transition between electric and petrol is seamless, so much so in fact, that the only clue is a slight uptick in urgency and a grin that forms on your face as you now know over 500 bhp is at your foot.

And it would be totally remiss of me not to mention that for all its plushness and whisper-quiet demeanour, the Hybrid Sport is still an absolute monster when the tarmac ends. It’ll clamber, wade, descend and articulate across the landscape with the sort of indifference to terrain that borders on smug. You sit back, Costa in hand, watching the countryside slowly edge past your windows.

And the Sport will never make a fuss about it. There’s no histrionics. No bellowing diffs or clanging transfer boxes. Just composure. The Terrain Response system silently reads the conditions and adjusts accordingly, mud, sand, gravel, snow, it doesn’t care. All the cleverness happens behind the scenes. All you have to do is steer and try not to look too pleased with yourself because deep down, you know this car is still capable of far more than you’ll ever ask of it. And long may that continue.

It’s evolved, certainly. But the Range Rover Sport remains an icon.

https://www.rangerover.com/en-gb/range-rover-sport/index.html

Model: Range Rover Sport P550e Autobiography

Base Price (OTR / As Driven): £113,995 / £133,350

Propulsion: 3.0 litre 6-cylinder 550HP Twin Turbocharged Petrol PHEV

Drivetrain: All-wheel drive, All Wheel Steer

Transmission: Automatic

Output: 550 hp

Torque: 800 Nm

Unladen Weight (DIN): 2,735 kg

0-60 mph: 4.7 Seconds

Top Speed: 150 mph

Consumption: 362.2 mpg

C02 Emission (WLTP): 18 g/km