2025 Range Rover Sport Diesel review

Compact Class with Big-Brit Attitude

Let's get one thing clear right off the bat: the Range Rover Sport isn't competing with steroid-fed SUVs from Germany like the Cayenne or RSQ brigade. Instead, it's the posher, slightly more athletic sibling of the full-fat Range Rover - compact enough to feel agile, yet luxurious enough not to compromise your sense of entitlement.

Assembled in India - which, frankly, sounds almost as surreal as getting Yorkshire pudding in Karol Bagh - the Sport carries all the trappings of British indulgence, wrapped in a more approachable package. Compact in Range Rover speak means nearly five metres long and tipping the scales at over two and a half tonnes, but practically featherweight by Land Rover standards.

Engine Performance

Under its chiselled bonnet lies the 3.0-litre Ingenium straight-six diesel - a proper luxury SUV engine, not the sort of undersized four-pot you sometimes see wearing an oversized badge. With 258kW (346bhp) and 700Nm on tap, there's no waiting around for power to arrive. The torque delivery is instant, making quick overtakes effortless, and the eight-speed automatic keeps the motor right in its sweet spot. Land Rover claims 0-100 km/h in 5.8 seconds; our tests returned 6.5 seconds, which is still impressive for something that weighs as much as a small flat. The straight-six layout brings the kind of refinement you feel through the floor and hear in the muted growl - it's a blend of muscle and manners, which is exactly what a Range Rover should be.

Driving Dynamics

If you've driven previous generations of the Sport, you'll know they were good, but this one feels more confident when pushed. The Dynamic Air Suspension keeps the body in check without turning the ride into a brick, while Adaptive Dynamics does a fine job reading the road and settling the chassis before you even notice a bump. The steering has the kind of weight you'd expect in a driver-focused SUV, but it's not heavy for the sake of being heavy - it feels connected. Torque Vectoring by Braking trims away the Sport's size in tighter bends, letting you carry more speed than you think possible in something this tall. On ghats, it feels composed and planted, with a predictable balance that encourages you to lean on it, not tiptoe around its bulk.

Look and Poise

The "Sport" in its name isn't just about how it drives - it's in the way it stands. This Dynamic HSE trim wears 22-inch wheels and the Dynamic Exterior Pack, which sharpens its stance without going full boy-racer. The proportions are spot on: tauter and more purposeful than the full Range Rover, yet unmistakably from the same lineage. The black contrast roof works well with the Giola Green paint, giving it just enough presence to turn heads without shouting for attention. It's a car you can roll up to a luxury hotel in without feeling overdressed, but also something that won't look out of place caked in monsoon mud on a Sunday morning.

Cabin and Features

Inside, it's quintessential Range Rover. Caraway and Ebony Semi-Aniline leather seats feel indulgent, and the heating, ventilation, and massage functions make long drives genuinely relaxing. The detailing - Natural Black veneer, duo-tone headlining, and the crisp 13.1-inch Pivi Pro touchscreen - delivers luxury without lapsing into gaudy excess. The 3D Surround Camera and Adaptive Cruise with Steering Assist are not gimmicks - they take the stress out of tight city lanes and unpredictable highway traffic.

The Indian Perspective

From our roads, the 900mm wading depth is more than just an impressive figure - it's a real-world advantage during the monsoons. Four-zone climate control with Cabin Air Purification Pro feels essential given our air quality, and practical touches like gesture tailgate operation and powered rear seats make it as easy to live with as it is to admire.

It's not a bruiser like a Cayenne Turbo or RSQ8 - and it doesn't need to be. The Range Rover Sport strikes the right balance between comfort, capability, and sportiness. Made in India? That's the cherry on top. Because nothing says "tables turned" quite like assembling one of Britain's crown jewels right here in our backyard.