Inside the incredible evolution of the Range Rover Sport from 2004 to today – including the best used buys
LAND ROVER has just revealed the latest generation of its hugely popular Range Rover Sport.
Despite its hefty price tag when new, the Sport is a common site on our roads and sells in double the numbers of the larger Range Rover.
The Range Rover Sport was introduced back in 2004 as a smaller, more agile alternative to the larger Range Rover.
However, it needed to have the same peerless off-road ability and Land Rover even gave it seven seats.
The Sport also needed to feel every bit as plush inside despite costing less money to buy.
Thankfully it pulled all this off. The Sport has never looked or felt like a cheaper alternative and its sales success proves it.
We thought we'd take a look back at the Sports history over its three generations.
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Range Rover Sport Mk1 (L320)
4Launched in 2004, the Range Rover Sport wasn't universally accepted from the off.
Some thought it was too big a change from the normal Range Rover and couldn't see the point of a sporty Range Rover full stop.
It came with powerful V8 petrol or straight-six diesel engines but all good four-wheel drive and an automatic gearbox.
People quickly realised they could have the Range Rover driving position, off-road ability and status for less cash, though, and sales were strong.
There are many temptingly-cheap examples about on the used market, but this oldest of the Range Rover Sports is now notoriously unreliable.
Common issues include the electrics and air suspension, so make sure you buy a car with superb service history and sensible amount of owners.
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Range Rover Sport Mk2 (L494)
The second generation of the Range Rover Sport came along in 2013 and was all-new versus the previous model.
It followed the launch of the smaller Evoque and took much of its styling from that car, which most people agreed made it a better-looking thing than the old one.
There's a huge choice of engines including three diesels, three petrols and a plug-in hybrid version that will run on electricity alone.
An SVR version was also introduced (pictured above) with a supercharged 5.0-litre V8 petrol engine and race-car stripes which represented the fastest and most agile Sport of the lot.
There are now plenty of used Range Rover Sports of this generation on the market. It pays to buy one with sensible miles, a decent service history and that hasn't spent most of its life off-road.
Range Rover Sport Mk3 (L461)
The latest Range Rover Sport might not look it, but it is actually all-new.
Land Rover knows how well it sells, so it's not surprising they haven't messed with the looks too much.
It gets much of its styling from the larger and also recently-revealed Range Rover, plus much of its improved off-road tech, upgraded interior quality and more advanced infotainment.
There will be a six-cylinder diesel and petrol on offer at the lower end, both with mild-hybrid tech that helps save fuel.
There's also a plug-in hybrid model that'll go 70 miles on electricity alone and a 530hp twin-turbo V8 performance petrol model that'll crack 0-62mph in just 4.5 seconds.
Later down the line in 2024 you'll be able to buy a fully-electric Range Rover Sport too.
It's on sale now from £79,125, making it the most expensive Range Rover Sport to date by some margin.
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