Alright, seatbelts on, monocles polished, and Earl Grey in the cupholder — because today we’re taking the most British of British SUVs out for a spin: the 2025 Range Rover Sport SV Edition Two. A machine that costs as much as a Delhi bungalow, weighs more than two Indian elephants, and yet promises to climb a mountain, ford a river, and still drop your kids at DPS in time for morning assembly.
A Quick History Lesson (With Scones)
Launched in 2005, the Range Rover Sport was Land Rover’s way of saying:
“Why should the Germans have all the autobahn fun? Let’s build something that looks aristocratic, drives like a hooligan, and can still wade through water deeper than your neighbour’s swimming pool.”
Fast forward to 2025, and we’re now looking at the third-generation model, codenamed L461. Yes, it sounds like a Cold War missile system, but in reality, it’s Land Rover’s Modular Longitudinal Architecture — the same bones as the full-fat Range Rover. So essentially, this is the Range Rover’s younger cousin: equally posh, slightly more athletic, and just a little less intimidating at weddings.
Design: Minimalism With Maximum Attitude
Penned by design supremo Gerry McGovern (the chap who also shaped the Defender and Discovery), the Sport looks like it’s been to Savile Row for a bespoke tux. Minimalist styling, flush door handles, stealthy front grille, bonnet louvres, 22-inch alloys wrapped in Hungarian Michelin rubber, and quad tailpipes that scream “move aside, peasants”.
The Sunrise Copper paint on our test car glistens like a fancy whiskey glass in Soho, and yes, if you don’t like copper, you can pick from 31 colour options. Or better still, head to Special Vehicle Operations and order one in “I-don’t-care-how-much-it-costs Purple”.
Size & Stature: Gym Membership Included
At 5 metres long, 2 metres wide, and nearly 1.8 metres tall, the Sport takes up more road than your average DTC bus. The 280 mm ground clearance means speed bumps are just minor inconveniences, and with a 900 mm water-wading depth, this SUV could probably deliver Swiggy orders during Mumbai monsoons.
It weighs 2.5 tonnes, tows 3.5 tonnes, and yet can do 0–100 km/h in 3.9 seconds if you tick the right engine box. That’s not a car, that’s a physics experiment.
Engine Room: A Symphony of Explosions
The star of the show is the 4.4-litre BMW-sourced twin-turbo V8 (P635), producing 626 hp and 750 Nm. That’s the same heart found in BMW’s M5, M8, X5M, and X6M — except here it’s wearing tweed instead of neon trainers. Top speed? 290 km/h. Economy? 8 km/l if you drive like Gandhi, 4 km/l if you drive like Top Gear’s Stig.
If that’s too much drama, you can also pick from:
- A 523 hp V8 (slightly less mad).
- A 434 hp plug-in hybrid with 117 km electric range (great for Gurgaon dads who want “green plates” but still fancy exhaust pops).
- A 394 hp six-cylinder petrol (sensible uncle’s choice).
- Or the 346 hp diesel (for the guy who still believes torque is life).
Ride & Handling: Yoga on Wheels
The Sport doesn’t just ride — it glides. Thanks to its 6D Dynamics Air Suspension, Adaptive Dynamics 2, and All-Wheel Steering, this SUV is basically a yoga instructor in disguise. It stays flat in corners, shrugs off potholes like a hardened Delhiite, and can lower itself by 50 mm to help you climb in without resembling an Olympic hurdler.
And yes, it’s the first Land Rover to feature Adaptive Off-Road Cruise Control, so if you’re bored while rock crawling in Ladakh, the car can manage your speed while you check Instagram.
Interiors: A Gentleman’s Drawing Room
Step inside, and it’s less “car cabin” and more “five-star lounge with seatbelts”.
- Windsor leather (in black, red, or white), or fancy Ultrafabrics if cows aren’t your thing.
- 16-way massage seats with Body and Soul vibro-acoustic therapy (basically your chair vibrates to music like a nightclub sofa).
- 30-colour configurable lighting — because why settle for “blue” when you can have “peacock teal with undertones of royalty purple”?
- 29-speaker Meridian Signature sound system pumping out 1430 watts, loud enough to make your neighbour’s dog learn tabla rhythms.
- And of course, a fridge, because how else will you chill your sparkling water while driving through Rajasthan?
Tech Buffet: Everything Except WhatsApp
The 13.1-inch Pivi Pro touchscreen runs your life: navigation, CarPlay, AI traffic updates, climate, and maybe even your horoscope (give Land Rover time). Pair that with a 13.7-inch digital driver’s display, head-up display, and ClearSight rear-view mirror, and you’ll realise you’ve got more screens than most Indian living rooms.
The InControl Remote app lets you lock, unlock, pre-cool, or just “beep and flash” your ₹2 crore SUV from your phone — ideal for showing off in front of the in-laws.
Safety & Gadgets: Wrapped in Bubble Wrap
Euro NCAP gave it 5 stars, which is posh talk for “this thing could survive being rammed by a small asteroid”. With 6 airbags, 3D surround cameras, hill descent control, trailer stability assist, intrusion sensors, and even a first-aid kit, the Sport is basically your mobile safe room.
Boot Space: For Polo Mallets & Pet Labradors
647 litres of boot space (1491 litres with seats folded), metal scuff plates, power-folding rear seats, and even pet packs available as accessories. Because what’s a Range Rover without a golden retriever peeking out the back?
The Verdict: Royalty Meets Rogue
The 2025 Range Rover Sport isn’t just a car — it’s a statement. It says:
“I enjoy luxury, but I also like the idea of driving up a Himalayan goat trail after brunch.”
At ₹1.47 crore to ₹2.95 crore, it’s more expensive than most houses in Tier-2 India, but that hasn’t stopped 82,000 people every year from signing cheques worldwide. And honestly? I get it. Few cars can balance opulence, performance, and go-anywhere insanity quite like this British bruiser.
If the full-fat Range Rover is the King, the Sport is the Crown Prince: young, athletic, slightly rebellious, but still impeccably dressed.
