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PROS ›› Performance, driving dynamics, attractive design, EV range CONS ›› Expensive, a master of nothing, some cheap plastics

There are luxury SUVs that excel at one thing. Some carve canyons despite weighing as much as a small house. Others function as rolling living rooms . A handful can actually push deep into the wilderness without embarrassing themselves. The 2026 Range Rover Sport PHEV tries to do all three at once, which sounds like a recipe for doing none of them well.

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That sounds like a compromise for about a day. Spend a week behind the wheel and the impression flips, and being close to excellent at nearly everything starts to look like the bigger achievement.

QUICK FACTS

› Model: 2026 Range Rover Sport PHEV

› Price: $83,700 (starting) / $95,100 (As Tested) + $1,625 Destination Charge

› Dimensions: 194.7 in L × 80.6 in W × 71.7 in H (4,946 × 2,047 × 1,820 mm)

› Curb Weight: 6,173 lbs (2,800 kg)

› Powertrain: 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six PHEV, 38.2-kWh battery, 8-speed automatic AWD

› Output: 543 hp (405 kW) / 590 lb-ft (800 Nm)

› Fuel Economy: 53 MPGe combined / 21 mpg combined gasoline-only (EPA)

› EV Range: 53 miles (85 km) EPA

› On Sale: Now

SWIPE

Our tester arrived in Varesine Blue with a Caraway and Ebony interior and a sticker price of $96,725. On paper, it’s a plug-in hybrid aimed at buyers who want to reduce fuel consumption without sacrificing luxury. In reality, it’s one of the most complete two-row luxury SUVs currently on sale, even if a few rivals still beat it in specific categories.

Styling: Stealth Wealth Done Right

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Photos Stephen Rivers / Carscoops

The Range Rover Sport has always walked a fine line between elegance and aggression, but the PHEV leans heavily toward the former. Finished in Varesine Blue, this example perfectly captured the stealth-wealth aesthetic that has become synonymous with modern Range Rovers.

It slips through traffic and parking lots without attracting much attention, yet people who know what they’re looking at immediately recognize it as something special. The proportions remain excellent, the surfaces are clean, and the overall design feels cohesive from every angle.

Compared to the V8-powered Range Rover Sport we drove previously, this plug-in hybrid lacks some of the visual menace. That’s not a criticism. If anything, it feels intentional. The PHEV isn’t trying to announce itself with giant exhaust tips or an aggressive attitude. It’s content to look expensive rather than flashy.

Just about every design element feels restrained and confident, which is increasingly rare in a segment filled with oversized grilles and exaggerated styling.

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Interior: Mostly Excellent, Occasionally Frustrating

Photos Stephen Rivers / Carscoops

The cabin immediately reminds you where much of that six-figure price tag went. The Caraway leather gives the interior warmth, while the soft-touch materials and overall build quality create a genuinely premium atmosphere. The dashboard design deserves particular praise. It’s simple, elegant, and refreshingly free of unnecessary visual clutter. Better yet, it should age gracefully.

The seats are comfortable during long drives, but Range Rover’s unconventional adjustment philosophy remains a point of frustration. The way the seat reclines to increase thigh support feels like solving one problem while creating another. I’d much prefer separate, traditional controls.

The infotainment system is another area where patience pays off. Initially, it can feel a little intimidating compared to simpler competitors. Once you learn its logic, however, it becomes surprisingly intuitive and second nature to use. The surround view cameras are awesome, the controls on each side of the screen are so simple, and the graphics are crisp and clear.

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One feature that initially seemed gimmicky ended up winning me over: the individual armrests attached to the front seats. At first glance, they appear redundant given the large center console armrest. Then you realize you can access the center storage compartment without asking your passenger to move their elbow. It’s one of those small real-world details that proves somebody actually thought about daily usability.

More: Someone In Finland Has Committed A Range Rover Sport

The biggest interior complaint centers on the piano black trim. Why manufacturers continue using it remains a mystery. It looks cheap, feels cheap, attracts fingerprints instantly, and in this vehicle it’s located on surfaces you’ll constantly touch, including steering wheel controls and portions of the center console.

Storage space is plentiful throughout the cabin, making road trips and family duties easy. Rear passengers get heavily cushioned seats, dedicated climate controls, heated outboard seating positions, USB ports, and power seat adjustments. The middle seat is less accommodating, but that’s hardly unusual.

Photos Stephen Rivers / Carscoops

Cargo space is equally impressive. Particularly clever is Range Rover’s divider system that uses straps and a pop-up partition to secure and organize items. It’s a simple solution that reflects thoughtful engineering rather than marketing gimmicks.

Driving Impressions: Still Fast, Just Not V8 Fast

Range Rover

Having spent time in the V8-powered Range Rover Sport , the plug-in hybrid inevitably feels like a step down in outright excitement. It has less power, carries more weight, and simply isn’t as sharp when pushed. That said, most buyers will never care.

This SUV remains quicker than the vast majority of vehicles sharing the road. It handles itself with confidence, rides beautifully, and delivers its performance without broadcasting every throttle input through the exhaust system. Initial throttle response can feel slightly muted depending on the selected drive mode, but the electric motor does an excellent job of filling torque gaps when the battery has charge.

The extra mass is noticeable through the steering and brakes compared to the V8 model, but the Sport still feels remarkably agile for something this size. No, it won’t challenge a Porsche Cayenne for driving thrills, but it’s considerably more rewarding than most large American luxury SUVs. What impressed me most wasn’t the acceleration but the suspension. It rounds off sharp edges and rough pavement better than almost anything short of a full-size Range Rover.

Switch into EV mode, and the personality changes entirely. The Range Rover becomes almost silent, gliding through traffic with the sort of refinement buyers expect at this price point. EPA estimates call for up to 53 miles of electric range, and while real-world results will vary, that’s enough for many owners to complete their daily commute without using a drop of gasoline.

Over our week with the vehicle, we averaged 26.4 mpg. Keep in mind that figure can fall quickly if you frequently drive with a depleted battery. That said, plugging it in each evening became second nature. The charging port is easy to access, and a full overnight charge means many owners could go days without using much gasoline at all. We’d likely have had considerably higher mpg figures had I not been using Sport mode as often as I was.

Competition

Shoppers focused on performance should spend time in a Porsche Cayenne . The V8-powered Range Rover Sport is also worth considering if budget isn’t a concern. Those prioritizing off-road capability may find better value in upper-trim Jeep Grand Cherokee models, while buyers worried about long-term ownership costs should look closely at the Lexus TX.

More: Range Rover Sport Facelift Hides Its Changes In Plain Sight

Meanwhile, the current BMW X5 xDrive50e, Volvo XC90 Recharge, and Mercedes-Benz GLE 450e all offer compelling combinations of luxury, electrification, and stronger reputations for long-term dependability. BMW’s hand gets stronger soon, too, since the redesigned X5 arrives in early 2027 with a 50e PHEV good for 483 hp and 44 miles of electric range on a bigger 26.5-kWh battery. Still, the Range Rover Sport has something many of those competitors lack: its own unique character. And frankly, it might not be a rock climber, but it’ll out-duel most of these rivals when the road runs out, too.

Final Thoughts

It’s surprisingly difficult not to like the 2026 Range Rover Sport PHEV. Yes, it’s expensive. Yes, some rivals are better off-road, more reliable, or more engaging to drive. Yet very few competitors combine luxury, comfort, technology, efficiency, styling, and everyday usability quite as effectively. The biggest hurdle for many buyers won’t be the price. It’ll be Range Rover’s reputation for long-term reliability. Whether that’s fair or not, it’s a factor shoppers in this segment inevitably consider.

No vehicle approaching six figures can be described as practical. That’s not really the point. Buyers in this segment aren’t shopping with spreadsheets alone. They’re buying something that makes them feel a certain way every time they walk up to it.

The Range Rover Sport PHEV delivers exactly that. It offers a little environmental consciousness, a lot of luxury, enough performance to satisfy most drivers, and a personality that’s increasingly rare in a world of increasingly similar luxury SUVs. It may not be the best at any single thing. But as an overall package, it just might be one of the best two-row luxury SUVs you can buy.

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