Just over 100 miles into driving the 2025 Range Rover Sport Dynamic SE PHEV, the trip computer reports that I have an average fuel economy of 209.6 mpg. Thanks to two full charges, each of which added at least 50 miles of range, a good 100 of those miles were driven electrically. That’s how a plug-in hybrid should work, and it doesn’t hurt that it comes with the masculine good looks and class-leading off-road capability of the Range Rover Sport.
Plug-in hybrids often have too little electrical power to behave meaningfully even when they are powered solely by electricity. Their engines usually turn on when the driver presses the accelerator too hard or when the vehicle reaches a certain speed on the highway. Their batteries are also often too small to offer a reasonable range. The Range Rover Sport PHEV avoids or mitigates these problems.
I drive the smaller of two PHEV drives, this one is called the P460e. Admittedly, its 105-kilowatt (140-horsepower) motor, which sits between the engine and transmission, doesn’t have the power to move a 5,860-pound SUV with momentum. However, it is enough to keep up with traffic and even reach highway speeds without having to worry.
The vehicle switches to EV mode by default and the engine only starts when the battery charge is exhausted or I accelerate past a detent at the end of the pedal travel. For my first 101 miles, the engine didn’t start until I switched to hybrid mode. An available memory mode maintains the battery charge level for later use.
A large 31.8-kilowatt-hour battery gives the Range Rover Sport PHEV an EPA-rated electric range of 53 miles, and the trip computer shows 54 and 58 miles when I fully charge it twice. That’s more than enough for most commutes, so you can drive this big beast as an electric vehicle most of the time.
However, if you want the most power, you’ll have to go for the gasoline engine. Switch to hybrid mode and the engine backs up the turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six. Together, the duo produces 454 hp and 487 Nm of torque. The engine starts with a deep roar that sounds more refined than the typical V6. Power arrives quickly thanks to the immediacy of the electric motor, which also provides torque filling when shifting the smooth and responsive eight-speed automatic transmission. It’s enough to propel this heavy SUV from 0 to 60 mph in a whopping 5.3 seconds. The P550e step-up plug-in hybrid powertrain increases power to 542 horsepower and reduces the 0-60 mph time to 4.7 seconds thanks to a larger 218 horsepower engine.
The disadvantage of using the engine is its inefficiency. The EPA rating is 21 mpg in the city, 22 on the highway and 21 mpg combined when running on gasoline. After my electric driving phase, I drive another 110 miles in hybrid mode and watch the fuel economy drop precipitously to 36.2 mpg. That’s still efficient for a powerful and heavy SUV and could be even more efficient with another load.
There’s also a dynamic downside to the plug-in hybrid system, as it adds about 800 pounds to the Range Rover Sport’s weight. This is not the sporty luxury crossover of past generations. It has too much cornering, too much understeer, too little grip and only a mediocre driving feel due to the heavy steering. However, it is one of the best SUVs on the market. My tester’s optional 285/45R22 Pirelli Scorpion Zero all-season tires work with the standard air suspension and adaptive dampers to almost completely obscure bumps. For an SUV, it’s not just a great ride; it would be welcome in a Mercedes-Benz S-Class.
Buyers who want better handling have alternatives. A $7,185 Stormer Handling Package adds active anti-roll bars powered by the 48-volt electrical system and rear-axle steering that can turn the rear wheels up to 7.3 degrees relative to the front wheels. The roll bars would better control body lean and rear axle steering would shorten the turning circle and increase stability when cornering quickly.
The air suspension also enables impressive off-road capability. This gives the vehicle a standard ground clearance of 8.5 inches, but in off-road mode this is increased to 10.8 inches to better overcome obstacles on the way. The vehicle can also be lowered by two inches to make it easier to get in and out or load things in the back.
Other off-road features include standard all-wheel drive with a center locking differential, an optional two-speed transfer case, hill descent control, and low-speed cruise control that can be adjusted from 1.8 to 19 mph. The Range Rover Sport also features the Terrain Response 2 system, which automatically adapts the vehicle’s systems to different surfaces and offers specially tailored modes for mud tracks, sand, rock crawling, wading and grass, gravel and snow.
Short front and rear overhangs also improve off-road capability, but these all-season tires aren’t particularly well-suited to mud and sand.
From the cockpit, the Range Rover Sport has a luxurious feel to match its driving qualities, but it relies too heavily on technology. Standard luxury features on the SEL Dynamic include Windsor leather upholstery, 20-way power heated and ventilated front seats, and heated steering. My tester also has the optional 19-speaker, 800-watt Meridian audio system ($1,200) and heated and ventilated outboard rear seats ($300). The leather is offset by attractive charcoal gray fabric on the door panels, a piano finish on the center console and metal trim.
Tech features include a 13.7-inch digital instrument cluster, a 13.1-inch infotainment touchscreen, wireless smartphone charging, satellite radio, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa connectivity. However, the touchscreen takes over almost all controls, including the climate settings. It makes for a clean layout, but I have to search the touchscreen for controls that should be just a button press away. This is particularly risky given Land Rover’s reputation for electronic gremlins.
The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport Dynamic SE PHEV starts at $96,725, including a $1,625 destination charge. That’s $4,300 more than the base version with just the inline-six. With a plethora of options, my tester costs $106,405 and I would recommend adding the Stormer Handling Package. I’d also be tempted to step up to the Autobiography with its more powerful P550e powertrain for $121,260, although I couldn’t justify bumping the entire price up to $182,550 for the SV Edition Two model.
Any choice for the Range Rover Sport PHEV is a good choice. This is a plug-in hybrid done in the right way, and the vehicle that surrounds it is one of the best-looking, best-driving and most capable on- and off-road vehicles on the market.
Images: Land Rover
