Highs Burly V-8 engine, bad-ass exterior design, capable both on the road and off it.Lows Expensive option packages, laggard infotainment responses, too-small third row.Verdict This rip-snorting powerhouse doubles as a both a luxury crossover and a performance SUV.
Overview
With a supercharged 5.0-liter V-8 under its hood, a menacing exterior design, and a spine-tingling exhaust note, the 2022 Range Rover Sport Supercharged and SVR will let you live out your Bond villain fantasy. This sport-tuned SUV is available with either 518 or 575 horsepower, and its shockingly quick acceleration is a shot of pure adrenaline. When it's not being pushed to its limit, though, the Range Rover Sport Supercharged offers all the trappings of a modern Land Rover, which is to say it's both comfortable and luxurious. Its performance potential means it competes with other luxury utes from Audi, BMW, Mercedes-AMG, and Porsche. Those competitors are all more satisfying to drive and provide even quicker acceleration, but the Rover has an undeniable movie star charm that some buyers will find irresistible.
What's New for 2022?
Land Rover's bad-boy SUV receives only one change for 2022: It now comes standard with USB-C ports for smartphone connectivity and charging.
The extra horsepower that's offered on the top-of-the-line SVR trim is nice, but in our opinion it's not quite worth the extra expense. Go with the HSE Dynamic trim and use that savings to add some cool options—or save it for your fuel bill. There's still a lot to love with this "base" model, including 21-inch wheels, a power sunroof, a 13-speaker Meridian sound system, 16-way power-adjustable heated front seats, leather upholstery, blind-spot monitoring, and a 360-degree exterior camera system.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
The supercharged 5.0-liter V-8 engine under the hood is what separates Supercharged and SVR models from more run-of-the-mill Land Rover Range Rover Sports. Simply put: It's a beast. Making 518 horsepower in "regular" Supercharged models and 575 in the tuned-up SVR trim, the supercharged V-8 that powers these models is smooth, guttural, and eye-wateringly quick. Paired exclusively with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive, this setup readily and easily blasts past legal speed limits. True to its off-road heritage, the Range Rover Sport Supercharged features an all-wheel-drive system with six selectable drive modes. Auto mode will suffice most of the time, while Dynamic dials in sportier settings for the engine and transmission. If the mood strikes you to take this nearly $100,000 SUV off the beaten path, there are modes for snow, mud, sand, and rock crawling. The Sport Supercharged grips the road tightly when cornering. The steering in our test car was well weighted (perhaps a little too heavy for soccer-drop-off duty, but perfect for back roads) and accurate. ....
