JLR is rolling out its all-electric Range Rover Sport, packing impressive tech and performance with a more accessible price tag compared to its larger sibling, the Range Rover Electric. This launch comes as the automaker navigates significant job cuts.
While the full-fat Range Rover Electric made a splash earlier in September, the Sport EV arrives with less fanfare but holds major potential for JLR. Given that the Sport often outsells or matches the flagship Range Rover due to its lower cost, this electric version could be a crucial player for the company.
JLR claims the electric Sport boasts the stiffest body and lowest center of gravity in its lineup, thanks to the battery placement. It also offers a torque response that's a claimed 50 percent faster than the Range Rover Electric.
Under the hood (or rather, the floor), the Sport shares its powertrain with the bigger Range Rover, delivering up to 550 horsepower and 850 Newton-meters of torque from its dual 260-kilowatt motors. This setup allows for a brisk 0-60 mph sprint in 4.3 seconds during its Dynamic Launch Mode.
Range-wise, the 118.5-kilowatt-hour battery is estimated to provide up to 374 miles on the WLTP cycle, translating to around 320 miles under EPA testing. Thanks to its 800-volt architecture and split-charging capabilities, it can gain about 136 miles of range in just 10 minutes, or charge from 10 to 80 percent in 22 minutes under ideal conditions.
For handling both on and off-road, the Sport is equipped with all-wheel steering and an electronic Active Roll Control system that can deliver substantial force to keep the SUV stable. An adaptive dynamics system monitors hundreds of parameters every half-second to fine-tune body roll and pitch. It also maintains the Sport's legendary capability, able to wade through 900 mm of water and climb 45-degree inclines. Even aerodynamic tweaks to the grille and wheels are said to add up to 10 extra miles of range at highway speeds.
While JLR will also offer plug-in hybrid, gas, and diesel variants, the electric Sport is set to compete with rivals like the Porsche Cayenne Electric, BMW iX xDrive60, and Lotus Eletre 600, although the Porsche undercuts it significantly in price. Another competitor, the Polestar 3 Dual Motor, faces a ban in the US due to its Chinese ownership, making it unavailable to American buyers.
