• Commanding driving position is higher than most
• Very comfortable seats and lots of adjustment
• Dashboard looks classy, stylish and well constructed

As you may expect from such a large car, the Sport provides a typically commanding view of the road ahead – more so than in many other SUVs. It’s not quite as cocooning as a Porsche Cayenne or BMW X5 inside – you sit above the dashboard but the high centre console helps to keep everything close around you. This houses a pair of cupholders and the Terrain Response off-road controls, but most of the car’s other functions are controlled via a pair of touchscreens on post-facelift models.

Early cars have conventional heater controls, and this may be preferable for long-term ownership. On 2019-22 Range Rover Sports the the lower screen controls the heating, car settings and off-road controls. It all looks very swish, but the screens can be unresponsive and require a firm press – on one occasion they simply didn’t switch on when the car was turned on, which can be frustrating.

220

The top one tilts downwards when the car is switched on to make it easier to see, and is 10.0 inches in size – however it’s wider than it is higher, and can look a little slim. It’s bright and crisp, however in bright sunlight coming through the windows and the roof, it can be impossible to read. However, when you can see it, it’s easy to use with pleasant graphics and clear labelling – even if the lack of contrasting colours on certain menus can make it tricky to read buttons at a glance.

The central digital instrument display is also digital, and is clear and easy to read plus it’s simple to toggle through the menus. The graphics lag behind the class best and are nowhere near as slick, especially as you watch the speedometer needle skip its way around the dial.

The chunky steering wheel, adjustable for reach and rake, is tactile and the two mounted pods enables the driver to use the cruise control and audio system among others. The audio control acts as sensor pad too on the left spoke of the wheel, allowing you to adjust the volume if you swipe around the edge in a circular fashion.

Tactile quality is good, with plush materials used on the seats and there’s plenty of leather throughout on the doors and dashboard on some versions. And while it’s all solid looking, some fit and finish niggles can be found in parts, but it’s not a deal breaker. It’s just not quite as polished as a Porsche Cayenne’s interior.

Comfort

• Supreme comfort levels
• Refinement is strong
• Air suspension boosts comfort

Thanks to the Range Rover badge, there’s still a high element of comfort in the Sport. On the road, the Range Rover Sport is a very refined place to spend time in. You feel isolated from the outside world and there’s little vibration transmitted through the steering wheel, pedals and seats.

The seats are comfortable with a wide range of adjustment (all electric, of course), while the air suspension lets you waft over bumps and be adjusted for more handling composure.

It’s only in Dynamic mode where sharper ridges and potholes can send jolts and shudders into the cabin, but even then it’s not jarring over rough surfaces. We found it’s best left to the standard Comfort setting for the most balanced and comfortable feel.

It comes as no surprise that the fast SVR model is a bit firm, however, and loses some of the low-speed comfort. The larger front sports seats can restrict the view ahead of you when sat in the rear while the added side support of the rear outer seats themselves means that there isn’t really much room for a middle passenger.

Otherwise, all the standard models offer a generous amount of space for passengers and a significant amount of legroom for rear passengers who can also tilt the rear seats back and forward to suit. There’s plenty of shoulder- and head-room for all passengers plus four-zone climate control.

Even models with the largest alloy wheels manage to keep road and tyre noise to a minimum. Again, the SVR model trades a little of this comfort for the drama of its loud sports exhausts and impressive body control.

We found a little turbo whistle filtering its way into the driver’s side of the cabin in the P400e model and a little wind noise fluttering around the windscreen at motorway speeds, but that’s comparable with the general level of serenity.