• Generous amount of interior space
• Space for five adults, plus optional third row
• Boot is large, but high to access

It’s a large 4x4 so practicality is a major selling point. There’s plenty of room up front, with a commanding view for all, and even with the tallest driver, there’s a good amount of space in the back seats. Three can fit across the middle row, and the floor is almost flat to make things more comfortable.

For the first time Land Rover is offering occasional seating in the third row that sits under the floor in the boot. The electrically-powered seats are raised and lowered by a button in the boot and fold flat when not in use. It’s worth noting that it’s not available on P400e, SDV8, HST and SVR models and while they’re useful, the seats are really only suitable for smaller passengers. If you want a proper seven-seater, get a Discovery.

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Boot space and storage

The boot is large, with 780 litres of space on offer in five-seat mode, but bear in mind this is measured to the roof. It’s a long load space, but the lip is high. However, you can lower the suspension to make things a little more accessible – just watch out for the edges of the tailgate and bashing them with your head.

The seats all fold into the floor to free up a total area of 1,686 litres, but the P400e loses out a little due to the raised boot floor of 46mm to store the hybrid hardware, dropping storage space by 79 litres.

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It’s also worth noting the battery charge socket is mounted on the front grille depending on how accessible your charge point is.

Powered tailgates are standard across the range and there is more stowage space inside including two glove boxes for the front passenger, large central stowage under the armrest that can include cooler box and twin large cup holders in the central console. Given the size of the doors, the storage bins are surprisingly small with restricted access.

Is it easy to park?

There’s no hiding from it, the Range Rover Sport is large. Around town it can feel it in tight car parks, and country lanes can provide a slight obstacle if you’re met by another driver. However, that high driving position allows an excellent view out, so it’s easier to judge the extremities of the car than you might expect.

Safety

• Long list of standard safety kit
• Advanced driver assistance tech available
• Regular Range Rover scored five stars by Euro NCAP

Safety levels are extremely impressive thanks to a strong suite of passive and active safety systems.

As well as a full suite of airbags including curtain and side ones, the Sport has 11 active safety systems including stability programmes, hill descent control for off-roading and braking control systems all designed to help avoid an accident in the first place.

The driver assistance technology available on the Sport improved with each refreshed, and post-facelift 2019 models will include all, or most of these features:

• Parking sensors all-round
• 360-degree cameras
• Blindspot monitoring
• Driver condition monitor
• Clear exit monitor (checks rearwards when opening the doors)
• Rear traffic monitor
• Traffic sign recognition with adaptive speed limiter
• Adaptive cruise control with queue assist

There’s also the option of an SOS system which will alert emergency services in case of an accident where the airbags have been deployed. The Range Rover, to which the Sport is very closely related, scored the maximum five stars in the independent Euro NCAP safety tests in 2012 so we’d expect a very similar score, although the Sport hasn’t been tested specifically.