2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport vs 2023 Honda HR-V

The 2023 Honda HR-V underwent a significant styling overhaul that modernized its appearance. Gone were some of the quirky details of its predecessor, such as the hidden rear door handles, replaced by a more sophisticated and clean design. The lowered beltline and simplified detailing contributed to a sleeker look, while the disappearance of the black molding strips on the roof and the windshield wipers hidden under the hood's lip added to its refined aesthetic. The version tested was in a Nordic Forest Pearl, a new color described as a dusky, oceanic gray-green. This, along with Urban Gray Pearl, were the new color offerings for the model.

Standard 17-inch silver alloy wheels adorn the HR-V, with the EX-L trim sporting Shark Gray-finished wheels and the Sport trim boasting distinct 18-inch black alloy wheels, a black rear spoiler, a chrome exhaust, and a uniquely styled grille. The interior options ranged from black or gray cloth seats, with the Sport trim adding orange contrast stitching, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, heated front seats, heated side mirrors, and illuminated vanity mirrors. The EX-L trim, which was tested, showcased perforated leather seats with enhanced shoulder support, dual-zone climate control, a power moonroof, and an eight-way power driver's seat.

The interior design of the HR-V displayed significant refinement, merging elements from the Civic's interior to produce an upscale feel. Features like the metal honeycomb grille hiding air vents and touch-sensitive reading lights added to its premium ambiance. The larger rear seat window and rear windshield from the previous model improved visibility, making the fastback look practical and stylish.

For the 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport, Land Rover's descriptions often included terms like “modernist” and “reductive,” emphasizing a clean and simple design ethos. This contrasted with the more ostentatious preferences of some luxury SUV buyers. Despite this, Land Rover provided options for those wanting a flashier appearance, such as the Firenze Red paint and 23-inch diamond-turned wheels. Our test vehicle featured a subdued Eiger Gray paint with silver 23-inch wheels and a Black Exterior Pack, delivering a polished and understated look, even without an optional black-painted roof. Inside, the Deep Garnet over Ebony theme paired with aluminum and shiny black trim exuded luxury.

Available in SE P360, SE Dynamic P400, and Autobiography P440e specifications, the tested SE Dynamic P400 had heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a Cold Climate Pack, a Technology Pack, and a full-size spare tire, bringing the MSRP to $98,420. Key design features included premium LED headlights, flush-mounted door handles, and surface LED technology on the taillights. Aerodynamic efficiency was showcased with a coefficient of drag of 0.29. Inside, sustainable Ultrafabrics and Windsor leather upholstery, known for its smooth suppleness and aroma, highlighted the cabin's luxurious and high-tech appearance.

The 2023 Honda HR-V offered one powertrain option: a 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine generating 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque. This was an improvement over the previous model by 17 horsepower and 11 pound-feet of torque. It featured a continuously variable transmission (CVT) with a Step-Shift function to imitate the sound of a traditional automatic transmission during acceleration. Paddle shifters were no longer available on any trim. The HR-V's drive modes included Normal, Snow, and ECON, with an additional Sport mode achievable by pulling the shifter back a notch. Snow mode optimized transmission and throttle response, while ECON mode managed throttle opening and air conditioning for better fuel efficiency. Sport mode extended the transmission's simulated gears but did not alter steering response. Though quieter than its predecessor, the HR-V remained noisy at moderate and high speeds.

Front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) were available for the HR-V, with its new suspension system and widened tracks enhancing its driving dynamics. While fun on winding mountain roads, it was not overpowered, leading some to hope for the inclusion of the 1.5-liter turbo four from the Civic in the future. Competitors like the Kia Seltos, Ford Bronco Sport, and Subaru Crosstrek offered multiple powertrain options, including turbocharged engines.

In contrast, the 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport aimed to balance refinement and comfort with driver-focused engagement. This challenge pitted the vehicle’s off-road prowess against its on-road performance. It featured a 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine with mild-hybrid technology available in the SE and SE Dynamic models, producing 355 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque in the SE P360 and 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet in the SE Dynamic P400. A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) drivetrain was exclusive to the Autobiography P440e, delivering 434 horsepower, 406 pound-feet of torque, and an estimated 51 miles of electric driving range.

The Range Rover Sport was also available with a 523-horsepower twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 for select early-build models. However, this engine option wouldn’t be available long-term, with a potential return in a future SVR model. A fully electric version was planned for 2024.

The tested SE Dynamic P400 could accelerate 0 to 60 mph in 5.4 seconds, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and Intelligent All-Wheel Drive, and boasted a towing capacity of 7,716 pounds. Fuel efficiency was better than expected, averaging 22.3 mpg during evaluation and 25.1 mpg on a drive from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara. However, in city driving, it consumed fuel rapidly.

The vehicle’s new architecture increased torsional stiffness by 35 percent, complemented by an adaptive damping air suspension that adjusted up to 500 times per second. This system provided ride comfort and competent handling, paired with Dynamic driving mode, cornering brake control, brake-induced torque vectoring, and roll stability control. The First Edition model added four-wheel steering and Dynamic Response Pro active electronic roll control for improved driving dynamics.

Despite its impressive capabilities, the Range Rover Sport lagged behind sport-tuned SUVs from Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz on twisty roads due to its tall and heavy feel, coupled with less engaging steering. Off-road, it excelled with 11.1 inches of ground clearance, 29.7-degree approach angle, 26.9-degree breakover angle, and 30-degree departure angle. It also had a 35.4-inch wading depth and tech features like Terrain Response, All Terrain Progress Control, and hill start/descent control.

The 2023 Honda HR-V, a subcompact SUV, managed interior space well despite its compact size. The center console featured a practical shelf under the controls for drive modes, parking brake, and hill descent control, providing ample space for small items. Rear-seat headroom saw a slight reduction due to the fastback design, measuring 38.0 inches compared to 39.4 inches in the front (38.4 inches with a moonroof). Cargo space stood at 24.4 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 55.1 cubic feet with them folded, slightly less than the previous model but still among the largest in its class. The 60/40 split rear seats featured a thoughtfully engineered hinge, creating a nearly flat floor when folded down. Passenger volume was 98.7 cubic feet for LX and Sport trims and 97.3 cubic feet for EX-L, with front-row legroom improved to 41.9 inches but rear space slightly decreased to 37.7 inches.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport preserved its commanding driving position, offering a tall, airy feel with a low dashboard, upright windshield angle, and thin roof pillars. The air suspension could lower for easier entry and exit, and the front seats came with 20-way power adjustments, heating, ventilation, and options for a massage feature, soft-closing doors, and a heated steering wheel. However, rear-seat comfort was less satisfactory, with limited legroom and knee clearance, hard front seatback panels, and narrow door openings. The deeply bucketed rear seats offered good lumbar support but a reclined posture. Storage options included a shallow tray under the center console, a deep center armrest bin, and a second deep bin under the sliding cupholder tray.

The cargo area measured 31.9 cubic feet, expandable to 53 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The power liftgate and controls to lower the air suspension for easier loading, along with the 40/20/40-split back seat, added convenience. The full-size spare under the cargo floor reduced storage space, but Land Rover provided a handy contraption with straps to prevent items from rolling around.

The 2023 Honda HR-V featured an updated infotainment system with a tablet-style touchscreen above the dash. Even the base LX trim now had Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, though wired, with EX-L offering wireless variants. Our EX-L tester boasted a 9-inch infotainment display, a Qi-compatible wireless charging pad, and an eight-speaker audio system, alongside the standard 7-inch digital gauge cluster and a 7-inch color touchscreen in lower trims. The system included six programmable shortcuts and Smart Shortcuts leveraging machine learning. The Sport trim upgraded to a six-speaker audio system and added Smart Entry, remote start, and walkaway auto lock.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport came with a 13.7-inch digital instrumentation display and a 13.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with haptic feedback. Standard features included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and SiriusXM satellite radio. While the Pivi Pro infotainment system was designed to learn and personalize user experience, it often proved frustrating and confusing. The native digital assistant struggled with simple tasks like finding nearby locations, and the system’s complexity detracted from its usability. However, the Range Rover Sport boasted impressive Meridian audio systems with up to 29 speakers and 1,430 watts, along with a next-generation Active Noise Cancellation system enhancing powertrain sound in Dynamic mode. A wireless smartphone charging pad was tucked under the infotainment screen but was difficult to access.

For the 2023 Honda HR-V, every trim level now came with the Honda Sensing suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), integrating features that were previously absent in base trims. Standard features included adaptive cruise control, collision-mitigation braking, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, road-departure mitigation, lane-departure warning, and forward-collision warning. New additions for 2023 encompassed traffic-sign recognition, traffic jam assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. A blind-spot information system and front and rear parking sensors were standard on the Sport and EX-L trims. However, the 2023 HR-V had not yet been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS but was expected to perform well due to improvements like enhanced airbags.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport was equipped with a plethora of advanced driving assistance systems, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. Additional features included automatic high-beam headlights, a driver monitoring system, front and rear parking sensors, and a surround-view camera with ClearSight Ground View. Wade Sensing provided assistance for water crossings, and Remote Park Assist enabled the vehicle to park itself via a smartphone app.

During evaluation, the adaptive cruise control with steering assist in the Range Rover Sport was found wanting, with sluggish response times and occasional wrestling required to override its inputs on freeway curves. The steering assist was particularly ineffective on freeways with inconsistently painted lane lines, detracting from its performance in complex driving situations.