When it comes to handling prowess, the turning circle of a vehicle can have a significant impact on its overall driving experience. The Land Rover Range Rover Sport, a luxurious and performance-oriented SUV, certainly boasts an impressive turning circle, allowing it to navigate tight corners and negotiate urban environments with relative ease. Currently at its third generation, the Range Rover Sport III, the turning circle of this vehicle has evolved over the years, offering different levels of maneuverability to its drivers.
Initially, with the Range Rover Sport I (2005-2009) and the first facelift (2009-2013), the turning circle had a radius of 11.60 meters. However, as the model underwent an upgrade in its second generation, the Range Rover Sport II (2013-2017), the turning circle expanded to 12.60 meters. With the first facelift of the second generation (2018-2022), it shrunk slightly to 12.50 meters, before widening again to 12.70 meters in the most recent Range Rover Sport III (2022-now). While there have been some fluctuations, the overall trend has been toward a larger turning circle in the newer generations of the Range Rover Sport.
In comparison to other Land Rover models, the Range Rover Sport sits in the middle of the lineup in terms of turning circle size. The Range Rover, for example, has a more nimble turning circle of just 11.00 meters, while the Discovery Sport and Range Rover Evoque come close at 11.80 meters and 11.90 meters respectively. In other relatives, such as the Range Rover Velar, the turning circle sits at 12.00 meters. However, the Range Rover Sport's turning circle still outperforms the larger Discovery and Defender models, which require 12.80 meters and 13.10 meters respectively to pull off a full turn.
When compared to its closest competitors, the Range Rover Sport falls into a diverse range of turning circles. For instance, models like the Mercedes-Benz GLE, Volvo XC60, and Audi Q5 all exhibit a slightly better turning circle of 11.80 meters, while others such as the Jaguar F-Pace and BMW X4 come in at 12.20 meters and 12.10 meters respectively. The Range Rover Sport tends to surpass more sizeable competitors like the Mercedes-Benz GLS, Audi Q8, and BMW X7, which boast turning circles of 12.50 meters, 13.30 meters, and 13.00 meters respectively. Overall, the Range Rover Sport's turning circle reflects its position as a mid-range SUV, offering a balance between agility and size.