Land Rover Range Rover Sport (2025): Luxury Road-Trip Review

Land Rover's bespoke experiences: The best of the Mother City and surrounds

Last weekend, Jaguar Land Rover invited us to experience life as high-end travellers in our own city, living like those who typically fly business class, stay in the finest Cape Winelands hotels, dine at world-class restaurants, and own a Land Rover.

Cape Town has been named Time Out's 2025 'Best City in the World', surpassing Bangkok, New York, and Melbourne.

Izak Louw, Jaguar Land Rover South Africa's Product Communications Manager, notes that the brand crafts bespoke experiences like these for loyal customers who consistently choose their vehicles.

Day 1: Steenberg Wine Estate: Setting the tone for opulence

Arriving at the Steenberg wine farm, a fleet of shiny Range Rover Sport models awaited their passengers, ready to transport them to their next destination in plushness and style. However, before embarking on the luxurious road trip, we enjoyed a seasonal lunch at TRYN, as such a journey cannot be undertaken on an empty stomach. We indulged in ethically sourced fish accompanied by creamy fennel purée, a Cape Malay velouté, and crème brûlée for dessert.

Image courtesy of Tryn at Steenberg.

Navigating the Southern Suburbs in the Range Rover Sport Autobiography

Post-lunch, we set off on our first leg of the trip in the 3.0-litre diesel, all-wheel-drive Range Rover Sport D350 Autobiography (R2 595 100) with its 258 kW twin-turbocharged ingenium engine, wearing an Eiger Grey colour with a satin finish (R192 720), as well as the Black Exterior Pack (R29 100).

(Search for new and used Range Rover Sport models here.)

The D350 model in Autobiography trim.

Cape Town's leafy southern suburbs provided the perfect setting to appreciate the Autobiography variant’s splendid interior. However, we did manage to get a little lost because my navigator wasn’t focusing (he won’t admit it, but I suspect he dozed off thanks to the massaging seats and whisper-quiet cabin) and forgot to hit 'continue' on our on-screen route map.

We missed our coffee stop and decided to continue to Hazendal Wine Farm Hotel and Spa. These plush accommodations allowed us a few hours of rest on our private balcony before changing into suitable attire for an extravagant dinner in Stellenbosch.

The stunning superior rooms at Hazendal. (Image courtesy of Hazendal Hotel and Homestead)

At Hazenda's reception, our chauffeur welcomed us back into the familiar Range Rover Sport, the exact vehicle we had driven earlier. Settling into the plush back seats, I allowed myself to be enveloped by the Meridian Signature Sound System. Its 29 expertly placed speakers delivered an immersive auditory experience that felt as lifelike as a live performance.

The system’s Trifield 3D technology seamlessly blends stereo signals into a multidimensional soundscape perfectly tailored to the cabin's acoustics. Surrounded by this symphony of precision audio and the opulence of the first-class interior, I focused on appreciating every detail.

It's rather different relaxing in the back, and something I could become accustomed to!

Culinary bliss in the heart of Stellenbosch at Mertia Restaurant

Dinner at Mertia in the heart of Stellenbosch was the pinnacle of gastronomic artistry.

This new restaurant embodies the essence of fine dining in the Western Cape. Focusing on seasonal menus crafted from fresh, local ingredients, Mertia offers an intimate dining experience where guests engage closely with the kitchen. Every detail, from the carefully curated wine pairings to the evolving culinary journey, is designed to create a memorable experience that celebrates the best of South African heritage with a global twist.

Fine dining is taken to the next level in this intimate space.

We enjoyed the Autumn 12-course tasting menu, which celebrates fresh, seasonal ingredients meticulously crafted into exquisite and aesthetically pleasing dishes paired with the best wines that SA has to offer. By 11 a.m., we had concluded our final course, and our chauffeur was waiting outside to take us back to our hotel.

Edible art.

Day 2: Effortless power and city agility in the Range Rover Sport P460e Dynamic HSE PHEV

An hour later, we were greeted by our convoy of glistening Range Rovers and selected the powerful Range Rover Sport P460e Dynamic HSE PHEV (R 2 760 800), or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, as our test vehicle for the day. It was dressed in one of the brand's latest colours, Carpathian Grey, an R40 400 option, with an optional Black Exterior Pack (R29 100) for a more mysterious ambience.

This hue is one of the Land Rover brand's latest colour choices.

I was immediately impressed by the soundless powertrain; the powerful petrol-electric hybrid can run on EV power alone for up to +/- 115 km, supporting efficiency and performance on every drive. And it’s in a location like the bustling streets of Cape Town, where a vehicle like this makes the most sense. Despite the Range Rover’s voluminous dimensions, it can flit through traffic like a much smaller, lighter car with its instant acceleration capabilities. At the same time, its semi-autonomous driving assistants take all the hard work out of driving, if you prefer.

The attractive steering wheel allows the Range Rover Sport to take over most of the driving duties with the press of a button.

This Range Rover Sport has a 3.0-litre, straight-six-cylinder engine boosted by an electric motor for 324kW and 650Nm of torque! Yet, we predominantly used electric power for our day's drive; our consumption came to 0.7 litres per 100 km, to be exact. You also have the option of saving your electric power for later if you know you're going to be in a traffic-heavy situation.

City driving can be done in full EV mode.

On our route from Camps Bay to Chapman’s Peak, Cape Town was showing off: windless and balmy, with the ocean in the most luminous turquoise blue I had ever seen. While driving in convoy, onlookers must have wondered whether our president and his entourage were travelling through Mother City because we felt like true VIPs and attracted so much attention that we nearly stopped traffic!

A final indulgence with breathtaking views at Cape Point Vineyards

After soaking in the scenery from the comfort of our Range Rover Sport, we arrived at Cape Point Vineyards restaurant—a stylish destination renowned for its delectable local seafood, exceptional wines, and unparalleled views of Noordhoek Beach stretching into the distance. As the sun began casting long shadows, I savoured the last sip of my pink margarita, knowing we would soon return to Steenberg. My partner, eager to take the wheel for the final leg, had insisted on driving, leaving me free to fully enjoy the last moments of a spectacular day.

As we pulled into Steenberg's familiar driveway, my co-pilot regretted not taking a longer driving shift when he had the chance, while I felt the onset of a case of the Sunday Blues. The busy N2 and the working week ahead were expecting us, like a prison awaits those destined to serve their time.

Related: Range Rover Sport D350 Dynamic HSE (2023) Video Review

Cape Point Vineyards is arguably the most scenic wine farm in Cape Town.

Living it up in a Land Rover

Stepping out of the Range Rover Sport one last time, I realised that the experience wasn't just a test drive but a carefully curated glimpse into a world of tailored experiences, where every detail is meticulously crafted to elevate each journey. And while my budget might not allow for this level of indulgence, the experience served as a potent reminder. Sometimes, it's worth aspiring to an extraordinary life, especially involving a brilliant vehicle like the Range Rover Sport.

Related: Range Rover Sport D350 - Destination: Adventure