2021 Range Rover, Range Rover Sport swap TDV8 for inline-six

Goodbye turbo-diesel V8, hello Ingenium inline-six.

Range Rover has given its largest, most luxurious four-wheel drives a refresh for 2021, and the old-fashioned turbo-diesel V8 engine is in the firing line.

It’ll be replaced by a fresh 3.0-litre inline-six turbo-diesel backed by mild-hybrid technology, for stronger outputs and lower emissions than the larger unit it replaces.

Two versions will be available in the larger Range Rover: the D300, and the D350.

The former packs 221kW of power and 650Nm of torque, with a claimed fuel use figure of 8.6L/100km on the tougher WLTP test cycle. The latter ups power to 258kW and torque to 700Nm, but fuel use worsens to 9.2L/100km on the same WLTP test.

The Range Rover Sport is also offered with a D250 version with 183kW and 600Nm. Although it’s less powerful, even the base turbo-diesel is backed by mild-hybrid technology.

It’s not all about efficient towing engines, though. At the top end of the updated line-up sits the Range Rover SVAutobiography Dynamic Black edition.

Power still comes from a 5.0-litre supercharged petrol V8 engine with 416kW of power and 700Nm of torque, but the exterior blends Santorini Black paint with gloss black highlights, 22-inch wheels in black, and black brake calipers.

At the top end of the Range Rover Sport line-up sits the SVR Carbon Edition, with 423kW and 700Nm from its 5.0-litre supercharged petrol V8 engine.

As the name suggests, the exterior packs the full gamut of carbon-fibre trim pieces from the Range Rover SVO catalogue. They look distinctive, and help cut 30kg from the car’s weight figure.

It’s not a Caterham by any measure, but every little bit helps, right?

Regardless of which model you select, the 2021 Range Rover line-up now features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard.

It’s also been updated to finally include autonomous emergency braking and lane-keeping assist as standard, although adaptive cruise control is still optional.

2021 Range Rover line-up for Australia

• D300: 221kW/650Nm 3.0-litre six cylinder diesel MHEV
• D350: 258kW/700Nm 3.0-litre six cylinder diesel MHEV
• P400: 294kW/550Nm 3.0-litre six-cylinder petrol
• P400e: 297kW/640Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol PHEV
• P525: 386kW/625Nm 5.0-litre V8 Supercharged
• P565: 416kW/700NM 5.0-litre V8 Supercharged

2021 Range Rover Sport line-up for Australia

• D250: 183kW/600Nm 3.0-litre six-cylinder diesel MHEV
• D300: 221kW/650Nm 3.0-litre six-cylinder diesel MHEV
• D350: 258kW/700Nm 3.0-litre six-cylinder diesel MHEV
• P300: 221kW/400Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder
• P400e: 297kW/640Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder PHEV
• P525: 386kW/625Nm 5.0-litre V8 Supercharged
• P575: 423kW/700Nm 5.0-litre V8 Supercharged