RR SPORT.sk
SKEN
Buyer's guide

Know the car before you buy it

What to know about the Range Rover Sport: the generations, the plug-in versions, what tends to break, and how to bring one into Slovakia.

Three generations

Choose a generation to see what it is, what it costs now and what to watch for.

Facelift · Plug-in hybrid available

Built
2013–2022, facelift for model year 2018
Body
All-aluminium monocoque
Plug-in hybrid
P400e, 2018–2022: 2.0 petrol plus electric motor, 404 PS
Asking prices, Oct 2026
€27,000–50,000 for 2018–2021 cars (mobile.de 'good price' band)
Engines
3.0 V6 and Ingenium 6-cylinder diesels, 2.0 and 3.0 petrols, P400e plug-in, 5.0 V8 and SVR
VIN starts
SALWA…
Watch for
Air suspension, V6 diesel crankshafts, 12 V battery drain, P400e water-pump belt recall
Sources

The plug-in versions side by side

Five plug-in Sports have been sold. The newer ones have three times the battery and roughly twice the real electric range.

P400eL494

2.0 four-cylinder petrol + 85 kW electric motor. 31 miles on the old NEDC test, so expect well under 50 km in real use.

System power404 PS
Battery, gross13.1 kWh
Electric range (NEDC)50 km
Sold2018–2022
P440eL461

3.0 six-cylinder petrol + electric motor, 620 Nm. Launch version of the current car.

System power440 PS
Battery, gross38.2 kWh
Electric range
No reliable figure found
Sold2022–2023
P510eL461

The more powerful launch version, 700 Nm. Often Autobiography or First Edition trim.

System power510 PS
Battery, gross38.2 kWh
Electric range
No reliable figure found
Sold2022–2023
P460eL461

Replaced the P440e in mid-2023 with a stronger 218 PS electric motor. 31.8 kWh usable.

System power460 PS
Battery, gross38.2 kWh
Electric range (WLTP)121 km
Sold2023–
P550eL461

Replaced the P510e in mid-2023. Autobiography only.

System power550 PS
Battery, gross38.2 kWh
Electric range (WLTP)116 km
Sold2023–

Electric range figures come from different tests. NEDC (P400e) is far more optimistic than WLTP, so the real gap between the old and new cars is bigger than the bars show. The L461 plug-ins charge at up to 7 kW on AC and 50 kW on DC.

Sources

What goes wrong

The problems owners and specialists report most, with the costs they quote. Filter by area or generation.

Air suspension Serious

Air suspension leaks and tired compressors

The most reported problem on every generation. A leaking air spring makes the compressor run until it dies, so find the leak before replacing the compressor.

Strut €550–1,000 · compressor €900–1,500 in Germany. A £45 O-ring kit fixed one leaking valve block.
L320L494L461wheelstreet.lt 2026; ninetorque 2024
Plug-in system Serious

P400e water-pump belt (recall)

The belt that drives the water pump can fail. The engine then overheats and coolant can reach the hot turbo shield, which is a fire risk. About 2,300 Range Rover and Sport plug-ins from 2018–22 were recalled.

Recall work is free at a Land Rover dealer. Ask for proof it was done.
L494autos.yahoo.com
Plug-in system Serious

P400e battery ageing

Capacity drops noticeably after about five years, and the battery-management software needs updates. A battery health printout matters more than the odometer.

A new traction battery costs up to €12,000.
L494wheelstreet.lt 2026; westminstermotors.ca
Plug-in system Costly

L461 plug-in battery recalls

Recall N786 replaced the high-voltage pack on a few 2023 cars because of a loose busbar bolt. Recall D100 (and D101) replaces one or two battery modules on 2023–25 plug-ins whose capacity is below spec.

Free at the dealer. A dealer must not sell an affected car before the work is done.
L461NHTSA 23V-568; dot.report
Engine Costly

2.0 Ingenium petrol timing chain

The petrol engine in the P400e can stretch its timing chain and suffer variable valve timing faults, though less often than the 2.0 diesel. Listen for a rattle on a cold start.

Check the service history for oil changes on time. No reliable repair price found yet.
L494autoguide 2026
Engine Serious

3.0 V6 diesel crankshaft failure

Not a plug-in problem, but the reason many Sports are cheap. The TDV6/SDV6 can fail suddenly, often between 130,000 and 190,000 km, worst on 2014–15 cars.

A fitted replacement engine costs £2,700–9,000.
L320L494Parkers; enginefinders 2025
Engine Costly

3.0 Ingenium oil filter housing (recall N908)

The housing on 2024–25 six-cylinder engines was made from the wrong plastic and can crack, leaking oil with a fire risk.

Recall: new housing and filter, free.
L461NHTSA 24V-450
Electrics Costly

48 V converter on mild hybrids

On mild-hybrid models from 2019–2024 the DC/DC converter can fail, cutting drive power and lights. The recall was expanded in September 2026.

Software update at the dealer, free.
L494L461auto123, Sep 2026
Electrics Costly

Flat 12 V battery

Control modules that don't go to sleep drain the 12 V battery on the L494. A software update addresses it; a battery that went flat many times may need replacing.

Genuine AGM battery about £180–235 ex VAT in the UK.
L494PistonHeads 2021; westminstermotors.ca
Electrics Annoying

Infotainment freezes

Touch Pro screens on the L494 freeze or reboot; hold power and volume to reset, then ask for a software update. Pivi Pro on the L461 mostly gets fixes over the air.

Usually software only.
L494L461westminstermotors.ca; wheelstreet.lt 2026
Gearbox and driveline Costly

8-speed gearbox fluid

The ZF 8-speed is called 'sealed for life', but the valve block wears out around 200,000 km if the fluid is never changed.

Fluid change every 80,000–100,000 km: €550–750.
L494L461wheelstreet.lt 2026
Gearbox and driveline Annoying

Transfer box and differential fluid

Low fluid makes the front differential whine. Transfer box oil should be changed every 60,000 km.

Transfer box service €280–450.
L320L494wheelstreet.lt 2026; PistonHeads 2021
Body Costly

Water leaks

Tailgate and sunroof seals, blocked panoramic-roof drains and wet parking sensors on the L494. Check the boot floor and headlining.

Usually seals and drains; wet electronics cost more.
L494PistonHeads 2021
Body Costly

Aluminium accident repairs

The L494 and L461 are aluminium. Land Rover does not allow straightening damaged structural panels; they are cut out and riveted and bonded on a jig. A cheap repair hurts the value.

Needs an aluminium-capable body shop.
L494L461wheelstreet.lt 2026; JLR repair guidance

Recalls to check by VIN

Ask any Land Rover dealer to look up open recalls for the VIN before you pay. These are the ones that matter most for a Sport.

— L494 P400e

P400e water-pump drive belt can fail, causing overheating and a fire risk. About 2,300 cars, 2018–2022.Recall repair · autos.yahoo.com

D100 / D101 L461 PHEV

High-voltage battery capacity below specification on 2023–2025 plug-ins (emissions recall). Issue dates of May–June 2026 are not confirmed. UnverifiedOne battery module replaced (D100) or two (D101) · dot.report

N786 L461 PHEV

Busbar bolt in the high-voltage battery not tightened enough; arcing and fire risk. Six 2023 cars.Battery pack replaced · NHTSA 23V-568

N908 L461

Oil filter housing made from the wrong plastic on 2024–25 six-cylinder engines; oil leak and fire risk.New housing and filter · NHTSA 24V-450

DC/DC L494 · L461

48 V DC/DC converter failure on 2019–2024 mild hybrids: loss of drive and lights. Expanded 25 Sep 2026.Software update · auto123

Oct 2018 L494

Autonomous emergency braking problems.Recall repair · PistonHeads

Sources

Pre-purchase checklist

Take it to the viewing. Ticks are saved in this browser only.

Tick each item as you check it.

Papers and history
Plug-in system
Engine and gearbox
Air suspension
Body and test drive

VIN decoder

Paste a 17-character VIN to see the generation, model year and plant. Check it against the advert: badges and titles are often wrong.

The example is made up.
Sources

Bringing one to Slovakia

Five steps for a private buyer bringing a used car from another EU country.

  1. Check

    Decode the VIN, run a history report, ask a dealer for open recalls, and have the car inspected where it stands.

    History report from €12.90 + VAT (Cebia)

  2. Pay and collect papers

    Bank transfer only. Get the invoice or contract, both parts of the registration certificate, the CoC and the service book.

    The seller's VAT is in the price

  3. Transport

    A shared truck is the usual choice. Or drive it home on the origin country's export plates with their insurance.

    €430 Budapest · €640 Munich · €840 Brussels

  4. Slovak checks

    Approval at the district office, the originality check (KO) and the technical and emissions inspection (STK/EK).

    About €270 with plates

  5. Register

    At the police traffic inspectorate with part II of the certificate, proof of compulsory insurance (PZP) and the fee.

    Fee €200 for a plug-in, up to €450 for a Euro 6 diesel above 210 kW

Typical plug-in from Germany or Italy: about €1,100–1,300 on top of the asking price. Rules and fees change, so check with the district office before you buy.

Sources