Land Rover Range Rover Sport: L494 vs L461
Verdict
This is a new-versus-outgoing call with a huge Malaysian price sting: the Land Rover Range Rover Sport L494 is RM795,000, while the Land Rover Range Rover Sport L461 is RM1,698,000. The L461 is clearly the quicker, stronger and larger car, with 396 hp, 550 Nm, 5.7 seconds to 100 km/h and an 835-litre boot. But the L494 is far cheaper, still all-wheel drive, has five seats and carries a bigger 105-litre tank. If the budget gap matters, the older car makes a hard case.
Pick the Land Rover Range Rover Sport L494 if you want the Range Rover Sport experience for far less money and can live with 336 hp, no auto emergency braking and a 3-year warranty.
Pick the Land Rover Range Rover Sport L461 if you want the newer, faster and roomier version with 396 hp, auto emergency braking and a 5-year warranty.
Key differences
- Price: L494 RM795,000; L461 RM1,698,000
- Output: L494 336 hp and 450 Nm; L461 396 hp and 550 Nm
- Performance: L494 0-100 km/h in 7.2 s and 210 km/h; L461 5.7 s and 242 km/h
- Size: L494 4,850 mm long, 2,073 mm wide and 1,780 mm tall; L461 4,946 mm, 2,209 mm and 1,820 mm
- Practicality: L494 784-litre boot and 105-litre tank; L461 835-litre boot and 90-litre tank
- Safety and warranty: L494 has 6 airbags, no AEB and 3-year warranty; L461 has 6 airbags, AEB and 5-year warranty
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM 795,000✓ | RM 1,698,000 |
| Body type | SUV | SUV |
| Segment | Executive | Executive |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Powertrain | ||
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Engine | 2,995 cc | 2,997 cc |
| Power | 336 hp | 396 hp✓ |
| Torque | 450 Nm | 550 Nm✓ |
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Driven wheels | All Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance | ||
| 0–100 km/h | 7.2 s | 5.7 s✓ |
| Top speed | 210 km/h | 242 km/h✓ |
| Efficiency | ||
| Fuel economy | 11.3 L/100km | — |
| EV range | 0 km | — |
| CO₂ | 264 g/km | — |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,850 mm | 4,946 mm |
| Width | 2,073 mm | 2,209 mm |
| Height | 1,780 mm | 1,820 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,923 mm | 2,997 mm |
| Boot space | 784 L | 835 L✓ |
| Fuel tank | 105 L | 90 L |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 6 | 6 |
| Auto emergency braking | — | Yes |
| Ownership | ||
| Warranty | 3 | 5✓ |
| Road tax / year | RM 1,632✓ | RM 1,635 |
Specs shown for the selected variant of each car. ✓ marks the better figure where lower/higher is objectively better. Road tax: West Malaysia, private registration.
L494
- Much lower purchase price
- Bigger 105-litre fuel tank
- Quoted 11.3 L/100 km fuel economy
- Slower 7.2-second 0-100 km/h time
- No auto emergency braking
- Shorter 3-year warranty
L461
- Stronger 396 hp and 550 Nm engine
- Quicker 5.7-second 0-100 km/h time
- Adds auto emergency braking and 5-year warranty
- RM903,000 more expensive
- Wider 2,209 mm body needs more space
- Smaller 90-litre fuel tank
L494 vs L461 FAQ
Is the Land Rover Range Rover Sport L494 or Land Rover Range Rover Sport L461 better?
The L461 is better on performance, size, boot space, AEB and warranty. The L494 is the better buy if price matters, because it keeps the same five-seat SUV format and all-wheel drive at a much lower cost.
What is the price difference?
The Land Rover Range Rover Sport L461 costs RM903,000 more than the L494. That gap buys 60 hp, 100 Nm, a 1.5-second quicker 0-100 km/h time, AEB, a larger body, more boot space and two extra years of warranty.
Which Range Rover Sport is quicker?
The L461 is clearly quicker. It does 0-100 km/h in 5.7 seconds and reaches 242 km/h, compared with the L494’s 7.2 seconds and 210 km/h.