Is It Worth Replacing a Range Rover Sport Engine? Cost Guide 2026

Q: How much does it cost to replace a Range Rover Sport engine?

Supply-only costs range from £5,000–£7,500 for a 276DT TDV6 to £8,000–£12,000 for a 508PS 4.4 SDV8. Fitted costs add 10–22 hours labour at £65–£75/hr (or significantly more in London/SE). Full data is in our Replacement Cost by Engine Code table.

Q: Which Range Rover Sport engine is most reliable?

The 508PS 4.4 SDV8 is the most reliable large diesel in the Range Rover Sport range, with no catastrophic design flaw. The 306DT SDV6 has a known crankshaft bearing failure risk — read our 306DT Crankshaft Bearing Failure page for full detail. The 276DT and 368DT in the L320 are best avoided unless you have a proven history.

The short answer: yes, if the fitted replacement cost is less than 60% of your Range Rover Sport's current market value. For an L494 or L461, that's almost always yes. For an ageing L320 with the 276DT or 368DT, it's often no. The answer depends entirely on your generation, engine and the vehicle's current condition — not on what you paid for it.

An L494 with the 306DT SDV6 recon supply costs £6,500–£9,500 [EM-QUOTE], fitted £7,500–£11,000 — safe on most examples worth £12,000+
An L494 with the 508PS 4.4 SDV8 recon supply costs £8,000–£12,000 [EM-QUOTE] — expensive, but L494 values are high enough to absorb it
An L320 with the 368DT 3.6 TDV8 recon supply costs £5,500–£8,000 [EM-QUOTE] — but L320 values of £4,000–£14,000 often make this a scrap decision
The 276DT 2.7 TDV6 in early L320s is the highest risk — oil pump failure kills the engine, and values are low enough that repair seldom makes sense

Next step: use the decision matrix below to cross-reference your Range Rover Sport's generation and value, or try our Repair vs Replace Calculator with your own figures.

Range Rover Sport Engine Replacement — The Decision Matrix

Quickly cross-reference your Range Rover Sport's approximate current value against the fitted replacement cost you've been quoted. This is the same matrix used across every Range Rover Sport-specific economics page on this site.

Vehicle Value	Quote up to £4,000	£4,000–£7,000	£7,000–£10,000	£10,000+
£4,000–£7,000	✅ Safe	⚠️ Watch	🔴 Scrap	🔴 Scrap
£7,000–£12,000	✅ Safe	✅ Safe	⚠️ Watch	🔴 Scrap
£12,000–£18,000	✅ Safe	✅ Safe	✅ Safe	⚠️ Watch
£18,000–£30,000	✅ Safe	✅ Safe	✅ Safe	✅ Safe
£30,000+	✅ Safe	✅ Safe	✅ Safe	✅ Safe

Value bands are indicative, built from typical UK trade valuations for Range Rover Sport models [ESTIMATED]. Always check your own vehicle's current trade and private valuation before applying this matrix. The 60% threshold applies to the full fitted cost, not just the supply cost.

How the 60% Rule Decides Whether to Replace a Range Rover Sport Engine

This is the single most important number in any Range Rover Sport ownership decision. Here is how it works, why it exists, and how to apply it to your own vehicle.

The calculation is simple: divide the full supply-and-fit cost of the replacement engine by your Range Rover Sport's current market value. If the result is below 60%, the repair is financially sensible. Above 60%, the honest verdict is usually to scrap the vehicle or sell it for parts.

Why 60% for Land Rover and Range Rover Sport? Our enquiry data [EM-VERIFIED] shows that owners who spend less than 60% of their vehicle's value on an engine replacement are substantially more likely to report the decision as worthwhile a year later. Above that line, the split shifts sharply toward regret or early re-sale. The threshold is set deliberately conservative — slightly below the point our data suggests most owners actually break even — to account for the uncertainty in any single vehicle valuation.

What about the 70% threshold used by BMW and Mercedes? BMW and Mercedes-Benz sit at 70% in our data, reflecting a higher typical parts and labour baseline for those brands. The Range Rover Sport threshold is 60% because the parts and labour baseline in our enquiry data is genuinely different — not because one brand is "better" than another. Full detail on this is on our Repair, Replace or Scrap Framework page.

The most common mistake: using the original purchase price or the car's value five years ago. The calculation only works against today's trade or private sale value. A ten-year-old L320 is not worth what you paid — the ratio only works with current figures.

Key rule for Range Rover Sport owners:

The 60% threshold is a starting guide, not an absolute cut-off. A low-mileage, immaculate L494 with full service history may justify a repair above the threshold. A tired L320 with a failing gearbox and suspension probably won't clear it even below. Always assess the whole vehicle.

Range Rover Sport Engine Replacement — By Generation

Each Range Rover Sport generation has a different value profile and different engine risks. This is how the 60% threshold applies across the range.

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Range Rover Sport L320 (2005–2013)

Typical value: £4,000–£14,000 [ESTIMATED]

Primary engines: 276DT 2.7 TDV6 · 368DT 3.6 TDV8 · 4.2/5.0 Supercharged V8

Recon supply costs: £5,000–£8,000 [EM-QUOTE]

R-to-V verdict: 🔴 Scrap risk on most sub-£8k examples

The L320 is the most financially vulnerable Range Rover Sport when an engine fails. Values are low enough that even a £6,000 fitted repair on a £7,000 car is 86% of the vehicle's value — a clear scrap verdict. The 276DT has a catastrophic oil pump failure risk, and the 368DT is prone to crankshaft fracture and timing chain tensioner failure. Only the most immaculate, low-mileage L320s with the 4.2 or 5.0 Supercharged V8 (where values are higher) consistently clear the threshold. Our full L320 breakdown covers this in detail.

✅

Range Rover Sport L494 (2013–2022)

Typical value: £12,000–£55,000 [ESTIMATED]

Primary engines: 306DT SDV6 · 508PS 4.4 SDV8 · 5.0 Supercharged V8

Recon supply costs: £5,000–£12,000 [EM-QUOTE]

R-to-V verdict: ✅ Safe on most examples

The L494 is the sweet spot for replacement viability. Strong residual values mean even the most expensive engine (£8,000–£12,000 supply, £9,500–£14,000 fitted) stays well below 60% on most examples. The 508PS 4.4 SDV8 is particularly robust — no catastrophic design flaw — making it one of the safest Range Rover Sport engines to own. The 306DT SDV6 is riskier (crankshaft bearing failure), but L494 values are high enough to absorb the cost on most examples. Our SDV6 case study explores this in detail.

L494 Range Rover Sport guide →

✅

Range Rover Sport L461 (2022–present)

Typical value: £55,000–£100,000 [ESTIMATED]

Primary engines: 306PS 3.0 Ingenium Petrol · 306DT D300/D350

Recon supply costs: £4,500–£9,500 [EM-QUOTE]

R-to-V verdict: ✅ Very safe

The newest generation is the safest of all. L461 values are so high that even the most expensive engine replacement (£9,500 supply, £11,500 fitted) is only 10–20% of the vehicle's value. The Ingenium 3.0 petrol and diesel units are relatively new, with limited long-term data, but the financial buffer is so large that the economics page is almost irrelevant — the decision is about availability and reliability, not cost.

L461 Range Rover Sport guide →

Range Rover Sport Engine Replacement — By Engine Code

The decision to replace a Range Rover Sport engine depends more on which engine is fitted than on the generation. Here is the full breakdown for every major Range Rover Sport engine.

Engine Code	Typical Range Rover Sport Fitment	Recon Supply Cost	Fitted Cost	Typical Vehicle Value	R-to-V Ratio	Verdict
276DT TDV6 2.7	L320 (2005–2009)	£5,000–£7,500 [EM-QUOTE]	£6,000–£9,000	£4,000–£10,000	60–225%	Scrap
368DT TDV8 3.6	L320 (2006–2013)	£5,500–£8,000 [EM-QUOTE]	£6,500–£9,500	£5,000–£15,000	43–190%	Scrap
5.0 V8 Supercharged	L320 / L494	£5,000–£9,000 [EM-QUOTE]	£6,500–£11,000	£8,000–£55,000	12–138%	Watch
306DT SDV6 3.0	L494 / L461	£6,500–£9,500 [EM-QUOTE]	£7,500–£11,000	£12,000–£100,000	11–92%	Watch
508PS 4.4 SDV8	L494	£8,000–£12,000 [EM-QUOTE]	£9,500–£14,000	£18,000–£55,000	17–78%	Safe
306PS 3.0 Ingenium Petrol	L461	£4,500–£7,500 [EM-QUOTE]	£5,500–£9,000	£55,000–£100,000	6–16%	Safe
4.4 V8 (non-turbo)	L320 (early petrol)	£3,000–£5,000 [ESTIMATED]	£4,000–£6,500	£4,000–£10,000	40–163%	Watch

R-to-V ratios are calculated using the lowest fitted cost against the highest vehicle value (best case) and the highest fitted cost against the lowest vehicle value (worst case). Full cost data is from our Replacement Cost by Engine Code table. Vehicle value bands are [ESTIMATED] based on UK trade valuations.

Worked Example: Should You Replace a Range Rover Sport SDV6 Engine?

Real numbers, real working — the exact case explored in full in our related case study, "Why £2,000 of Value Changes the Verdict."

The Situation

Vehicle2016 Range Rover Sport L494 SDV6

Mileage94,000 miles

Fault306DT crankshaft bearing failure

Quote received (Recon S&F)£8,200

Current trade value£13,500 [ESTIMATED]

The Calculation

Repair-to-value ratio£8,200 ÷ £13,500 = 61%

Threshold60%

Result⚠️ Watch zone

If value were £11,000 instead75% — Scrap

If value were £15,500 instead53% — Safe

The verdict: this specific L494 sits right at the edge of the threshold — which is exactly the kind of case our data shows people get wrong most often, in both directions. A ✅ Safe verdict two thousand pounds of valuation lower would have been a 🔴 Scrap verdict on the same car with the same fault. This is why we always show the working rather than a single traffic-light colour with no maths behind it.

For the full analysis of how SDV6 values affect the repair decision, see our case study on the SDV6 value threshold.

When Replacing a Range Rover Sport Engine Is Not Worth It

A site that always recommends replacement is a sales funnel wearing an editorial costume. Sometimes the right answer is to walk away, and we say so plainly.

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L320 with 276DT or 368DT, Higher Mileage

Late in its value curve, a 276DT or 368DT replacement frequently exceeds 70% of trade value. Combined with the known oil pump failure (276DT) or crankshaft fracture (368DT), the honest advice is usually to walk away. Our L320 economics page covers this in detail.

Typical fitted cost: £6,000–£9,500 [EM-QUOTE]

Typical L320 value: £4,000–£8,000 [ESTIMATED]

R-to-V: 75–238% — 🔴 Scrap

🚫

L494 306DT SDV6 with Low Value

The 306DT is a great engine when it works, but a crankshaft bearing failure is catastrophic. If your L494 is worth less than £12,000, the repair cost (£7,500–£11,000) often exceeds 60% of the vehicle's value. The key variable is the car's exact valuation — use the Repair vs Replace Calculator with your own numbers.

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Any Range Rover Sport Below £6,000 Trade Value

Below this line, almost no engine fault clears the 60% threshold. Selling for parts or to a specialist breaker is usually the financially honest outcome — our scrap value guide explains how that figure is reached, and Most Expensive Land Rover Repairs shows where this threshold gets tested hardest.

Our Verdict: Is It Worth Replacing a Range Rover Sport Engine?

Based on the full 2025 dataset — 9,000+ real enquiries, 24,650 quote requests, and hundreds of specialist interviews — here is our definitive answer.

The short verdict:

Yes, if you own an L494 with the 508PS 4.4 SDV8 or a high-value 306DT example. These engines are either durable enough to rarely fail catastrophically, or the vehicle value is high enough to comfortably absorb the replacement cost.

Yes, if you own an L461. Values are so high that the replacement cost is a fraction of the vehicle's worth.

No, if you own an L320 with the 276DT or 368DT. The combination of high failure risk and low residual values means the repair almost never makes financial sense.

Maybe, if you own an L494 with the 306DT SDV6. These are the cases our data shows people get wrong most often — the answer depends on the exact value of your car. Use the Repair vs Replace Calculator with your own valuation.

🏆

Best-Case Range Rover Sports to Own

1. L494 with 508PS 4.4 SDV8 — durable, no catastrophic design flaw, high values
2. L461 with 306PS 3.0 Ingenium Petrol — very high values, replacement cost is a fraction of vehicle value
3. L494 with 306DT SDV6 (high-value examples) — risk is real, but high values often keep R-to-V below 60%
4. L494 with 5.0 Supercharged V8 — strong retained values, well-understood engine

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Worst-Case Range Rover Sports to Own

1. L320 with 368DT 3.6 TDV8 — crankshaft fracture risk + low values = frequent write-offs
2. L320 with 276DT 2.7 TDV6 — oil pump failure kills engine, values too low to justify repair
3. L494 with 306DT SDV6 (low-value examples) — same engine risk, but sub-£12k values often fail the threshold
4. L320 with 5.0 Supercharged V8 (high-mileage) — timing chain issues + ageing vehicle values = high write-off risk

The honest conclusion: the most financially sensible Range Rover Sport to own is an L494 with the 508PS 4.4 SDV8 — it is durable, has no catastrophic design flaw, and retains enough value to absorb a replacement. The most financially risky is an L320 with the 368DT TDV8, where the replacement cost often exceeds the vehicle's value.

For a full breakdown of every engine's replacement cost, see our Replacement Cost by Engine Code table. For the repair-to-value methodology, read the Repair, Replace or Scrap Framework page. And if you're facing a decision on your own Range Rover Sport, use the Repair vs Replace Calculator with your own valuation and quote.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it worth replacing a Range Rover Sport engine?

It depends on your generation, engine and vehicle value. The 60% rule says: if the fitted replacement cost is less than 60% of your Range Rover Sport's current market value, it's usually worth it. L494 and L461 owners almost always clear this threshold. L320 owners often don't.

How much does it cost to replace a Range Rover Sport engine?

Supply-only costs range from £5,000–£7,500 for a 276DT TDV6 to £8,000–£12,000 for a 508PS 4.4 SDV8. Fitted costs add 10–22 hours labour at £65–£75/hr (or significantly more in London/SE). Full data is in our Replacement Cost by Engine Code table.

Which Range Rover Sport engine is most reliable?

The 508PS 4.4 SDV8 is the most reliable large diesel in the Range Rover Sport range, with no catastrophic design flaw. The 306DT SDV6 has a known crankshaft bearing failure risk — read our 306DT Crankshaft Bearing Failure page for full detail. The 276DT and 368DT in the L320 are best avoided unless you have a proven history.

Should I replace a 306DT SDV6 engine in an L494?

If the fitted replacement cost is below 60% of your L494's value, yes. The problem is that L494 values vary widely — a £8,200 fitted repair on a £13,500 car is 61% (watch zone), while the same repair on a £10,000 car is 82% (scrap). Use our calculator with your own valuation.

What is the 60% rule for Range Rover Sport engine replacement?

The 60% rule is our repair-to-value threshold: if the fitted replacement cost is more than 60% of your Range Rover Sport's current market value, the honest verdict is usually to scrap or sell for parts. Full explanation is on our Repair, Replace or Scrap Framework page.

Is a Range Rover Sport L320 worth repairing?

Usually no, unless it's a low-mileage, immaculate example with the 5.0 Supercharged V8. The 276DT and 368DT have expensive failure modes, and L320 values are low enough that most repairs exceed 60% of the vehicle's value. See our scrap value guide for more detail.

Is It Worth Replacing a Range Rover Sport Engine? The 60% Rule Applied