Almost 50 years ago, Land Rover invented the luxury SUV segment with the original Range Rover. Little would they know how popular their creation would become, as it quickly became the favorire of the British Royal House, movie stars, singers, athletes and businessmen.
Today, the segment includes offerings from Rolls-Royce and Bentley, with their first-ever SUVs, the Cullinan and Bentayga, as well as the BMW X7, Mercedes-Benz GLS and the sportier Lamborghini Urus.
Nonetheless, while most of the above have only recently been launched (the GLS has been around since last decade), Land Rover had five decades to refine the Range Rover, and the latest SVAutobiography remains one of the best in the market.
Also Read: Rolls-Royce Cullinan Vs. Bentley Bentayga: Which One Looks Better?
Based on the fourth generation that entered production in 2012, it’s the creation of JLR’s Special Vehicle Operations division and sports a rather discreet styling compared to the Bentayga or Cullinan. However, once you step foot inside, you will find the large captain’s chairs at the back and a massive 1.2 meters (3.9 ft) of legroom.
Things such as massage – hot stone massage function included, heated calf and foot rests, a refrigerator, two rear tables, climate control, a couple of 10-inch screens and a digital instrument cluster, as well as fine leather and wood appliques, are all part of the package.
Should you prefer to drive it on your own, you won’t feel that you’re sitting inside an SUV that weighs about 3 tons (~6,600 lbs). That’s because it’s powered by a 5.0-liter supercharged V8 that produces 565 PS (557 hp / 416 kW) and 700 Nm (516 lb-ft) of torque, which are enough to provide enough oomph to overcome the huge weight.
The Range Rover sprints to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 5.4 seconds, and while some of its rivals might be even faster, is also capable of doing some serious off-roading – something that doesn’t apply to most of the competition.