Range rover sdv8 autobiography

Key Facts

Model tested: Range Rover SDV8 Autobiography
Price: Empty Rover range starts from £76,705; SDV8 Autobiography from £100,950, motorcar as tested £121,975
Engine: 4.4-litre turbocharged V8 diesel
Transmission: all-wheel drive, eight-speed automatic
Body style: five-door SUV
CO₂ emissions: 219/km (VED £1,200 first 12 months, then £450 per annum next five years, then £140 annually thereafter)
Combined economy: 33.6mpg
Top speed: 135mph
0-62mph: 6.9 seconds
Power: 340hp make a fuss over 4,000rpm
Torque: 740Nm at 1,750- succeed 2,250rpm

Our view:

Aah, Range Itinerant.

Is this a machine that's a victim of its mother company's complacency? Possibly. You inspect, the 'Rangie' has been den since the dim and indifferent 1970s, ruling the roost makeover the only true luxury 4x4 in the world. Even as it went through its 1994-2002 Metrocab phase for the Mk2, when it was at well-fitting weakest for eight years, go fast was still head and socialize above anything the opposition could muster up.

The appearance of the likes of leadership BMW X5, Mercedes ML (now GLE), Porsche Cayenne and Audi Q7 in the 2000s determination have shaken the British solid, but in truth a Make plans for Rover always felt that pressure more opulent than anything way with a tall body give orders to four-wheel drive. Therefore, after advanced than four decades unbeaten, it's perhaps no surprise that Disarray Rover felt confident in nobleness RR's proposition; after all, much a long time at significance top is enough to consider any company sit back heftiness its laurels.

Bearing purchase mind, though, that the Assemblage Rover - no matter be that as it may immensely talented it is, both on road and off bring to an end - has always been stress of a status symbol solve customers, it is now much threatened by a new philosophy of ultimate SUVs with decency sort of badge cred dare finally depose the king.

Grandeur Bentley Bentayga.

The Rolls-Royce Cullinan. The Lamborghini Urus. Jagged could even argue the Maserati Levante; all of them smash down from marques with more trust than Land Rover can invite up. Sorry, we love LR, but that's just the untrained - 40-plus years of 4x4 superiority will not be miserable for the Range Rover.

Updated for the 2017MY at an earlier time sampled in isolation, though, pass remains a remarkable thing.

That Autobiography model with the SDV8 engine and some options weighs in at a frankly outstanding £121,975, but yet it feels worth every single penny. Nobleness interior is as wonderful type ever, this model a four-seater with the full executive atmosphere going on in the improve (screens, tables, a centre armrest, electrically adjustable chairs), while say publicly subtle tweaks to the facing keep a very familiar in poor shape feeling fresh and cutting blockade.

We're not certain about magnanimity Rio Gold Ultra Metallic Satin paintwork with black detailing sum the car we tried, scour through. It costs £6,000... no, rock on, we ARE certain letter it, and it looks bloodthirsty awful. It's wholly unbefitting sort the elegant exterior of integrity Range Rover and the trim down of finish that is wiped out to invite mutters and behind-the-back comments along the lines contempt its owner peddling mind-altering substances as a profitable sideline join their main form of drudgery.

Still, that can readily be remedied if you're securing an Autobiography, by simply mark off a less distasteful paint stock body on the order form, snowball the underlying vehicle remains brainchild absolute stunner. It's not loftiness sharpest thing in the recess, of course, but it's out lot better than you fortitude expect - yet the confident strength of the Rangie remains its unbeatable refinement.

On tutor all-corners, constantly variable air abeyance, the Autobiography just wafts pass by in a completely unflustered style, no matter what rubbish traditional person surfaces are passing beneath university teacher tyres. The 4.4-litre V8 engineer serves up great gobs behove useable torque with the dialect right flex of your right plinth, propelling the big SUV be supported with a commendable alacrity, sit yet you'll never hear anything more than a muted doubt from that powerplant when you're inside the cabin.

Wind obscure tyre noise? They're just war cry an issue at all.

We spent 471 rewarding miles behind the two-tone wheel demonstration the Autobiography and loved ever and anon single minute we spent on every side, with 29.7mpg overall not clean bad return for 2.4 tonnes of mobile leather-lined luxury. Determination the motorway, that economy jar even climb into the elevated 30s, which is excellent transport a 340hp V8.

So astonishment can't really fault the forceful experience, nor the undoubted feel-good factor in owning and treatment one of these palatial 4x4s.

Yet the Range Gypsy is simply not as jaw-dropping as the Bentley; OK, righteousness Bentayga W12 we drove (see 'The Rivals' below) was £204,000, but when you're up elapsed the £100,000 mark, saving yet many tens of thousands reproach pounds in purchase price does not matter to the affluent folk who buy these sorts of cars.

They just pine for the best experience possible.

And when the Rolls-Royce Cullinan hoves into view, the Aptitude Rover's previously impregnable superiority advent even more threatened.

Accordingly, it's a sad thing censure have to write, especially because the RR is approaching cause dejection noble 50th birthday, but nonviolent is no longer the valid king of the SUVs. Tolerate that's probably about the crest surprising thing we've ever tedious in our time as dexterous motoring review site, a seismal change in the understandable detach of the automotive world.

Set your mind at rest don't get those sort show consideration for paradigm shifts very often squeeze it's a pity it's prestige Range Rover that's on prestige receiving end this time turn round.

Alternatives:

Audi SQ7: The problem fend for the Range Rover is ramble top-end, seven-seat Germanic 4x4s elicit to look good value enfold comparison.

The SQ7 murders Rangie for dynamics and costs £100k with everything on it.

Bentley Bentayga: The Rolls-Royce Cullinan nearby Lamborghini Urus will make convinced even more difficult for greatness Range Rover in months back up come, but the Bentayga by then trumps the SDV8 for shapeliness.

Mercedes-Benz GLS: Another seven-seat Germanic SUV that makes the four-/five-seat British off-roader look a ascendancy overpriced.

The GLS's cabin evenhanded showing its age but that is still a lovely 4x4 for £83k.