“It’s a Range Rover, What More Can I Say”
There are very few vehicles that you can say that about and the audience will just understand. When your name is synonymous with the definition of a luxury SUV, then you better not fall short. A few other heavy hitters in the industry fall into this category, such as maybe the Mercedes‑Benz S‑Class and Rolls‑Royce Phantom or Ghost. What many don’t realize is that the Range Rover began its life as a very industrial, purpose‑built vehicle. Starting life in the 1970s (originally under the nameplate Velar), it came with plastic interiors and vinyl seats that could be washed down easily. It was the first vehicle to traverse all of the Americas from North to South, including the roadless Darién Gap. It would not be until the 2000s that the Range Rover would begin to move upscale in its delivery and execution. In these relatively short 20 years the Range Rover has come to be the epitome of the luxury SUV.
Fifty five years later, enter the 2025 Range Rover SV and we have the pinnacle of the lineup. The SV is further divided into four flavours or themes (Serenity, Intrepid, Signature and Black themes):
• SV INTREPID THEME – Dynamic. Stealth‑like in character.
• SV SERENITY THEME – Pure luxury with subtle accents to emphasize its exclusivity.
• SV SIGNATURE SUITE THEME – The Signature Suite option provides the ultimate rear‑passenger experience on long‑wheelbase models, combining effortless convenience and elevated comfort.
• SV BLACK THEME – Luxury appeal of an all‑black specification; the result being the darkest, stealthiest Range Rover ever created.
The SV also is the first to incorporate BASS (Body and Soul Seating surfaces), which provide haptic feedback seats that synchronize with the music. The SV Black also incorporates this haptic feedback into the floor of the Range Rover (called Sensory Floor). SWB and LWB stand for the two body platforms, the former being “short wheelbase” and the latter “long wheelbase.” For the SV to give its driver and occupants the luxury they have come to expect, it is a technological tour de force. Starting with a BMW‑sourced 4.4‑litre twin‑turbo powerplant, with an updated ECU, intake and exhaust, producing 615 hp and 553 lb‑ft of torque to give it a uniquely British, Range Rover feel. Unlike in BMWs where this M engine produces power aggressively, in the SV you feel a constant surge of power that does not hammer you, but rather feels like an unrelenting rush of power. Part of this is due to the 8‑speed automatic that executes shifts precisely but imperceptibly. The best I can liken it to is what you feel when a fully loaded jetliner takes off and you become pressed into your seat. A planting of your right foot will bring on 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds; that is very respectable, given its 2,716 kg (5,985 lb) curb weight.
The SV is not a B‑road barnstormer, but rather an elegant apparatus to consume huge sums of kilometres and to have you exist on the other end refreshed as when you began your journey. The interior is sublimely quiet. Road and engine noise are kept to a minimum, even in Dynamic mode, which sharpens your steering, stiffens the air suspension and sharpens the throttle response. In this mode you can only slightly make out the rumble of the V8 that sits beneath the expansive hood. All occupants have ample seating space with multitudes of adjustability and massage features. The carpets feel plush, especially when adorned in the Serenity Sequoia Green colour theme. The near‑ and semi‑aniline leather seating fills the SV cabin with a rich leather scent that can only be experienced. Nothing matches that smell and very few cars today give or produce this elegant atmosphere. Outside, the SV looks elegant, with smooth lines and little to no jagged edges. The Ice White Satin paint theme, along with Bright Atlas Satin exterior accents, make the SV look even more regal. The 23‑inch wheels look impressive and do an admirable job of managing road imperfections. The SV is a commanding vehicle with an equally commanding presence. However, behind the wheel the SV is easily manageable, thanks to four‑wheel steering which makes parking the SV feel like parking an SUV half its size.
The SV is the type of vehicle that quietly stands out from the crowd. It has a presence when standing still and shines when driving it or being driven in it. This all comes at a hefty asking price, coming in as tested at $280,610.00 before taxes and document fees. A considerable amount, which puts it in direct line with the Bentley Bentayga (starting at $251,000.00) and Mercedes‑Maybach (starting at $235,000.00). The Rolls‑Royce Cullinan starts at $450,000.00. Out of these vehicles the only one that has the presence of the SV is maybe the Rolls‑Royce Cullinan; however, the latter lacks the elegant beauty of the SV. Despite the Rolls‑Royce name, the SV carries just as much cache.
