Cars of the Year: Range Rover Sport SV
Range Rover has gained a reputation over the years for building some of the best off-roaders on the planet. Their rugged go-anywhere capability has made them a firm favourite and the badge of choice in the glitzy world of Hollywood and celebrities. Furthermore, their extensive luxurious nature and feel have given them that Swiss Army knife image which makes them hugely popular all over the globe.
Now, we have the SV Edition One – the most powerful and hardcore Range Rover with a rather eye-watering price tag of £185,000. But, is it any good? Well, at this year’s Road Test of the Year event, we’ve been finding out.
Looking at the exterior, we’d have to say, for a car that cost nearly £200,000, it’s a little disappointing that this SV doesn’t look as wild as versions from the previous generation. In fact, from certain angles and with the exception of the massive 23-inch wheels, you could mistake it for a standard Range Rover Sport. However, some might like the stealthy, under-the-radar look, but for a car to stand out, the SV does not cut it in this department.
So, what’s it like to drive then? For a big beast like this, it drives very well. Don’t expect it to handle like a Porsche 911 or Toyota GR Yaris but Land Rover has done a superb job making the SV handle like a proper car. The steering is precise and the whole car goes around a corner with little lean from that high-riding body. What’s more, instead of traditional anti-roll bars, the boffins at JLR have developed a special hydraulic circuit called a 6D Dynamic Suspension system – which is a world first.
The system responds to different driving styles and saves up to eight kilograms compared to a standard suspension setup. Furthermore, it reduces the pitch when accelerating and braking making the whole driving experience smoother and less floaty. It’s not as ‘boat-like’ as a usual Range Rover, as a result.
In terms of space and practicality, buyers will have no problem at all with fitting their luggage into this very large vehicle, and the rear seats are electrically operated – plus the standard air suspension can be lowered from the boot at the press of a button to make the load lip lower for those of a shorter disposition. Rear passenger space is good with loads of room and there are plenty of adjustments in the seats for all occupants to get very comfortable. So, considering this is a performance Range Rover, it still wears its sensible shoes in many areas.
As an overall package, the SV really is an impressive piece of kit. It’s very fast, great to drive and is flooded with quality and luxurious features. It also maintains its go-anywhere capability and people will love the lofty driving position. However, its Achilles heel has to be that price tag. Why you would want to pay almost £100,000 more over the standard car which is just as capable of going off-road, just as comfortable and will be cheaper to run? Plus, even though the performance figures are impressive, the target market for the Range Rovers normally cares more about how they look, rather than how quickly they can arrive at their destination.
- Price: £185,360
- Engine: 4.4-litre V8 mild-hybrid petrol
- Power: 626bhp
- Torque: 750Nm
- Max speed: 180mph
- 0-60mph: 3.5 seconds
- MPG (combined): 23.9mpg
- Emissions: 270g/km CO2