Weekend Drive by Hormazd Sorabjee: Luxe look and a range of frills
The Range Rover SV isn’t just the best in its segment. It’s like travelling business class without ever leaving the ground
Extravagance, opulence, indulgence, even borderline hedonism. That’s what the Range Rover SV exemplifies. The ultimate variant of the flagship Range Rover comes with every conceivable feature to justify its ₹2.8 crore starting price. It’s the closest thing to a private jet on land. And like most private jets, it’s not the cockpit but the rear seats where the true pampering takes place
The SV Signature Suite trim gets a fixed centre console, which divides the cabin. So, instead of a fixed bench, there’s a pair of individual, luxurious seats at the back, with a small refrigerator in between.
With the touch of a button, and in perfect synchronisation, the rear seat reclines, the under-thigh cushion rises, and a footrest glides down from the back of the front seat. It has cooling, heating and massage functions, the back seat just got upgraded to business class. Everything is largely controlled by the touchscreen in the central armrest.
The SV’s party trick is the pair of motorised cupholders and fold-out table that glide up and down. The long wheelbase SV has abundant legroom (My feet couldn’t touch the seat in the front). This is an incredibly comfortable place to be. You’re high enough up the window line for a good view out. And if you’re bored, there’s a pair of 13.1-inch screens and a 1,600W, 32-speaker Meridian Signature sound system to keep you entertained.
Boot space is exceptionally generous, allowing this continent-devouring SUV to accommodate all the luggage you might need for an extended road trip. The SV maintains Range Rover’s iconic split tailgate, seamlessly motorised, with the lower section doubling up as a bench.
So what’s the SV like to drive? In a word, commanding. Firstly, you’re perched high off the ground, and coupled with the low window sills, you get a fantastic view out and feel like the master of everything you survey. The high-res surround cameras let you see each corner of this massive SUV. The rear-wheel-steering and light power steering makes the car hilariously easy to manoeuvre. Bear in mind, that this 3.1-metre-long SUV will stick out of most parking slots.
The ride is absolutely pillow-soft and makes any surface feel like its coated with velvet. This plush ride comes at a cost, the Range Rover feels clumsy with spirited cornering. And when pushed hard, the heavy and tall SUV rolls like a drunken hippo.
This BMW-sourced 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 produces a solid 530hp and 750Nm of torque to deliver a refined shot of performance. The SV is no slouch and canters from rest to 100kph in 4.7 seconds. Floor the throttle, and you get a strong,urgent shove, nicely smoothened out by the eight-speed automatic gearbox. All that mass takes it toll on the brakes, which felt soft and could do with more bite.
The Range Rover SV isn’t just the best luxury SUV, it’s snatched the best-luxury title from the Mercedes S-class. As a luxurious and authoritative means of travel, the Range Rover SV is hard to match.
