Range Rovers are synonymous with both luxury and comfort. But when a pedestrian Range Rover, or even an upscale Autobiography, just won’t do, there’s a step above them all: the SVAutobiography. This top Range Rover model has been around for a couple seasons, but it gets some serious upgrades for 2018. The cabin has been redesigned with dual 10-inch touchscreens and a new infotainment system. And the SV Autobiography receives a unique front seat design for added comfort, plus special veneers and color themes.
But it’s the second row where the experience gets especially sweet. We spent a few minutes in the rear seats and they are supremely comfortable. Land Rover says there’s nearly 4 feet of legroom thanks to the long wheelbase, and the thrones recline up to 40 degrees. There’s even an extra level of padding that makes them softer than any seat we’ve felt in a Rover. The center console is beautifully finished and houses tables that deploy electronically, along with a refrigerated compartment for drinks. Even the rear doors are electrically operated. And yes, there are two more 10-inch screens with 4G Wi-Fi capability.
The luxury-focused, long-wheelbase flagship was developed within Land Rover’s Special Vehicle Operations, so it’s plenty quick too. Under the hood of this $207,900 Rover is a 557-hp (up 7 over last year) 5.0-liter supercharged V8 paired to an 8-speed automatic transmission. Land Rover says 60 mph comes up in just 5.2 seconds. And for something this big, heavy and lavishly appointed, that’s seriously brisk.