There’s a lot of things that you can get for around $300,000 CAD. It’s a good down payment on a really nice house. Or a lavish vacation for the next decade. Or a luxury SUV. The SUV which I’m referring to is the 2024 Range Rover SV P615. But should you really spend this much money on a car or is it better spent on something else?
Performance
Engine – This Range Rover SV is the top trim which means that it has more power than the First Edition I previously reviewed in 2022. It uses the same 4.4L bi-turbo V8 engine, sourced from BMW, which produces 606 hp & 553 lb-ft of torque (452 Kw / 750 Nm). This engine also receives a 48-volt mild-hybrid system to aid with response. In an SUV that tips the scales at 2,708 kg (5,970 lbs), the Rover SV can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 4.6 seconds. Furthermore, it feels as though this engine is not even trying. It barely takes any movement from your right food on the throttle pedal to get this big & heavy SUV to move. It also doesn’t take much to get it past the legal speed limit. The power delivery is almost instant and is reminiscent of an EV. But unlike an EV, it will cost you a lot more to refuel this SUV.
Fuel Economy – This big & powerful Range Rover SV is rated for 15.2 L/100km (15.5 MPG) in a city and 11 L/100km (21.4 MPG) on a highway. The highway fuel economy is quite easy to reach as I noticed my average fuel consumption quickly drop the further I drove. Sadly, in a city environment, it’s a lot harder to reach the rated fuel consumption rating. Realistically, if you stick to just city driving, you’ll be looking at closer to 16 or 17 L/100km. During my week with the 2024 Range Rover SV, I averaged 15.3 L/100km (15.4 MPG).
Transmission – With this engine being sourced from BMW, it receives the same ZF 8-speed automatic transmission. In BMW M SUVs with this much power, this transmission is quick at changing gears. In this Range Rover SV, it’s been tuned to provide smooth shifts instead of quick ones. On that point, it does its job very well. The shifts are at times imperceivable. Again, not quick, but that’s fine for an SUV such as this.
Braking – Stopping such a big SUV requires equally big brakes. The Range Rover SV has large fixed calipers on the front axle that provide the bulk of the stopping power. Though they are strong, there’s a lot of nose dive under heavy braking that can make it feel a bit uneasy in emergencies. However, the brake pedal is firm and the big SUV still stops within a reasonable distance.
Handling – The Land Rover Range Rover SV is equipped with standard air suspension & adaptive dampers which can firm up a bit when the car is switched to the Dynamic drive mode. But at the end of the day, the laws of physics will still win. Around corners the SUV has quite a bit of body roll and the whole car squats heavily when setting off from a stop at an aggressive pace. It does feel almost like a land yacht. Steering feel is light and it doesn’t really encourage you to push this SUV hard around corners.
Though this is a physically large SUV, it doesn’t feel that big when maneuvering around tight parking lots. The SUV is equipped with standard rear wheel steering which makes the SUV feel smaller than it actually is. The rear wheels turn in the opposite direction at slow speeds and in the same direction as the front ones at higher speeds to improve stability. This system also makes it easier to parallel park whether you’re doing it yourself or using the parking assist feature.
Being a Land Rover product, this Range Rover SV is also equipped with quite a few off-road goodies. It has standard Terrain Response 2 programs that can alter the performance of the center and rear locking differentials, the traction & stability control systems, the transmission shifts and engine response, and the air suspension. The different modes are Grass/Gravel/Snow, Mud/Ruts, Sand, Rock crawl, water wading (which can wade in up to 900 mm or 35.4 inches of water) and a configurable mode that allows you to change certain parameters such as differential lock, powertrain response, traction control, and so on. In the maximum off-road ride height, the Range Rover SV has 292 mm or 11.5-in of ground clearance, a 34.7° approach angle, 29° departure angle, and 25.9° breakover angle. Unfortunately I did not get a chance to take the Rover SV on some trails because I was not confident enough in taking a $300,000 CAD large SUV like this deep in the woods. Can you imagine what the cost would be to buff out paint scratches from branches?
Comfort
Ride Comfort – The ride of the Range Rover SV is very smooth but not the smoothest. The reason why I say that is because at slow speeds, the shunts of the tires hitting moderately sized potholes are quite easily felt through your back & bum. Whereas in a car like the Mercedes-Benz EQS, it did not feel as harsh at slow speeds. It’s not a huge difference between the two cars but it’s noticeable. On highways however, the ride is magnificent. You don’t notice bumps as harshly.
The excellent seats also add to the comfort with a lot of padding and multiple adjustments such as lumbar, thigh, bolster, and shoulders. There’s also a massaging feature with multiple programs to choose from as well as intensity.
Interior Space – As one would expect, the front occupants have a lot of space. At 6’4”, there wasn’t a comfortable position that I couldn’t find. The seating position is also quite high up so the Range Rover provides good visibility.
With this demo car having the VIP lounge seats in the back and being a long wheelbase version, there is more than enough space in the back even for Dennis Rodman. When you do find yourself back there, it’s on the passenger side that you’ll want to sit. At the push of a touchscreen button in the back or from the infotainment system, the front seat folds forward and the back seat extends to a fully reclined position. It’s a lovely ballet of seat motion. The seat behind the driver can also recline but, for obvious reasons, the front seat cannot move forwards to provide more leg space. Additionally, due to the lounge seats, there is a console between them so this Range Rover can only transport four people in total (including the driver).
In the trunk, the power liftgate is a split design which allows for more versatility as well as a place to sit. There are in fact pads and a backrest that you can set up for when you do sit on the tailgate. The trunk itself allows for 818 L (40.7 cu-ft) of space. There are controls on the side to lower the rear portion of the SUV for easier loading and unloading. There are also controls to fold down the rear seats which will allow for 2,176 L (77.8 cu-ft) of cargo space. This is when the Rover SV is not equipped with the VIP lounge seats. With the way that this demo car is equipped, only the passenger side rear seat can be folded down and it doesn’t fold flat. The seat on the driver’s side cannot be folded down and in between them is a fridge which is in a fixed position. Under the trunk floor, you’ll find a spare wheel.
Noise, Vibration, & Harshness – This is a very quiet SUV which is a little bit unfortunate because the engine sounds pretty good. But it’s hard to hear it when you push down on the throttle pedal. However, this SUV is about luxury first and foremost. On highways, there is a bit of road noise and wind noise that can be heard but it is much less than in other luxury SUVs. The wind noise is a whooshing sound rather than a whistling sound which is good. As for vibrations, the engine is smooth and with the addition of the 48-volt mild-hybrid system, the auto start/stop system is smooth as well.
Odds and Ends
Pricing – As I mentioned at the start of the review, this 2024 Range Rover SV will set you back over $300,000 CAD. Actually more once you take into account taxes & dealership fees. I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s closer to $400,000 CAD when it’s all said & done.
Either way, this SV Long wheelbase starts at $267,450 CAD ($234,000 USD)and this demo car was equipped to $322,365 CAD ($275,855 USD).
Gadgets – Of course for that kind of money, the 2024 Range Rover SV comes equipped with the usual convenience & luxury features one would expect to see in a vehicle such as this. It has heated, ventilated, & massaging seats all round, a large panoramic sunroof, a head-up display, surround view cameras, a rear camera mirror, an automated parking feature, soft close doors, built-in navigation system, and leather everywhere that you look and touch, including the headliner.
However, it’s those back seats that impress most. Not only can they lounge and provide a relaxing massage but you can also sip on the finest champagne that you have. It will also be kept cool in the fridge between the back seats as would your glass cups because there’s a spot for them as well in there too. If you need to place down your glass of bubbly, at the touch of a button the cup holders rise from the center console. Should you need a table to work, again, a push of a button on the center touchscreen will raise a little table for you. But you have to fold it out yourself. Should you need to recharge your smartphone, there’s a second wireless phone charging pad in the center armrest. The other charging pad being in the front. And of course, you can’t miss those screens on the back of the front seats. You can play your favorite movies or just check to see that your chauffeur is taking you to the correct destination. And finally, if you don’t want the peasants to see you, there are power sunshades and you can close the sunroof sun blind via the touchscreen on the center console.
Interior Design – As is the trend these days with luxury vehicles, the 2024 Land Rover Range Rover SV has a minimalist interior design. A single 13.1” touchscreen is the only item on the dashboard. The First Edition that I previously test drove had climate controls underneath the screen but not anymore. They’re integrated into the infotainment system which I hate. The dashboard & center console area now only has two physical buttons; the engine start/stop & the transmission Park. That’s it. I personally think Range Rover went backwards with this design.
Otherwise, the materials are top notch and there are a few different trims to choose from as well as color of the leather. One material choice that has me scratching my head a bit is the top door speaker cover. It’s plastic and not metal like the one on the bottom of the door.
Exterior Design – The minimalist design language extends to the exterior as there are no sharp or abrupt lines on the outside. All of the lines are smooth flowing, almost like a teardrop. The exhaust pipes are well hidden as are the taillights which are only visible once they’re on or the brake pedal is depressed. My small complaint is that the exterior mirrors are a little small for such a big SUV.
Safety – This new generation Range Rover has every available safety & driver aid as standard All of the safety features work in the background as you drive along and the driver assists, such as lane centering on highways, work as they were designed to.
Warranty – Like all other Land Rover vehicles, the 2024 Range Rover SV is covered by a 4 year / 80,000 km new vehicle limited warranty. For more information on Canadian warranty, click here. For information on U.S.A. warranty, click here.
Conclusion – In the end, I get the impression that this is an SUV for a head of state rather than a well off family. There are more practical versions of this Range Rover for a family of 3, 4, or 5. But as a head of state to be chauffeured around in, this SUV makes a lot of sense.
Thank you to Land Rover Canada for providing the vehicle. www.LandRover.ca
2024 Range Rover SV Gallery
