There have been cars over the years that aren’t bad looking in person, yet somehow, they don’t photograph well. The new Range Rover is not one of those. In fact, it might just be the most photogenic car I’ve ever seen. Anyone who has watched season 2 of The Diplomat (or season 4 of Succession) will know what I mean when I say this car steals the show when it’s cast on television. But, just as impressively, you can pull out your smartphone, take some snaps and I guarantee that every shot will be picture-perfect because this big boy Range just doesn’t have a bad angle. Of course, situation helps, and, in that regard, there’s something supremely special about taking a Range Rover to Scotland. Maybe it’s the fact that we got so used to seeing Queen Elizabeth driving hers around Balmoral Castle. Perhaps it’s the juxtaposition of stately homes with state-of-the-art engineering. More likely it’s the fact that this is its natural habitat. Those signature attributes (namely, combining the world’s most capable off-roading abilities with uncompromising luxury – something Land Rover actually pioneered in the Range Rover more than 50 years ago) make perfect sense in these parts. So, when JLR Middle East invited us to Scotland to go and try out the 2025 Range Rover SV, we couldn’t believe our luck.
If you don’t already know, Scotland is home to some of the most striking landscapes in Europe. Ever-changing, from rolling hills and jagged mountain faces to white sandy beaches, it has a sprinkling of everything. And with some of the most scenic and deserted drives you’ll ever find, it is also one of the best places to do a road trip. What few people know is that Land Rover has an ‘Experience Centre’ in Scotland, which allows new owners (as well as the paying public) to come and master the off-roading capabilities of their current line-up. If you do make it out here then you must also try the country’s leading hotels, like Gleneagles, Balmoral and The Caledonian. And, if you extend a little longer then there's also Belmond’s Royal Scotsman for the ultimate train adventure. Plus, I should mention that this country is an amazing place to fish, golf and shoot. We certainly had a blast – literally – at a local clay pigeon range, but also gave us the chance to compare the new Range to the Classic Defender, except that’s beside the point I suppose.
The Range Rover may be the original luxury SUV, but it sure has gained a lot of competition these days with Rolls-Royce, Maybach, Bentley, Lamborghini, Aston Martin, BMW, Audi, Mercedes, and even Ferrari vying for a piece of their pie. Remarkably, Range Rover has always been able to reinvent itself in the past but this time, for the latest generation model, it’s more a case of evolution than revolution – not that this a bad thing. The familiar styling cues are all there, from the short front overhang, formal front end, upright windscreen, and rising sill to the floating roof. But changes are plenty. There’s a taper in the rear now, which the company calls a sweeping boat tail. The wheel arches are smooth and sculptural. The front fog lights, forward radar and parking sensors have ben neatly concealed within the lower aperture that features a clean elegant horizontal graphic. Overall, I would say the Land Rover designers have eschewed conventional automotive detailing and traditional curves this time round in favour of chamfered edges, crisply stamped panels, and a purist delineation between glasshouse and body. Indeed, if you take a close look at how the glass meets the lower metalwork you will notice there is no rubber sealing strip. Likewise, the side glass appears to butt pane-against-pane from the B-pillar back. This treatment has ingeniously simplified the design and created a much cleaner design reminiscent of the glazing you see on modern superyachts. The trademark gills behind the front wheels – which are used to break the waistline and make the car seem shorter than it really is – are much more subtle now. And, most conspicuously, the rear light graphic has been blackened and there are ‘hidden until lit’ lights that show no colour until the brake or turning signals are activated.
Rest assured that under the skin, the latest gen Range Rover is all new. Its chassis is 35 per cent stiffer than before, there’s a new electronics architecture, and new powertrains including a plug-in hybrid, a fully electric version (due to arrive in our region in 2025) and the Middle East’s favourite: a big bruising V8 that’s no longer a supercharged 5-litre, but a BMW-sourced 4.4-litre twin-turbo. Other upgrades include rear-wheel steering, which helps significantly shorten the turning circle. A new 48-volt electronic anti-roll system capable of deploying an industry‑leading torque capacity of 1,400Nm to maintain composure through the corners. There’s more sound deadening material around the cabin. And, with Range Rover’s Meridian Signature sound system, there are now 35 speakers scattered throughout the cabin, eight of which are in the four main headrests, and they work in conjunction with microphones in the wheel arches, to cancel out noise and help create artificial silence. The result is that road noise and vibrations have been reduced by a whopping 24 per cent.
What does all this mean in reality? In terms of luxury, cabin comfort, noise isolation and ride composure, the new Range is unrivalled by anything in its class. Not only is the Range Rover SV a viable replacement for an S-Class it also makes spending all those extra hard-earned dollars on a Rolls Royce a highly questionable decision. This car can do it all and then some: Cocoon its occupants in the lap of luxury as they recline in the rear seats while enjoying a massage? Naturally. Filter out pollution so its occupants breathe only the finest air? Tick. Imperiously sweep along motorways like a magic flying carpet? Absolutely. Go off the beaten path better than any jacked-up Wrangler? Affirmative. As a matter of fact, its low range gearbox, automatic ‘Terrain Response’ system, height adjustable air suspension, ground cameras, locking diffs and four wheel-steering leave all the competition behind. Frankly my only concern is how its weight might affect brake and tyre wear but that’s the case with most heavy SUVs these days. If truth be told, the new Range Rover is an incredibly competent car that has been cleverly conceived, intelligently engineered and beautifully designed. It’s not just the definitive luxury SUV, it’s all the car you’ll ever need.
Opposite: Only the fifth-generation model in 51 years, Range Rovers somehow outlast the industry’s traditional product cycle. This new model clearly pushes the Range even further upmarket. You've been warned Bentley and Rolls Royce. This page: It doesn't get much more Scottish than clay pigeon shooting off the "bonnie banks" of Loch Lomond but that's exactly what we, and 14 other lucky journalists, got to do as part of the JLR's itinerary for its international Range Rover SV drive. Bottom Official Bespoke's Editor-in-Chief showed admirable capabilities with a shotgun.
This page: he long wheelbase SV is the most luxurious iteration of the Range Rover yet although you can spec further upgrades like the SV Signature Suite, which bisects the cabin with a fixed centre console that contains motorised aluminium cup holders, and a motorised fold-out table. Opposite: The option list is enormous with a range of new veneers and finishes including ceramic in place of metallic trim in certain places (like the gearstick), as well as marquetry and metal inlays in a mosaic pattern, the SV demonstrates the meticulous attention to detail that goes into Range Rovers nowadays. You can even choose a two-tone contrast leather colour scheme with a matching mosaic embroidery for the seats.
