FirstDrive: Range Rover Sport SVR – Practicality / Spec


Intro
Looks
Practicality / Spec
Engine / Performance
Driving / NVH
 Verdict

I thought our last-gen RRS was going to be hard to beat but this is even more plush than that; there’s more to the fridge and dual-view screen now!

As well as that panoramic roof, there’s now the LCD Drivers screen, 360-degree view cameras, blue ambient lighting everywhere, more leather, more speakers in the headlining, and even that ‘Stealth Mode’ setting.

Rear passengers don’t just have their own vents and heated seats any more, they get their own climate controls too. Progress!

RRS SVR Rear climate
RRS SVR Rear climate controls*

I’m glad the rotary gear selector has gone for this generation of RRS; that is best reserved for the luxury Jags in my opinion – the chief rotary dial should be reserved for the Terrain response!

RRS SVR Driving modes
RRS SVR Driving modes

The centre touchscreen is slightly quicker to respond but it’ll still take time to get familiarised with the menus.

The new sports seats are more comfortable than they look and still have plenty of adjustment to suit. They’re not ridiculously bolstered but they’re not flat with zero lumbar either. They go low enough for you to hardly see the bonnet now, which feels really weird from the typical Land Rover viewpoint.

Sitting in the back is great too. Its rare you get sculpted / winged seats as a back-seat passenger so its a real event. Looking at the back of those seats in-front of you is quite alien as well but its nice and reassuring that you won’t be sliding across the middle cushion either!

The interior space isn’t so vast as to make you feel lost and insignificant, so its very easy to drive.   In a bid to save weight, we have no spare wheel anymore (just the reassuring sealant can for your time of need), and the third row folding seats are now absent.

That’s a shame really, as I’d love to sit back there! It’s not a bad way to go if you ever get thrown in here by the mob. You could argue that the SVR has transformed the standard RRS from carrying 5+2 passengers to effectively a 4+1 as part of its weight saving – With less people to affect the performance and mpg, its a win-win for both counts!

RRS SVR Boot
No more fold-out seats or spare wheel!

They haven’t thrown out everything though, the option to still have a tow bar is available! Mind you, I’m not sure if a horse with newly-developed tinnitus will be best pleased after being towed for a long journey!


Spec: SVR
Engine: 5.0 V8 Supercharged Petrol, 542bhp (@ 6000 - 6500rpm, 502lb ft (@ 2500 – 5500rpm)
Transmission: 8 Speed Auto
Mpg: Official: 21.7mpg Achieved: 13mpg
Performance: 0-62mph: 4.7 Secs, 162mph
Colour: Estoril Blue
Pictures captioned with * were sourced for reference only from AutoTrader
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5 thoughts on “FirstDrive: Range Rover Sport SVR – Practicality / Spec

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