2018 Range Rover SDV8 Autobiography quick performance review

The smell of expensive leather greets you as you climb into the Range Rover Autobiography SDV8, an airy, light and spacious cabin with seemingly more screens than your typical 21st century living room.

Technology, to an almost excessive degree, and luxury – of which too much is not enough – combine to form the main attraction of this car, its beautiful interior. And it’s the interior that will keep your attention as you waft along on the air suspension, well insulated from noises, and riff-raff, outside.

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That’s because the Range Rover SDV8 can be fun to drive, in a smooth, softly-sprung, 2.5-tonne exaggerated bodyroll kind of way. Beyond that, it prefers a very relaxed canter, thank you. Though it does a good job managing its not inconsiderable mass in the corners, this is plainly a lumbering luxury beast of a thing.

As for the turbo-diesel V8, it’s very smooth, offering strong, if not frantic acceleration (0-100km/h in 7.0sec) and even sounds good under full pelt.

So, would we buy one? The standard of luxury offered by Range Rover is hard to match, but there are faster SUVs with very nice ride quality, and interiors, asking much less. If you must have a Rangie, don’t be half pregnant, skip the diesel and shell out for the blown petrol V8.

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2018 RANGE ROVER SDV8 AUTOBIOGRAPHY SPECS:
Engine: 4367cc, V8 diesel turbo
Power: 250kW @ 3500rpm
Torque: 740Nm @ 1750-2250rpm
Drive: 4WD
Weight: 2505kg
Price: $256,000