Cargazing
By Derek Price
The Range Rover has always occupied a strange, wonderful niche — part mountain goat, part limousine.
After a week in the 2025 Range Rover Autobiography P530, it’s clear that Land Rover hasn’t lost the formula. This SUV still makes the impossible seem easy.
It starts the moment you settle into the driver’s seat. The view over the long hood inspires confidence, and the silence at speed makes highways disappear.
The twin-turbo V8 delivers its 523 horsepower with unflappable grace. This isn’t a vehicle that begs to be driven fast, but it has the muscle to surge past slower traffic with a velvet punch. The eight-speed automatic glides through shifts like it’s reading your mind.
Ride quality is extraordinary. Air suspension absorbs broken pavement with casual indifference, and the cabin remains as isolated as a sound booth.
Even on 23-inch wheels, the Autobiography rides like a dream. The chassis feels composed and tight, never floaty or vague, and it’s astonishing how naturally this 5,700-pound SUV shrinks around you.
The 2025 Range Rover’s clean, sculptural design balances elegance and authority with minimalist precision.
The Range Rover’s off-road capability remains its secret party trick. Few owners will test its limits, but knowing it can traverse a muddy trail or climb a steep grade with minimal fuss adds to its mystique. Luxury, after all, is confidence — and the Range Rover delivers it in spades.
Design might be its finest attribute. The 2025 model continues the minimalist, sculptural look introduced in 2022. The clean lines, hidden lighting and flush glass make it look more like an architectural concept than a utility vehicle.
There’s no flash, no chrome excess, just quiet authority. Parked curbside, it radiates confidence without shouting.
Inside, it’s the same story of restraint and perfection. The mix of soft leathers, genuine wood and metal accents feels impeccably curated.
The touchscreen interface replaces almost every button, but it’s fast, clear, and logically arranged — proof that digital controls don’t have to be frustrating.
Inside, the cabin showcases exquisite materials, advanced tech, and serene comfort worthy of a private jet.
Even the climate menus and off-road modes are easy to reach. The attention to detail is staggering, from the stitching to the seat controls shaped like small sculptures.
Of course, such opulence comes at a cost. The as-tested price of $174,705 is breathtaking, and that’s before considering Range Rover’s long-standing reliability reputation. History suggests buyers should budget for the occasional service visit beyond routine maintenance.
Still, for those who can afford it, this SUV offers a level of comfort and craftsmanship that few cars — of any kind — can match.
Fuel economy, at 16 city and 23 highway, is predictably poor, but it’s almost beside the point. The Range Rover isn’t about efficiency. It’s about effortless travel.
Whether crossing continents or crawling up a gravel road to a private lodge, it isolates its occupants from chaos in a way that few vehicles can replicate.
Ultimately, the 2025 Range Rover represents the summit of modern luxury SUVs. It’s not perfect, but perfection isn’t the goal. It’s about serenity, status and the knowledge that no destination is off-limits.
At A Glance
WHAT WAS TESTED?
2025 Range Rover Autobiography SWB P530 ($166,400). Options: Premium paint ($1,950), 23-inch wheels ($1,500), towing pack ($1,200), premium interior and storage pack ($740), gloss black interior ($650), cold climate pack ($350), wheel protection pack ($225), handover pack ($65). Price as tested (including $1,625 destination charge): $174,705
BY THE NUMBERS
Wheelbase: 118 in.
Length: 198.9 in.
Width: 87 in.
Height: 73.6 in.
Engine: 4.4-liter turbocharged eight cylinders (523 hp, 553 lbs. ft.)
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
MPG: 16 city, 23 highway
RATINGS
Style: 10
Performance: 10
Price: 3
Handling: 7
Ride: 10
Comfort: 10
Quality: 7
Overall: 9
WHY BUY IT?
The Range Rover is the rare vehicle that can cross a mountain range in the morning, glide through a gala valet line at night, and make both experiences feel equally effortless.