Range Rover SUV (2012-2022) - Interior & comfort

The Range Rover has one of the very best – and quietest – interiors in the business. However, its designers clearly haven’t forgotten the car’s humble roots. Those elegant, solid and easy-to-use controls are designed to be operated while you’re wearing gloves – which could be the case on an off-road expedition.

Luxury has clearly been pushed to the fore, though, and this shines through in how the Range Rover rides as well as how quiet the interior environment is. Even the formidable SVAutobiography Dynamic with its monster engine remains relaxed – there’s just enough engine noise on acceleration to lend a sense of occasion.

And even on that most extreme of Range Rovers, the ride remains supple – albeit not as velvet-smooth as on models with less sportily set up suspension.

Range Rover dashboard

Compared to the previous Range Rover, the latest model looks far more elegant and futuristic inside. Land Rover says there are half as many individual buttons on the dashboard as there were in the previous generation and it's easy to see the difference. Even the gear selector is hidden away for the majority of the time – it simply extends when you need it.

A 10-inch touchscreen mounted in the centre console operates Land Rover’s InControl Touch Pro infotainment system. This replaces a host of minor control buttons as well as providing sat nav and entertainment services, with an on-board wi-fi hotspot as a useful feature. It's starting to feel quite dated against rival systems in the BMW X7 and Mercedes GLS, though, and even Land Rover itself has a better Pivi Pro system in its newer models. This will be fitted in the replacement Range Rover that's due soon. 

The quality of materials used inside the Range Rover is absolutely fantastic. You get soft, luxurious leathers on the dashboard, steering wheel and doors paired up with piano-black lacquer or wood-veneer inserts in the centre console and on the steering wheel.

Most models also come with a mood lighting system that uses LED lamps placed throughout the interior to create a glowing effect. You can choose from 10 different colours, and at night this helps create a really classy atmosphere.

As with any Range Rover, you sit high and get a panoramic view of the road. The seats are also extremely comfortable and there's a massage function in addition to the heating and cooling capability on most versions.

Even your rear passengers can travel in luxury if you upgrade to the Executive Seat package (standard on the SVAutobiography). This replaces the three-seat rear bench with two luxurious chairs that can be reclined and also have a massage function. Long-wheelbase models even have calf rests. Screens can be fitted to the headrests and a fridge can be placed in between the rear passengers, too.

Equipment

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It shouldn't come as a surprise to find that a car starting from over £83,000 wants for very little in terms of standard kit. Even the entry-level Range Rover Vogue sports 20-inch alloy wheels, a 380-watt Meridian stereo and leather seats. Apple Car Play and Android Auto are also standard. Both front seats are heated and the driver's seat has a memory function for its electric adjustment.

The Vogue SE, which we reckon offers the best value for money, adds a heated windscreen, power-operated bootlid and extra adjustment for the front seats, which are also heated and cooled.

New for late 2021, the run-out Westminster and Westminster Black special editions are likely to prove very desirable thanks to their looks and upgraded kit. Features like Matrix LED headlights, 21-inch alloy wheels, soft-closing doors, suede cloth headlining, Atlas silver exterior trim and a huge sliding panoramic sunroof are included. The Black version also adds black wheels, exterior trim and a black grille. 

The Autobiographyand SVAutobiography models feature the likes of a glass roof, Pixel LED headlights and a more impressive stereo. Autobiography models are available in standard or long-wheelbase lengths. Both add driver-assistance aids such as active cruise control, blind-spot monitoring and lane-keep assistance – which are optional on the Vogue and Vogue SE models.

The sporty SVAutobiography is long-wheelbase only and comes loaded with equipment, including heated and vented front massage seats, heated power-adjustable rear seats, sat-nav, DAB digital radio, USB ports, four-zone climate control, digital TV, a high-end Meridian stereo, keyless entry, Bluetooth phone connectivity, a surround-view camera, a powered-operated split tailgate, towing assistance and air suspension (which automatically lowers the car when you park to make it easier to get in and out).

The ultimate high-performance Range Rover is the short-wheelbase SVAutobiography Dynamic, which can be identified by its unique finish to the side vents, bonnet and front grille, along with accents and badges on the bumper. Inside, passengers are treated to diamond-quilted leather with contrasting stitching and a special veneer finish to the dashboard.

Options

A key option is the Drive Pack, which includes a driver condition monitor to identify and warn of driver fatigue, blind-spot monitoring with reverse traffic detection and traffic-sign recognition incorporating a speed control system, which will automatically limit your speed according to the prevailing limit.

There's a huge amount of accessories on offer, but if you're a music fan there are a couple of special choices available, such as the 825-watt Meridian stereo with 19 speakers. True audiophiles can opt for a mind-blowing 1,700-watt, 29-speaker set-up.