2025 Land Rover Range Rover

For those still jonesing for old-school, internal-combustion V-8s, the very British folks behind the Land Rover brand employ such a beast delivering a turbo-charged inspired 523 horsepower output. It's found within a mid-sized V-8 sport utility frame still onboard in the 2025 model year; one among a handful offered by luxury-minded European automakers.  

It's in the form of a gas-exclusive Range Rover SE, a plush, surprisingly agile vehicle with underpinnings capable of traversing multiple paths, paved or otherwise.  

More than a little confusion exists this side of the big pond between similar sounding Land Rover and Range Rover designations; here's quick revisit. Simply put, Land Rover denotes the umbrella brand (aka the "make," think Ford or Hyundai) while Range Rover constitutes an available choice within the brand designate. Thus, all Range Rovers fall under the Land Rover domain while Land Rover encompasses an extensive variety of vehicles other than just Range Rover models.  

Think of the multi-terrain Land Rover brand birthing three distinct offspring: Range Rover, Discovery and Defender. Within the mid-size, two-row Range Rover family, four all-wheel drive trims await including Range Rover Evoque, Range Rover Velar, Range Rover Sport and the posh, elegant flagship known simply as Range Rover (with a starting price in excess of $100,000, double that of Evoque). Land Rover self-styles itself as 'The original luxury SUV,' that began selling all-terrain vehicles to the general public shortly after World War II's conclusion, a 75-year heritage of traversing the globe.  

The flagship Range Rover includes three trims: SE, Autobiography and SV each with a variety of powertrain opportunities, including 'electrified' models, although our tester went old-school with a sizeable V-8 internal combustion turbo and fuel economy ill-suited for $5-a-gallon gas. The mid-size SE trim offers a five-passenger short-wheelbase trim or a longer large wheelbase model offering seven-passenger accommodation.  

Our 4.4-liter turbocharged SE eight-cylinder gas engine delivers 523 horsepower and an inspired 553 lb.-ft. of low-grunt torque when motivating this heavy, truck-like, body-on-frame platform (known as the P530 in Land Rover speak). It connects with a traditional eight-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive arrives standard with fuel economy at a premium with 16 miles-per-gallon of city travel and 23 mpg highway. Speaking of premium, Land Rover highly recommends 91-octane fuel for optimal performance. If pumping in regular 87-octane fuel constantly, expect lesser fuel economy numbers with reduced power and performance over time. Towing capacity registers a robust 8,200 pounds.  

Besides the V-8 internal combustion engine (ICE) powertrain, SE also offers a 3.0-liter inline V-6 engine with mild hybrid components intermixed with the transmission and no nightly plug-in needed. Also in the hopper, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) cranking out more than 50 miles of pure electric travel before the gas-engine motivates hybrid-electric components and delivers hundreds of additional worry-free miles.  

The ultra-luxurious 2025 Range Rover SE builds upon a sturdy fifth-generation platform introduced in the 2022 model year and features permanent, all-wheel drive standard, sending power to all four wheels all the time. This differs from part-time or on-demand all-wheel drive which operates in two-wheel drive until detecting slippage or grip loss, where upon power gets sent to all four wheels within milliseconds.  

Range Rover SE provides an optimal number of off-road terrain modes and on-road varieties chosen through a simple touch via a multi-function screen. Most conventional, non-luxury brands opt for mechanical dials, or switches mounted on the dash or found between front buckets. Range Rover SE's electronic system offers numerous Terrain Modes including comfort, auto, grass/gravel/snow, mud ruts, sand, rock crawl and wade. Three ride-height selections, selectable within the same screen page, include off-road, normal and access adjusting the 8.6 inches of default ground clearance.  

For a weighty mid-sizer, the on-road experience remains silky smooth in part because of the adjustable air suspension. An unexpectedly welcome and tight turning radius increases versatility thanks to the benefits of four-wheel steering. The brake pedal includes a quick engagement with minimum foot travel 

With no lower side running boards, it's a big step up into the posh estate inside. Deployable side-step board remain a $5,200 option and worth the price if mobility issues come into play (the human sort, not motorized vehicle type) While ceiling handles adorn four inside doors, the interior A pillar is currently void of such a benefit, which makes it difficult for those less spry to comfortably enter on their own with no extra assistance from the full-time valet/life partner/spouse.  

Narrow headlight housing includes a top brow flashing with amber hues when activating the turn signal stalk. Four diminutive side-by-side LED bulbs reside below. The housing frames a narrow horizontal grill with circular green Land Rover logo tucked into the lower driver's side corner. 'Range Rover' spells out at the tip of the hood.  

Our Batumi Gold (an extra $1,950 premium color) Range Rover SE P530 short wheelbase trim included a base price of $134,100 and we're just getting started. A $2,150 destination charge and an additional $18,000 worth of options increased the bottom line up to $155,535.  

The wide ranging extras included: a $1,900 Premium Interior Upgraded Package featuring laminated front/rear side glass and leather, $1,200 tow package, pixel LED with signature daytime running lights, $1,400 heads-up front windshield display, $4,700 upgraded bespoke 23-inch wheels, $1,400 24-way heated/cooled front seats, $500 wood-and-leather steering wheel and $1,000 shadow pack exterior along with a smattering of dealer extras.  

Side body, flush-mounted colored strap handles retract out from each door upon unlocking with the key fob. After entry or upon power locking, these rectangular grab bars retract back into place creating a smooth finish upon all four doors. Door windows mount inside black pillars with side-view mirrors also sporting the dark, noir theme.  

A prominent, high, straight, side character line extends from up front emanating from the tiny gap created where the hood meets the front fender and continuing to the liftback region traveling between the lower side window frame and flush door openers. Front doors also include a vertical, elongated 'U' visual element emanating from the character line down three-fourths length of the doors.  

The power hatch, lifting up from the bottom, includes six height options selected from the multi-function screen. The top setting provided an extra six inches above my six-foot, one-inch frame. A narrow, secondary bottom lip folds down creating a small deck-like structure promoting easier entry of sizeable boxes or a temporary plank to sit upon when changing into golf shoes before teeing up at hole number one. With the second row prone, a respectable 40.7 cubic feet of space awaits. Vertical red taillights flank the lower door below the window. 

Between comfy front bucket seats; a small, stout electronic transmission shifter reminding some of what's found at the arcade. The circular, palm-fitting orb easily glides fore and aft when selecting drive, reverse or neutral. Park requires a press of a push-button nearby. Just rearward, side-by-side beverage holders with a sliding cover when not in use. In front, a flat, wireless charger helping modern Smartphones rejoice and USB ports for older-school charging and hookups. This area also includes a privacy cover. The medium-depth arm rest/storage bin resides further back. Seat belt bases conveniently include white penlight accents assisting nighttime hookups.  

Centering the upper dash, the squarish, 13.1-inch infotainment display in flat-format butting out slightly with Land Rover's newest Pivi Pro interface with pinch-and-swipe capabilities but no knobs to turn or tactile buttons to push. It's easiest to adjust volume with the secondary scroll via the steering wheel face. Otherwise, a touch-sensitive screen slider bar does the trick but takes eyes off the road. The screen's completely separate from an elongated 'U-shaped' flat digital instrument panel screen visible when peering from the two-spoke steering wheel.  

Range Rover conveniently boasts a dual glove box design with the smaller topside and larger downward bin opening via small up/down arrows within high-mounted thin, horizontal air vents upon the dashboard. A half-a-dozen ambient pin-light mood colors select from the center screen.  

Second row travelers enjoy ventilated and heated rear seats that recline back several inches via a power assist slide lever on-door. Also accessible, back-row specific HVAC controls with handy twist dials operating dual rear seat temperature zones. The high ground clearance lends itself to minimum intrusion from the vertical floor hump, permitting three adults to converse in travel together. Multiple white ambient light settings await rear travelers, too. 

For a brief moment in time, both Land Rover and sister division Jaguar enjoyed ownership under the Ford Motor Company's Blue Oval banner until 2008 when the two Brits merged into a wholly owned subsidiary of Tata Motors Limited, a major Indian auto manufacturer. Ford owned both for about nine years. Land Rover assembles many of its Range Rover models in Solihull, U.K. 

Six Land Rover dealerships dot the Chicago area including Land Rover Schaumburg, Land Rover Naperville, Land Rover Northfield, Land Rover Orland Park, Land Rover Hinsdale and Land Rover Chicago. 

At a Glance: 2025 Range Rover SE Standard wheelbase 
Price as tested: $155,535 
Engine: 4.4-liter, twin-turbo V-8 
Horsepower: 523 
Wheelbase: 118.0 inches 
Overall Length: 198.9 inches 
Overall Height: 73.6 inches 
Overall Width: 80.6 inches 
Curb Weight: 5,530 pounds  
Fuel Economy: 16 mpg city, 23 mpg highway 
Assembly: Solihull, United Kingdom