Michael Satterfield
There’s something about the way a Range Rover occupies space. It’s not loud. It doesn’t beg for attention. Yet somehow, when it pulls up curbside at Le Bilboquet or rolls into valet at The Post Oak, it is perfectly in its place. People take notice, and in Firenze Red, the 2025 Range Rover Sport Autobiography doesn’t just arrive, it makes a statement.
That aura isn’t accidental. The design is tailored and assertive, like a bespoke suit cut on Savile Row. From the chiseled LED signature lights to the broad shoulders tapering into a clamshell tailgate, it’s a masterclass in subtle intimidation. The Autobiography trim, long Land Rover’s code for “everything and then a little more,” takes it to an even higher echelon of elegance.
But looks are just the start.
Range Rover Sport Under the Hood: A Quiet Riot
The beating heart of this particular Range Rover Sport is a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8, delivering 523 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque with uncanny composure. It doesn’t scream off the line, but rather lunges forward with the kind of polished violence that reminds you luxury doesn’t have to be soft. The eight-speed automatic transmission glides through gears like it’s stirring warm honey, and the adjustable air suspension means you float through the city while still being able to firm things up when you escape to winding Hill Country roads.
Zero to sixty happens in 4.5 seconds, but more importantly, the Autobiography makes every mile feel deliberate. It doesn’t corner like a sports car, and it shouldn’t. This isn’t about speed for speed’s sake; it’s about motivating the large SUV with controlled authority.
Land Rover also offers the Range Rover Sport as a plug-in hybrid, pairing a turbocharged inline-six with a battery system capable of an estimated 51 miles of all-electric range. While I didn’t spend seat time in the hybrid version this go-around, the specs speak to a compelling duality: weekday errands in silent EV mode, followed by weekend jaunts on open roads with the full force of internal combustion at your disposal.
For luxury buyers balancing conscience with capability, it’s an elegant solution, and a reminder that performance doesn’t have to come at the cost of progress. But if I were you, get the V8.
Inside: A Private Members Club on Wheels
Slide into the driver’s seat of the Range Rover Sport and you’re greeted by a space that wouldn’t feel out of place in a five-star lounge. Semi-aniline leather seats (heated, cooled, massaging), open-pore wood trim, and satin-finished metals combine to deliver an interior that feels warm and rich without ever tipping into ostentation.
The 13.1-inch curved Pivi Pro touchscreen looks like something lifted from an avant-garde concept car. It’s crisp, responsive, and fully featured. The problem is, it’s everything. Nearly all vehicle controls, climate, seat settings, and drive modes are embedded in menus or accessed via haptic touch. It’s beautiful to look at, but function sometimes bows to form. You don’t realize how often you adjust your fan speed until it takes four taps to do it.
It’s not a deal-breaker, but it’s a detail worth noting, particularly for those who prefer intuitive ergonomics over digital dazzle.
Subtle Strength in Every Detail
You don’t buy a Range Rover Sport Autobiography because you want to shout. You buy it because you want everything, from the paintwork to the ride quality, to whisper in a British accent and say, “I’ve arrived.”
The cabin is whisper-quiet at highway speed, the optional Meridian Signature sound system fills it with concert-hall clarity, and little touches like soft-close doors and fragrance infusion elevate the entire experience. It’s the sort of place you want to linger, even after you’ve reached your destination.
Practicality isn’t sacrificed either. The rear seats recline and offer plenty of legroom for adult passengers, while cargo space is ample for everything from golf clubs at the Dallas National to luggage for a long weekend in Marfa.
Should You Buy a Range Rover Sport?
Starting in the six-figure range and equipped as tested in the upper $120K bracket, the 2025 Range Rover Sport Autobiography is a serious investment, but it’s one that rewards its owner every time the garage door rises. It is also about $62,000 less than the SV version, which, I suspect, most drivers won’t see enough difference to justify such a significant price jump. Sure, it’s got more of everything, but the Autobiography already has more than most people will ever want or need.
Whether you’re navigating River Oaks traffic in a late-afternoon drizzle or soaking in the desert silence on FM 170, this Range Rover does what few vehicles can: it blends capability, elegance, and unflappable confidence. It feels just as at home parked at Soho House Austin as it does climbing a gravel path toward a lakeside retreat outside Horseshoe Bay.
Yes, the learning curve on the infotainment is real. You’ll miss the tactile satisfaction of a volume knob. But once you’re settled in and sailing effortlessly along I-45 with the massagers humming and the V8 barely awake, you’ll forgive its digital ambitions. The Range Rover Sport Autobiography isn’t just a luxury SUV. It’s a lifestyle vehicle for those who measure their time in experiences, not commutes.
Specs Recap: 2025 Range Rover Sport Autobiography (V8)
- Engine: 4.4L Twin-Turbo V8
- Horsepower: 523 hp
- Torque: 553 lb-ft
- 0–60 mph: 4.5 seconds
- Transmission: 8-speed automatic
- Drivetrain: All-wheel drive
- MSRP (as tested): Approx. $135,000
- EPA Est. MPG: 16 city / 21 highway
- Notable Features: Heated/cooled/massaging seats, 13.1” Pivi Pro screen, Meridian Signature Audio, Adaptive Dynamics, Air Suspension
