2020 Land Rover Range Rover Autobiography SUV

The 2020 Range Rover Autobiography comes equipped with a 5.0L, supercharged V8 motor under the hood that has been running in the family for decades now. Yes, the engine may not be the "latest" piece of tech, but certainly is an engineering marvel. Moreover, since this is the most expensive Range Rover in the business, it comes loaded with the best of Land Rover's arsenal pertaining to creature comforts and features on the inside.

To put it simply, shelling out $143,800 can get you a fine piece of practical and utterly luxurious SUV. The Rover tugs at the likes of Porsche Cayenne Turbo, Mercedes Benz G63 AMG and the newcomer in town, BMW X7 M50i for supremacy both, on and off-road. The Brit stands in a good position for the unique balance of practicality and luxury it provides. But has the competition caught up? Let's find out.

2020 Land Rover Range Rover Autobiography is itself a Queen-Approved trim that oozes luxury and exploitable features. However, this one trim is split into different wheelbase options; Standard (SWB) and Long (LWB). The luxury quotient remains the same in both these iterations while differing only in terms of the space inside the cabin. 

A heavy-duty supercharged 5.0L, V8, takes care of the dirty work in the Range Rover Autobiography, and pumps up the behemoth for any terrain you throw at it. Speaking of features, it is fully-fledged with top of the line luxury and safety features to keep you contended. To top it all, there are a plethora of optional features on offer too. Some enhance performance, while most of these options are concerned with extra luxury only. 

Trim	AUTOBIOGRAPHY
MSRP (SWB) (4WD)	$143,800
MSRP (LWB) (4WD)	$150,300
Key Features	Adaptive LED Headlamps
	Rear Executive Class Seating
	Four-Zone Automatic Climate Control
	Heated Armrests
	Electronic Adaptable Air Suspension
	Low Traction Control
	Two-Speed transfer box with Electronic Center Differential
	10-inch Dual-Screen in Center console
	Meridian Signature Sound System

Which 2020 Autobiography trim should you go for?

Now if you're already spending close to $150k for the added luxury, we'd say you go for the LWB AUTOBIOGRAPHY variant itself.  It has a 7.3-inch extended wheelbase that adds to the rear seating area. All in all, you get a luxurious Brit which isn’t hesitant of getting its shoes dirty. Not to forget, very few SUVs cast a big shadow on the road like this one.

The Range Rover Autobiography borrows the fire-breather from the Range Rover Sport SVR. A 5.0L, supercharged, V8 motor which whines out a peak power of 518 HP and peak torque of 461 lb-ft. The engine is detuned slightly as compared to the Sport SVR to behave a bit more tamed on the roads. Finished with more of a linear power delivery, the Autobiography isn't as snatchy as the Sport SVR.

The power is transferred to all four wheels (4WD) via an intelligent 8-Speed torque-converter automatic transmission. The sweet whine of the supercharger and the V8 rumble will mesmerize even the uninterested with its glorious exhaust note. Don’t worry, you will have to step out of the cabin to listen to it, as you are seated well insulated from the outside world in the Autobiography's cabin.

Models	Land Rover Range Rover Autobiography SWB	Porsche Cayenne Turbo	Mercedes Benz G-Class AMG G 63	BMW X7 M50i
MSRP	$143,800	$126,500	$156,450	$99,600
Engine	5.0L Supercharged V8	4.0L Turbocharged V8	4.0L Turbocharged V8	4.4L Turbocharged V8
Drivetrain	4WD	AWD	AWD	AWD
Transmission	8-Speed Automatic	8-Speed Automatic	9-Speed Paddle-Shifted Automatic	8-Speed Automatic
Power	518hp@6,000rpm	541hp@5,750rpm	577hp@6,000rpm	523hp@6,000rpm
Torque	461lb-ft@2,500rpm	568lb-ft@1,960rpm	627lb-ft@2,500rpm	553lb-ft@1,800rpm

Land Rovers have sluggish on-road performance as it has a one-sided character, unlike its counterparts which are optimized to have a balanced on an off-road experience. Even their flagship, the Range Rover Autobiography, has the poorest performance figures of the lot. However, don’t let numbers make you come to a conclusion as there is more than mere performance to look out for in a luxury off-roader.

How royally can the 2020 Range Rover Autobiography pull for 0-60?

The acceleration is not praiseworthy but the Autobiography can get you from point A to B in quicker than anticipated. The 5.1-second 0-60MPH timing is rather slow when compared to sub 4.5 second times from its competition.

The acceleration is linear and widely spread across the rev-band which gives you the slightest feeling of being pulled forward. And that does justice to the luxury part of this off-roader. We would even forgive its sluggish acceleration for the sheer off-roading experience it provides. All of this while ensuring you remained cocooned in the best environment possible. 

Models	Land Rover Range Rover Autobiography SWB	Porsche Cayenne Turbo	Mercedes Benz G-Class AMG G 63	BMW X7 M50i
0-60 MPH	5.1 sec	4.1 sec	4.4 sec	4.5 sec
Quarter Mile	N/A	N/A	12.5 sec	14.1 sec
Top Speed	N/A	183 MPH	150 MPH	155 MPH
Engine	5.0L Supercharged V8	4.0L Turbocharged V8	4.0L Turbocharged V8	4.4L Turbocharged V8

The Brit is the sloppiest of the lot but the supercharged setup has also helped it produce the least pollutants which are unheard of from a brawny V8 powered off-roader. All of its competition cross the 60 MPH mark in under 4.5 seconds which makes the Brit half-a-second slower. Porsche Cayenne Turbo is the quickest to 60 MPH at 4.1 seconds and the Merc G63 is quickest to cross the quarter-mile mark in 12.5 seconds.

How good are the Range Rover Autobiography's driving dynamics?

The Ranger Rover Autobiography performs best in its natural habitat, away from the roads! Its adaptive Terrain Response System can make even a noob drive it with ease on any terrain. The number of driving aids and support systems are phenomenal in this one. Imagine going for your first ever big-time baseball match and striking a home run in the first blow with no idea as to how you did it! Driving the Brit offroad will give you the same experience.

Come back to the urban jungle and this flagship Range Rover knocks it out of the park yet again. The air suspension adapts automatically as you make your way up that hill and the mighty V8 does a commendable job at pulling this Grand Rangie forward. The ride is calm and composed with the adaptive four-wheel-drive setup helping out in challenging terrains. There is barely any sound hindering the conversations inside.

Like all other Land Rovers though, this one is also pestered by a persistent body roll that cannot go unnoticed. It is not confident in taking fast corners. The steering is also on the heavier side which makes you flex the muscles for high-speed maneuverability. However, for an SUV this huge, there is impressive outward visibility and it is a boon for city drives. That said, it is a mixed bag on-road but has its priorities sorted out perfectly for the off-road!

How good are the 2020 Range Rover Autobiography's brakes?

Slowing this massive Range Rover and bringing to a halt is no small talk, and the slotted disc brakes all-round do an impressive job without flexing a muscle. The Brembo calipers have enough bite and the electronic brake-force distribution makes the reaction times as minimal as possible. Sloppy brakes are the last thing that you want from a full-blown off-roader.

There is a considerable body roll, given the sheer mass and height of the SUV. But this can only be felt under spirited braking on-road which we believe very few owners will opt for. The added safety of automatic emergency braking makes sure of situations not going out of hand. The hill climb assist is another feature in which the brakes play a very impressive role in keeping the Brit without sliding off, even at steep angles. 

Model	Land Rover Range Rover Autobiography SWB	Porsche Cayenne Turbo	Mercedes Benz G-Class AMG G 63	BMW X7 M50i
Brake Rotors Front	14.9"	16.3"	14.8"	N/A
Brake Rotors Rear	14.3"	14.3"	13.0"	N/A
Curb Weight	5235 lbs	5056 lbs	5842 lbs	5661 lbs
60-0 MPH	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

Porsche Cayenne Turbo has the largest front brake rotors of the lot but both the Brit and Porsche share same sized rear rotors. It is a bit scary to see the most powerful and heaviest of the lot, Mercedes-Benz G63 has the smallest brakes. But we do trust the Germans and they should have something up their sleeves.

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The fine-tuned supercharged V8 along with an efficiently timed 8-Speed Automatic transmission helps the Range Rover Autobiography achieve 16 MPG in the city and 21 MPG on the freeways. With a combined fuel economy of 18 MPG and a pack leading 27.3 gallons of tank capacity, it makes a decent mile muncher, especially meant for long drives. 

This is another impressive perk of the Land Rover, as it is a fuel-efficient SUV(sounds weird, right?). SUVs and fuel efficiency don’t have the smoothest of relationships. Nevertheless, this Brit has managed to chuck out impressive numbers. Yes, it doesn’t produce as much power as its competition, but that doesn’t make it any less of a performer.

Model	Land Rover Range Rover Autobiography SWB	Porsche Cayenne Turbo	Mercedes Benz G-Class AMG G 63	BMW X7 M50i
MPG (City)	16	15	13	15
MPG (Highway)	21	19	15	21
MPG (Combined)	18	17	14	17
Fuel Capacity	27.3 gallons	23.7 gallons	26.4 gallons	21.9 gallons
Range (City/Hwy/Combined)	437/573/491 miles	356/450/402 miles	343/396/369 miles	328/460/372 miles
Emission (Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/yr)	8.1	8.7	10.5	8.4

Porsche Cayenne and BMW X7 M50i do an impressive job at chucking out a combined 17 MPG with the added performance factor. The Mercedes, being the most powerful and heaviest of the lot, suffers here as it returns a combined economy of just 14 MPG.

The interior in Range Rover Autobiography is the perfect definition of British Luxury. It is wrapped in the finest leathers with contrasting wood trims. The attention to detail is phenomenal and the time you spend inside the cabin will be lost admiring the various comfort features.

The finest features include heated armrests and gesture-controlled sunshade. Two 10-inch infotainment screens fill up the center console and give the dashboard a clean look. All of the major functions and infotainment controls are embedded into these screens and they work pretty well. Land Rover has been working and improving the software over time and has come a long way since its introduction. The LWB models have optional executive seating which can treat you with features and comfort, better than a first-class flight seat.

Model	Land Rover Range Rover Autobiography SWB	Porsche Cayenne Turbo	Mercedes Benz G-Class AMG G 63*	BMW X7 M50i
Seating Capacity	5	5	5	7
Front Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in)	39.5/60.9/39.1	N/A	41.9/57.8/N/A	41.9/60.0/39.8
Rear Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in)	39.4/59.0/39.3	N/A	40.5/57.4/N/A	39.9/58.1/37.6

*2019 data used for comparison purpose

The SWB trims have good cabin space but the competition still excels with more. The BMW X7 M50i with its bigger and bloated body shape has the spacious cabin of the lot. The G63 manages to chuck out more space with its tall-body design.

What are the infotainment features on offer with the Range Rover Autobiography?

The two-screen setup at the center of the dashboard is an eye-catcher with its high-resolution graphics and smooth functionality. The top screen has all of the basic infotainment controls with the maps coming in and the lower screen has the climate controls, driving modes and settings.

There have been a few hiccups in the earlier versions but Land Rover has worked and provided us with a much more intuitive version in the Autobiography. There are very few physical buttons which makes the interaction rather cumbersome and takes time to get used to. We'd give it to BMW X7's iDrive for being the best out of the lot here. That said, the best features we found with the Range Rover's infotainment front are:

• Dual 10-inch High-Definition infotainment screens
• 1700W Meridian Signature Sound System
• 29-Speakers and Subwoofer
• Dual Rear Seat 10-Inch HD touchscreen displays
• WhiteFire digital wireless headphones
• HDMI and Mobile HD Link (MHL)
• Navigation Pro
• Android Auto and Apple CarPlay

What are the best Interior Features of the Range Rover Autobiography?

With an extravagant price-tag, come extravagant creature comforts. The 2020 Range Rover Autobiography is no less. Loaded with features up to its gills, some of the highlights of this endless list are:

• Carpeted Mats
• Heated Steering Wheel
• First and Second Row Smoker pack
• Four-Zone Automatic Climate Control
• Front center console cooler compartment
• Leather headliner
• Heated, cooled, massage Front and Rear Seats
• Head-Up Display
• 12.3-Inch HD Interactive Driver Display

How much cargo can the 2020 Land Rover take?

This is the luxurious cargo compartment we have ever come across. The Range Rover Autobiography has a spacious 31.8 cubic feet of extravagance layout. The floor of which is lined with premium carpeting and can be swapped with optional wooden flooring. The tailgate lifts pretty high and the load height can also be lowered by a couple of inches - thanks to the air suspension system.

The cargo space is not the best but still can manage with a five-person family trip seamlessly. There are dedicated pouches to hold objects that have a tendency to fly about when off-roading. Smart move, Land Rover.

Models	Land Rover Range Rover Autobiography SWB	Porsche Cayenne Turbo	Mercedes Benz G-Class AMG G 63	BMW X7 M50i
Cargo Capacity	31.8 cu.ft.	26.3 cu.ft.	38.6 cu.ft.	12.8 cu.ft.(behind 3rd seat)

Mercedes-Benz G63 with its tall body design accommodates the most cargo of the lot with an impressive 38.6 cubic feet. This is because of the added height. BMW X7 M50i loses out on cargo space due to its third row. The Porsche comes in with a modest 26.3 cubic feet which is impressive given the coupe-like rear profile of the Porsche Cayenne Turbo.

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The one thing we all can agree about Land Rovers is that they age like fine wine. The 2020 iteration sure has come a long way with the signature modern LED headlamps and taillamps but still retains its no-nonsense classic persona.

The unmistakable Land Rover front grille and headlamps will make its presence known from afar. The shoulder liens are high up and greatly complement the SUV’s size with unique down-swept accents on both sides which gives it a unique and recognizable look. The rear bumper has integrated exhaust tips to give it a cleaner look and the inclining overhangs on either side add to the SUV's raw personality.

Numerous optional design packs and new wheel designs further add to the appeal of the car and make you spoilt for choices. If you look carefully, the “Range Rover” badge upfront is underlined by a single continuous strip. It starts at the headlights and makes its way towards the rear by dividing the door handles. All that drama finally adjoins at the rear, below the badge showcasing great attention to detail by the Englishmen. 

Model	Land Rover Range Rover Autobiography SWB	Porsche Cayenne Turbo	Mercedes Benz G-Class AMG G 63	BMW X7 M50i
Curb Weight	5235 lbs	5056 lbs	5842 lbs	5661 lbs
Length	196.9"	194.0"	191.9"	203.3"
Width	78.1"	78.1"	78.1"	78.7"
Height	73.6"	65.9"	77.4"	71.1"
Ground Clearance	8.3"	7.4"	9.5"	N/A
Wheelbase	115.0"	114.0"	113.8"	122.2"

The Bimmer is the only competitor that surpasses the Brit in terms of dimensions. Porsche Cayenne and Merc G63 fall short owing to their performance-focused statures. The G63 has the highest ground clearance which gives it an edge. The Standard wheelbase of Range Rover is the longest of the lot and that translates to a better cabin space with compromise on performance ofcourse.

What are the highlights of the Range Rover Autobiography's Exterior?

Spending over $150k on an SUV will, obviously, leave you expecting a lot of glitter and gold on your vehicle. The 2020 Range Rover Autobiography isn't different either, as it comes packed with a set of ornaments on the outside that set it apart from the crowd. Some of these eye-catchy features on the SUV's exterior are:

• Heated outside rearview mirrors
• Soft Close Door
• Unibody steel Engine Cover
• Distinctive LED Headlamps and Taillamps
• 22-inch unique alloy wheels
• Electronic Split-Tailgate

Land Rover has not made any compromises in the safety of the Range Rover Autobiography. In fact, the driving assistance features available are what makes this SUV a breeze to drive both on and off roads. 360-degree camera makes it easier to maneuver this Goliath of a car in cities and tight spots.

Driver Assist features help in minimizing the complexity of driving a fully-fledged SUV and Land Rover has aced it. The various features available are listed below.

• Adaptive Cruise Control
• ISOFIX points in rear seats
• Emergency Brake Assist
• Electronic Traction Control
• Cornering Brake Control
• Roll Stability Control (RSC)
• Seat belts with Supplemental Restraint System (SRS)

Land Rover Range Rover Autobiography vs Porsche Cayenne Turbo

Porsche Cayenne is a sporty SUV that tucks in to be aerodynamically efficient and give you the best possible performance. The turbocharged engine of Cayenne Turbo produces much more than the Brit. The Range Rover Autobiography, on the other hand, is much more than just performance. It provides you with a luxurious cabin that oozes of extravagant bits and makes you feel like a king. There is commendable power to back up this behemoth as well. So if you are willing to spend the extra $17,300, the Range Rover is worth every penny.

Land Rover Range Rover Autobiography vs Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG

Just like the Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz G-Class has also come a long way but still clings to its roots by character. Modernization has taken over but both still have resemblances to their predecessors. That is a rare sight these days. The G63 AMG is “blistering fast” powerful and the Brit doesn’t stand a chance. But the shape and dynamics take away a lot of driving fun from it as the handling is very poor with lots of body roll and high ride height makes it difficult to enter and exit. Cargo space is practically limited and has outdated interior bits. If it were to us, we would choose the Range Rover Autobiography over the ludicrous German as the $3,700 premium is well worth it.

Land Rover Range Rover Autobiography vs BMW X7 M50i

The newest Bimmer in town has a lot of tricks up its sleeve. For starters, the 5-digit price tag rewards you with a much more powerful, premium and spacious SUV which can hoon at will. Time has changed and has taken the best of Land Rovers. The BMW X7 M50i provides all that the Brit provides, but in a more polished manner. The only thing that differs is that Land Rover gives you a “King” experience but the Bavarian is more of an “executive” experience. We will go for the BMW X7 M50i as it provides the best of both worlds. However, the Bimmer doesn’t even come close to the off-roading ability of the Rover.

2020 Land Rover Range Rover Autobiography (that’s a long name!) is a royal ride to put it straight, which doesn’t hesitate to play dirty. And it excels at it. However, times have changed and various automakers have upped their game. The Brit has come a long way but there is a lot of blank spots which the competition is putting to their use. We love the beautiful and practical SUV that Land Rover offers but will take the BMW X7 M50i over it for the much more rewarding car it is. For off-roading though, we would think twice.

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