What Does SV Stand For On Range Rovers?

Carmakers typically employ different strategies when it comes to naming their vehicles. A common practice is to attach a string of letters after the model's core name. Among other things, this can help differentiate trim levels and highlight specific performance enhancements or unique features. The seemingly cryptic acronyms often serve as a quick shorthand to help potential customers identify a vehicle's standing within a brand's hierarchy.

Take the Range Rover SV, for example, where the "SV" badging typically represents a more bespoke experience in creating the vehicle. "SV" on a Range Rover signifies that the model was built by Jaguar Land Rover's Special Vehicles Operations (SVO) division, which it launched in June 2014. The specialized division was tasked with creating high-performance versions of existing models alongside bespoke vehicle commissions and heritage models — all with Range Rover's trademark high luxury standards. 

The first production model from Jaguar Land Rover's SVO division was the Range Rover Sport SVR, introduced in 2014 for the 2015 model year. The Range Rover SVR was built around a supercharged V8 that churned out 550 hp and 502 lb-ft of torque. The 5,148-pound SUV could rocket to 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds, about the same as a 2015 Aston Martin V8 Vantage.

There has been an evolution in how Jaguar Land Rover SVO's vehicles are named. The SVR badging has been simplified to just SV, and it now adorns Range Rover and Range Rover Sport models. Range Rover SV vehicles continue to lead the line for the brand with stunning performance, extreme luxury, and cutting-edge technology.

The 2025 Range Rover SV stands apart with a stately road presence, silky-smooth ride quality, and a seemingly endless list of customizations. Land Rover vehicles have some of the nicest interiors out there, and the SVO makes it even more indulgent with the SV Signature suite. Available on long-wheelbase models, the Signature Suite offers rear passengers extra comfort with features like a full-length center console, electrically deployable Club Table, and a refrigerator with a sliding door.

Just as the Range Rover SV defines luxury standards, the latest iteration of the Range Rover Sport SV sets a benchmark for automotive performance. With a 626-hp twin-turbocharged V8 under the hood, it is the most powerful production Range Rover ever made. It is also the quickest Range Rover ever, able to complete the 0 to 60 mph sprint in 3.6 seconds, according to the manufacturer.

Other luxury manufacturers have similar naming schemes to Jaguar Land Rover's SV badge. For example, Mercedes-Benz uses "AMG" to identify models from Mercedes-AMG, its performance division. BMW, on the other hand, uses the "M" badge, reserved for souped-up performance vehicles such as the highly-regarded BMW M2.