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Move Over, Everyone, It's Time for the LR Defender V8 and RR Sport SVR to Go Drag Racing

Here’s a question that not many petrolheads will ask: which one is quicker in a straight-line sprint between the Land Rover Defender V8 and its more luxurious cousin, the Range Rover Sport SVR?
Land Rover V8 vs. Range Rover Sport SVR 9 photos
Photo: Screenshot Youtube | Sam CarLegion
Land Rover V8 vs. Range Rover Sport SVRLand Rover V8 vs. Range Rover Sport SVRLand Rover V8 vs. Range Rover Sport SVRLand Rover V8 vs. Range Rover Sport SVRLand Rover V8 vs. Range Rover Sport SVRLand Rover V8 vs. Range Rover Sport SVRLand Rover V8 vs. Range Rover Sport SVRLand Rover V8 vs. Range Rover Sport SVR
Bet you haven’t thought about it, and if we are wrong, then you have come to the right place, as you are about to see the two fast SUVs engage in a couple of direct fights, in the hands of Sam CarLegion on YouTube. The video was uploaded a day ago, so the family feud likely took place recently.

Which one holds the upper ground in terms of power and straight-line performance? Well, the balance slightly tilts in favor of the Range Rover Sport SVR, which is more powerful, and a bit more agile to 62 mph (100 kph). In fact, hitting that mark takes 4.5 seconds, almost a second faster than the more rugged model.

Both of them pack the same engine, which is a supercharged 5.0-liter V8, in case you forgot. In the Defender V8, it pumps out 511 brake horsepower and 461 pound-feet (625 Nm) of torque, and in the SVR, it develops 567 bhp and 516 lb-ft (700 Nm). The two punchy SUVs use an eight-speed automatic transmission and have four-wheel drive, for faster takeoffs and enhanced traction when needed. Flat-out, the SVR can do up to 174 mph (280 kph), whereas the Defender will run out of breath at 149 mph (240 kph).

Having seen what the official spec sheets say, do you actually think the Defender V8 has what it takes in order to beat the Range Rover Sport SVR in a straight line? The video that you are about to watch answers this question, as the guys behind it have subjected the two high-riders to a couple of races, both from a standing and a rolling start. That said, you know the drill.

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About the author: Cristian Gnaticov
Cristian Gnaticov profile photo

After a series of unfortunate events put an end to Cristian's dream of entering a custom built & tuned old-school Dacia into a rally competition, he moved on to drive press cars and write for a living. He's worked for several automotive online journals and now he's back at autoevolution after his first tour in the mid-2000s.
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