Land Rover has successfully set a new benchmark in the luxury SUV segment with this new Range Rover
- What is the Range Rover?
- What’s new for the Range Rover?
- What’s under the bonnet of the Range Rover?
- What’s it like to drive the Range Rover?
- How does the Range Rover look?
- What’s it like inside the Range Rover?
- What’s the spec like for the Range Rover?
- Verdict on the Range Rover
What is it?
Some cars hardly need an introduction and the Range Rover is most certainly one of them. It’s a British automotive icon and was arguably the first luxury SUV when it first arrived in 1970.
But more than 50 years later, and with SUVs never proving so popular, the Range Rover no longer has its own way, and faces some tough competition, including from the likes of Bentley and Mercedes. Now it’s the turn of the new fifth generation Range Rover to break cover, but does it warrant your attention?
What’s new?
Though it might not look all that different from the outgoing car on the outside, Land Rover has majorly upped the ante in a number of areas. It sits on a completely new platform, while a seven-seat version is available for the first time too.
There’s a vast range of new technology on offer as well, whether it’s features like electronic air suspension to improve comfort or to enhance technology with Amazon Alexa. It’s also increasingly eco-conscious, with plug-in hybrids with generous electric ranges on offer, while there will be an all-electric Range Rover launched in 2024.
What’s under the bonnet?
Starting with the plug-in options, Range Rover’s P440e and P510e both use a six-cylinder engine and electric motor, though also features a large 38.2kWh battery (almost the same size as the battery in a current Nissan Leaf EV) that allows for a 62-mile electric range.
A 395bhp 3.0-litre petrol is offered too, alongside a 523bhp 4.4-litre V8 unit. But it’s the diesels that are somewhat surprisingly still expected to be the best-sellers, with two 3.0-itre six-cylinder units on offer – the D300 and D350.
We tried the D300, which is able to manage 0-60mph in 6.5 seconds and hit a top speed of 135mph. In terms of fuel economy, Land Rover claims a respectable 35.8mpg, with 207g/km CO2 emissions.
What’s it like to drive?
One of the Range Rover’s stand-out features has always been its comfort, and this new model raises the bar even further. The air suspension is able to iron out pretty much all the bumps in the road, while the speakers use active noise cancellation to rid the cabin of loads of unwanted noise. From the inside, a diesel has never seemed so quiet.
All-wheel steering is also fitted, making the Range Rover feel very agile and manoeuvrable for such a huge car. The safety assist systems are also superbly engineered, and are remarkably unintrusive.
How does it look?
Particularly from up front, not all that much seems to have changed about the way the Range Rover looks. But when a car is so immediately recognisable as this, you can hardly blame Land Rover for sticking to what it knows.
Things are more different around the rear, which gets a smoother and more minimalist look than its predecessor, with a full-width black bar not only incorporating the Range Rover badging, but also the scrolling indicators. The bar then drops vertically into brake lights, which almost seem invisible when not in use. The clean, flush lines also help to give this new Range Rover an impressively modern appearance.
What’s it like inside?
The interior of the Range Rover is one of the most important attributes, and this new model truly sets the benchmark for design and quality.
The quality is just top tier throughout, with no signs of cost-saving measures anywhere and plenty of space also on offer – and you can have even more if you go for the long wheelbase version. The new 13.1-inch touchscreen is also superb to use, and really lifts the look of the Range Rover’s cabin.
What’s the spec like?
The Range Rover line-up begins with the SE version, and it’s certainly not lacking where equipment is concerned, with 21-inch alloy wheels, Windsor leather upholstery, heated seats throughout and a Meridian sound system all included.
Next up, the HSE brings digital LED headlights, larger 22-inch alloy wheels, a head-up display and park assist. High-end Autobiography models bring a sliding panoramic sunroof, 24-way electric seats and four-zone climate control.
At the top of the range, the SV model gets an exclusive sportier design, massaging seats and an upgraded sound system. Prices for the new Range Rover start from just shy of £100,000, rising to almost £160,000 for a top-spec SV version.
Verdict
Land Rover has successfully set a new benchmark in the luxury SUV segment with this new Range Rover. Its outstanding quality, refinement and technology solidify it as an astonishingly good car, while the stunning exterior design and levels of class all add to the desirability.
Though the new Range Rover doesn’t come cheap, there are other more expensive luxury SUVs that aren’t a patch on this new SUV.