The Range Rover has a rich history in the British automobile industry. Introduced initially in England, it took 17 years for the vehicle to be sold in North America officially. From the beginning, the Range Rover has been an upscale version of a traditional Land Rover and has become more luxurious and opulent with each new generation. Our test vehicle, manufactured at the Solihull ENG plant, had an MSRP of $176,965.
The latest version of the Land Rover Range Rover boasts a stylish and sleek appearance, significantly improving over the previous model. The running lights have been elongated and slimmed down, while the grille has become more elegant. The intakes in the bumper are also more in sync than before. The side profile has been updated, with the rectangles differing from the previous generation and the 23-inch wheels that aren't our favourite. The back of the car has also undergone refinement, with the tail lights and powered upper and lower tailgate blending seamlessly into the design. The updated styling of the Land Rover Range Rover is a significant improvement over its previous model.
Many people choose to buy a Range Rover for their luxurious interior. It's a great interior with plush seats and excellent materials on the doors and the dashboard. We enjoyed the car's interior, which featured Ebony perforated Windsor leather seats paired with a Perlino interior, which means black seats on a cream-white interior. On the driver's side, it is a luxurious place to be with heated and ventilated seats in the first two rows, driving home the point that it is a true status symbol. The steering wheel is strange: we find it difficult to place our hands in the openings on the lower metallic spokes. It's a small detail but odd nonetheless. The 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster is still a hit, and a thumbs up for the 13.1-inch infotainment screen. You can access off-road-focused information and the classics such as navigation, media and general settings. The climate controls are located under the central screen and are always visible. The center console is uncluttered; the gear selector is on the left, the drive mode selector is on the right, and the Start stop button and volume knob are in the middle.
Moving towards the back of the Range Rover, we had the long wheelbase model, which benefits third-row occupants. Indeed, the more extended version adds 200mm (7.9"), which helps to create a more spacious interior while providing some cargo space even with the third row in place. By simply pressing a button, the passengers in the back can easily move the seat in front of them to allow for convenient entry and exit. It's the same process when someone needs to access the back of the vehicle. The controls are located near the door to move the middle row, fold down, and raise the third row as necessary while on the go. The practicality doesn't stop there as you can also drop down or pull back up the rows in the cargo area via, you guessed it, buttons on the passenger side. As one can expect, if the rows are stored with a vehicle this size, the cargo space increases dramatically to a cavernous 2,175L (92.9 cu. ft.). Many amenities include USB ports, heated and ventilated second-row, cupholders and electric rear door sunblinds. The ISOFIX ports are concealed within the cushion but can be identified by the tags on the seat. Additionally, the rear anchors are available in both rows. No need to worry; Range Rovers are still family-friendly!
The new Land Rover Range Rover LWB comes with a powerful twin-turbo V8 engine that generates 523hp and 553 lb-ft of torque. If you want more power, there's an option to upgrade to a higher-performance version that can produce up to 607 horsepower and 750 pound-feet of torque. We had the regular version, which procured a decent acceleration for a 2.7-ton vehicle; Land Rover says the Range Rover can get to 100kph in 4.8 seconds. The power is transferred from the engine to the wheels thanks to an eight-speed automatic transmission, and all-wheel-drive is standard across the board. Large engine equals a large fuel consumption: in this case, the Range Rover is rated at 15.2L/100km in the city and 11L/100km on the highway; we averaged 15.1L/100km during our week.
The acceleration in the Range Rover is impressive for a vehicle this size, and the V8 has a nice rumble, although, due to its weight, it doesn't give off the feeling of being a fast vehicle. Braking is also efficient; the car stops promptly, and the air suspension helps to reduce any plunging effect. The leading quality here is the ride, which is stable and serene, a must in a luxury vehicle. The Land Rover's handling is an excellent match for the brand's reputation, offering both precision and ease for daily driving. We had a great time testing it out on snow-covered country roads, but it's important to keep in mind its dimensions. With a 2m width (6ft), you can rapidly drift out of the lane.
At the end of the day, if you are looking at a Range Rover, it means you want to get as much as possible for your money. The redesigned Land Rover Range Rover P530 SE LWB ticks many boxes: it is spacious, comfortable, powerful and has an aura that few vehicles can claim. Investing in this vehicle will not disappoint, as it is one of the finest English-made cars.
JLR has lent us this vehicle for one week as a press vehicle. We have no affiliation with Jaguar Land Rover, Canada. The above reflects our personal opinion of the car referred to above.
