Introduction
The Range Rover is a car that needs little introduction, it is probably one of the most recognisable cars on UK roads.
It has an image of opulence surrounding it that few cars can match - if you drive a new Range Rover, it’s safe to say that you won’t miss a £20 note falling from your wallet.
While Range Rovers give you the off-roading image, most won’t ever leave the city. Instead, they now serve to move around footballers, celebrities and are even used to chauffeur people around while a small minority still get used on the two-mile track to their owner’s swooping mansions.
The newest-generation Range Rover has been around since 2013, and while a refreshed version is on its way next year, for 2017, the changes were kept to a minimum. For 2017, it introduced Jaguar Land Rover’s InControl Touch Pro infotainment system with a larger 10-inch display, as well as new safety systems such as adaptive cruise control, blind spot assist and emergency braking – all of which come under the Drive Pro pack.
Performance
Our test vehicle came fitted with the entry-level 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine. It produces 255bhp and 600Nm of torque, allowing it to hit 0-60mph in 7.4 seconds and a top speed of 130mph. It was surprisingly quick for something that weighs a hefty 2.2 tonnes and should easily be fast enough for those swift traffic light dashes through central London.
Ride and handling
Few cars make you feel quite as important to drive as the Range Rover. You are surrounded by the highest quality wood and leather behind the wheel, and you look down on most other people on the road. It’s all rather enjoyable.
The comfort of the Range Rover is impressive, too. It crunches miles with ease, while a lack of wind and road noise in the cabin adds to the relaxing feel. There are few cars that are as relaxing to drive long distances in.
Unfortunately, when you reach a corner you are reminded just how big the Range Rover is. It leans heavily through bends and you couldn’t exactly call the steering direct. That said, you buy a Range Rover to waft in rather than go on B-road blasts. It is comfort-orientated, whether that is for crossing continents, your country estate or your local Waitrose car park.
Interior and equipment
This is probably the most impressive part about the Range Rover – the cabin. We had a good look throughout the vast cabin to find a whiff of sub-par materials, but just couldn’t find any. Everything is finished off in dark wood or upholstered in leather, and it’s fabulous.
Our top-spec Autobiography model came with optional Executive Class rear seats (costing £3,265) meaning that it was only actually a four-seater. Because of this, our model really wasn’t all that practical, but it is definitely aimed more towards the chauffeur market than families. It’s worth mentioning that every model normally comes with five seats.
These special seats also ruined boot space, as they can’t fold, meaning you are reduced to ‘just’ 550 litres of capacity, so unless you are willing to compromise for the highest in luxury, it makes much more sense to choose the standard five-seat layout.
As for the spec, our Autobiography grade car was absolutely loaded with equipment. As standard it came with heated and ventilated front seats with massaging function, adaptive cruise control and a 360-degree parking camera. It is worth noting that the infotainment system does let the side down, as it is starting to show its age compared to rivals. However, with a new model on the way, the ageing system will be replaced by the one fitted in the new Range Rover Velar.
Cost
The Range Rover is not a cheap car. Our Autobiography-spec car cost £93,950, but with options it jumped the price up to £109,805, thanks to extras such as a Meridian sound system (£4,140) and the aforementioned Executive Class rear seats. As you can see, the options are costly, and if you aren’t careful, you could soon have a Range Rover costing similar to the more luxurious, albeit smaller Bentley Bentayga, that starts from £135,800.
Running costs won’t be much fun, either, not that it is important if you can afford a Range Rover. While official figures are a claimed 40.9mpg, realistically we found this to be more around the 33mpg mark, with hefty emissions of 182g/km of CO2.
Our verdict
The Range Rover is an incredible car because of the scope to its ability. Everything about it is huge and ostentatious, but that is what makes it what it is. While the infotainment system is showing its age and running costs won’t be cheap, if you are after a luxury SUV that can genuinely go off-road, there are few things as capable or as luxurious as the Range Rover.