PROS
Commanding view of the road, Comfortable and quiet highway ride, Plenty of power
CONSTerrible fuel economy, Limited versatility, High step-in
Functionality meets Desire
Over the years, the Land Rover nameplate has grown synonymous with upscale living. Drive into any posh neighborhood or ritzy country club and, among the BMWs and Jaguars, you'll find plenty of Land Rovers. What sets Land Rover, and particularly the line-topping Range Rover, apart is the ability to cater to the "rich and famous" with classy and stylish interior fittings while remaining faithful to its off-road roots.
It's true; no one needs a $93,000 SUV. However, once you cross the $50,000 threshold for new vehicles, choice isn't as much about need as it is about desire. And for many, the Range Rover is the perfect vehicle to meet those desires.
This year, Land Rover tapped Ford stable-mate Jaguar for two new engines for the Range Rover. The base HSE model now gets a 305-horsepower 4.2-liter V8 that's shared with the Jaguar XJ sedan. The Supercharged model gets a supercharged version of that engine that makes an even 400 horsepower. These new engines replace a 4.4-liter, BMW-sourced V8 that made 282 horsepower. Both mate to a 6-speed automatic transmission with manual shift gate.
Vehicle Tested |
Base Price: $90,035
As-Tested Price: $93,250
Built in EnglandOptionsCherry Wood
Rear-Seat Entertainment
Engine: Supercharged DOHC 4.2-liter V8
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Drive Wheels: full-time four-wheel drive |
Standard safety equipment on both models includes traction control, stability control, Hill-Descent Control, antilock brakes, front side airbags, and curtain side airbags. New for '06 are an available dual-screen DVD entertainment system and a standard navigation system with rearview camera. Also standard are a Bluetooth cell phone link, front and rear obstacle detection, and a heated windshield.Get up and Go
Regardless of the situation, the Supercharged V8 has plenty of power. Pulling away from stoplights, it takes a second for engine to overwhelm the Range Rover's 5400-pound curb weight, but acceleration builds quickly and smoothly. The 6-speed automatic transmission mates well to the V8's power band and never seems to be caught in the wrong gear.
Even though the Range Rover is a true off-road vehicle, you'd never know it from the interior. There's no bulky transfer-case switch, just two subtle switches on the center console. One controls the four-wheel-drive transfer case and another deactivates Hill-Descent Control. Hill-Descent Control is a feature offered on many off-road-ready SUVs that electronically pulses the brakes to maintain a set speed when descending steep grades.
Powerful acceleration, four-wheel drive, and two-plus tons of curb weight isn't a recipe for good fuel economy. The EPA projections for the Supercharged model are 13 mpg city and 18 mpg highway. In addition, premium-grade fuel is required. In typical urban driving expect to average about 15 mpg; perhaps 18 mpg in highway driving. Either way, it's a good thing the Range Rover has a 27.6 gallon fuel tank, otherwise owner's would be filling up every other day.
On the RoadLand Rover's claim to fame is a suspension that's supple enough to soak up the bumps and pot holes of urban streets and rugged enough withstand the punishment of extreme off-road driving. Thanks to electronic servos and a couple computers, the Range Rover delivers on that boast.
The Supercharged's electronic suspension limits body lean to sedan-like levels. It's a little unsettling because driver's have no idea how hard the tires are working at holding the road. Dive into an on-ramp at high speed and the Range Rover tracks almost as flat as a sports sedan would. However, there's no denying the laws of physics and no amount of electronics can mask the fact that the Range Rover has a considerable amount of mass above the roof height of a normal sedan. That translates into modest cornering limits compared to sporty SUVs like the BMW X5, Cadillac SRX, and Infiniti FX.Despite the suspension's sophistication, it isn't perfect. At slow speeds or in around-town driving, there's plenty of SUV judder when going over bumps. It's not as bad as some of its competitors, but surely isn't as smooth as a luxury sedan. On the other hand, the highway ride is almost serene, regardless of the condition of the road.
Steering feel is great--for an SUV with the off-road ability of a Range Rover. It's isn't sports car quick, but it sure isn't slow and it is nicely weighted. It's also got great on-center feel that makes highway driving less tiresome.
At 5400 pounds, stopping the Range Rover could be an issue. The Supercharged model comes with uprated all-disc brakes that have no problem hauling down this large SUV in repeated hard stops.
Wind and road noise are well quelled for a SUV, and the tires roar only on coarse concrete pavement. Like many fine luxury sedans, the Range Rover is so quiet that you'll have to keep a close eye on the speedometer to avoid extra-legal speeds on the highway.
Behind the WheelPerhaps for the first time in history, Land Rover offers an interior that's both comfortable and functional. Sure there's still a sea of buttons and knobs, but refinements to switchgear and markings make everything easy to reach and, better yet, easy to understand. One of the nicest features are simple dials with temperature markings for driver and front-seat passenger. When teamed with the automatic airflow and fan speed setting, it makes climate control a snap.
The driving position isn't typical Land Rover--and that's a good thing. Previous generation Range Rovers and the old Land Rover Discovery situated drivers slightly to the left of the steering wheel. This imparted an off-center feel when driving and grew tiresome on longer highway trips.In the new LR3, the Discovery's replacement, and the Ranger Rover, Land Rover has corrected the off-center feeling. In addition, the front seats are supremely comfortable and well sculpted. On the Supercharged model there's a dizzying array of adjustments that are sure to accomodate just about any driver. Head and leg room are ample and the large, nicely padded center-console cover doubles as a comfortable armrest. Driver visibility is good forward and to the sides; hindered by thick pillars to the rear. This is somewhat offset by the standard park assist and rear-view camera.
Materials and assembly quality are top-notch and seem more than appropriate for the Range Rover Supercharged's $93,000 price tag. Especially nice are the padded surfaces throughout and the extra touches like interior foot-well lighting. Not as nice is the tall step in height. Even with the height-adjustable suspension set to low, it's more than a steep climb for toddlers and pre-teens.
The rear seats aren't as roomy or as comfortable as one might expect. The rear bench is flat and firm and knee room is tight if the front seats are all the way back. In most cases an average-size adult or teenager will be comfortable, but larger adults won't be happy on long trips unless front-seat passengers scoot way forward.
Dual video monitors in the rear of the front-seat headrests are a great idea. Most SUVs have a single monitor that drops down from the ceiling between the front seats. While this is a cost-effective solution, providing a single monitor that can be viewed by all rear-seat passengers, it creates a dangerous blind spot in the rear-view mirror and also can get in the way when trying maneuver from the front seat to the rear seat.
The interface to control the rear-seat entertainment system is simple enough (for adults) and the picture and sound quality are excellent. However, a few buttons beneath each monitor would be easierfor kids and there has to be a better location for the DVD player than behind a panel in the rear of the cargo area.
NHTSA Crash-Test Results, 2006 Land Rover Range Rover |
| Front Impact, Driver | NA |
| Front Impact, Passenger | NA |
| Side Impact, Driver | NA |
| Side Impact, Rear Passenger | NA |
| Rollover Resistance | NA |
Sadly, the cargo area isn't as versatile as some SUVs. Though it's large, folding the rear seats creates a stepped load floor that isn't as useful as fold-flat rear seats on some other SUVs. In addition, you have to move the front seats forward or remove the rear headrests when folding the rear seats. Finally, the split rear hatch is a great idea. If you're loading small items you can just pop the hatch and slid them into the void created between the tailgate and hard cargo cover. If you need full access, just drop down the mini tailgate. It's not so large that you need a long reach into the cargo area, but long enough to protect the rear bumper when loading heavy cargo.
Bottom LineNo one needs a Range Rover. There are plenty of other luxury SUVs that offer more utility, versatility, towing power, or interior room. However, among luxury SUVs, the distinctive Range Rover stands out and strikes a delicate balance between refined road manners, rugged off-road toughness, and posh fittings.
Yes the Supercharged model has ample acceleration, but that power boost comes with a $15,000 price premium. Included with the Supercharged are a heated steering wheel and seats, ski sack, auto-dimming mirrors, adaptive headlights, and uprated tires, brakes, and suspension. What the Supercharged model offers in spades is the satisfaction of so many desires. It's as sophisticated as a crown prince, as rugged as a lumberjack, and as versatile as decathlete.
