Range Rover SUV review
“The Range Rover is an outstanding all-rounder that blends luxury, practicality and go-anywhere ability”
Pros
- Impeccable luxury
- Spread of ability
- Seven-seat versions available
Cons
- No electric version at launch
- Six-figure prices
- Thirsty petrol engines
Verdict – is the Range Rover a good car?
The latest Range Rover is more synonymous with refined, impeccable luxury than ever before. With varied powertrains on offer including petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid versions, the Range Rover has plenty of bases covered – an all-electric model due in 2024 will broaden the range even further. A seven-seater option makes the Range Rover even more versatile. That said, some of the higher-powered non-hybrid variants will be thirsty and costly to run, and it’s an expensive car to buy in the first place. Reliability issues have been a thorn in Range Rover’s side for a while now, but the brand hopes to combat this with a huge investment in its manufacturing plant.
Range Rover models, specs and alternatives
The introduction of a new Range Rover generation is a special occasion. After all, it’s been more than half a century since the first one turned its wheels, and this latest version is only the fifth iteration.
At first, it appears Land Rover’s designers photocopied the styling of the last car and called it a day, but look closer and a host of changes become apparent. The windows fit flush, and some of the creases and design fanciness has been removed. That’s the overarching theme of the styling – it’s been simplified and cleaned up, and looks more modern as a result. It makes the previous generation instantly look dated.
The light clusters are far more technologically advanced; many of the rear lights are hidden when they’re not on. Fit and finish has improved both inside and out; Land Rover is looking to improve quality and reliability with the new Range Rover.
More reviews
Car trim reviews
In-depth reviews
Used car reviews
Inside, the Range Rover features more technology than before, giving it an arsenal of gadgetry that few cars can match. Material quality is excellent, and you get a wide range of upholstery options including leather and sustainable Kvadrat and Ultrafabrics choices - these are textile and a mix of fake leather and suede respectively.
Land Rover’s latest-generation infotainment software is fitted into a larger touchscreen, which is the control point for many of the car’s extensive features. There are digital dials, too, and new touch-sensitive panels on the steering wheel. The driving position is imperious; refinement is top-notch.
A dizzyingly comprehensive range of engines is available, from mild-hybrid petrol and diesel engines to a plug-in hybrid that promises the same electric range as some small EVs. A fully electric Range Rover is coming in 2024 or, if that’s not your thing, there’s a meaty V8 petrol engine too.
The Range Rover now starts from around £100,000, so it needs to feel as impressively luxurious and technologically advanced. The good news is it does, and feels worthy of that sky-high price tag. It’s noticeably less expensive than the Bentley Bentayga, and isn’t any less opulent.
New Range Rover update inbound for the 2024 model year
The latest Range Rover is getting a few tweaks for 2024, including updated plug-in hybrid powertrains and interior technology
The Range Rover is getting a refresh for the 2024 model year, which will bring updates to keep it competitive against rivals. Range Rover also offers an SV Bespoke service which allows for greater personalisation of your Range Rover with up to 391 interior materials and 230 colour options.
The two plug-in hybrid models badged the P440e and P510e will be replaced with more powerful 453bhp P460e and 542bhp P550e models. Both will use a 3.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine with two power outputs paired with the same 217bhp electric motor. The fastest P550e will be capable of a 0-62mph time of just five seconds – that’s half a second quicker than the outgoing P510e.
Both versions get official electric range figures of up to 75 miles on a charge (we’d expect around 59 miles in real-world driving conditions.) In their hybrid driving mode, these will emit around 16g/km of CO2 and 50kW DC rapid charging means a 0-80% charge time of just under one hour.
New SV versions of the latest Range Rover will also be introduced, with range-topping specs available in short or long-wheelbase variants. Unlike before, hybrid powertrains can be specced on SV models.
A new mild-hybrid-assisted 4.4-litre V8 petrol engine will also join the SV range, helping boost power from 523bhp to 607bhp. This range-topping model will be capable of a 0-62mph sprint in under 4.6 seconds, with a limited top speed of 155mph.
An all-electric Range Rover is also in the pipeline expected in 2024, although few details are known about this model yet – it will likely be one of the more expensive variants in the lineup.
The latest Range Rover updates will include an improved latest-generation Pivi Pro infotainment system. While it will still use the same slightly curved 13.1-inch touchscreen display on the dash, a new ‘Country Road Assist’ feature has been added, as well as improved off-road cruise control tech to simplify driving across tough terrain.
MPG, running costs & CO2
The headline figure is that the plug-in hybrid Range Rover will manage up to 70 miles of range on electric power alone. That’s pretty astonishing compared to almost any other plug-in hybrid on sale right now, and enables an official economy figure of up to 353mpg. It’ll be the obvious choice for business drivers, with CO2 emissions of 18-21g/km putting it in a surprisingly low Benefit-in-Kind tax band.
Petrol and diesel engines feature mild-hybrid technology to reduce emissions, although it has little impact on a 2.5-tonne car. The D300 and D350 diesels manage around 36mpg, compared to 29.3mpg for the P400 petrol. Figures for the 4.4-litre V8 haven’t been confirmed yet, but the same engine returns up to 22mpg in the BMW X5 M Competition.
During our test we averaged 32.4mpg in the D350, which isn’t anything to get too excited about. However, when compared with the 20.2mpg of the Bentley Bentayga we achieved on the same route, it would equate to around £2,700 less per year in fuel cost if you cover 20,000 miles annually.
Road tax costs over £500 until the car is six years old, while insurance, maintenance and parts will all be considerable. But that’s to be expected from a car like the Range Rover, and most buyers won’t be fazed by its high running costs.
Engines, drive & performance
Range Rover drivers can choose from mild-hybrid petrol and diesel engines at launch, plus plug-in hybrid versions. For the first time, a fully electric version will even be available, although that’s due to launch in the next couple of years. Diesel may be deeply unfashionable these days but the 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine, with either 296bhp or 345bhp, is the ideal accompaniment to the Range Rover if you’re a private buyer.
We drove the more powerful diesel, which comes with a huge amount of low-down power. That reserve of torque makes for effortless overtaking and allows urgent acceleration when the mood takes you. It’s not a car you’ll want to drive quickly for the fun of it, but it can easily creep over the speed limit if you aren’t paying close attention. The diesel also appeals for the ability to travel huge distances on a single tank of fuel, and it’s clear that a lot of work has been done to prevent the engine from disturbing the occupants inside. Yes, the noise rises slightly if you pin the throttle, but most of the time it’s barely noticeable.
The petrol engine is the same size and has the same number of cylinders, but boasts 396bhp. However, the torque figures (550Nm for the petrol, 700Nm for the diesel) are perhaps more important; both versions get from 0-62mph in around six seconds but it’s the diesel that feels slightly quicker. Refinement is a little better in the petrol - it’s almost silent - but the difference isn’t that great.
Above that is a 4.4-litre V8 petrol, with 516bhp and a 0-62mph time of less than five seconds. The engine is far more audible here when you want it to be - it’s a big part of the appeal.
Our main gripe with the way the new Range Rover drives is its eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox. When cruising around at slow speeds, gear changes are silky smooth and quickly fade into the background. Under acceleration, however, the shifts can be surprisingly harsh, disturbing the car’s otherwise unflappable manner.
Despite the smallest wheel option being a huge 21 inches in diameter (HGV-rivalling 23-inch alloys are also available), the Range Rover has a well-judged ride. Apart from the odd unwelcome thud from larger bumps at low speeds, it’s one of the most comfortable cars around to travel in. Aladdin’s magic carpet was referenced by the Land Rover team, and that’s not as ridiculous as it might sound – the effect achieved by active electronically controlled air suspension and cameras reading the road ahead is impressive.
You may be surprised to hear that the latest Range Rover is uncharacteristically manoeuvrable around urban areas, where many models will inevitably spend most of their time. Thanks to the inclusion of rear-wheel-steering, the hulking SUV can turn its rear wheels in the opposite direction of those in the front to provide a turning circle of just under 11 metres – the same as the much smaller Range Rover Velar.
Of course, if you do decide to venture outside the city and off the beaten track, the technology on board extends to make the Range Rover as good off-road as we’ve come to expect. The wealth of features at your fingertips means the car will essentially navigate over the toughest terrain by itself. Whether on or off-road, you get the impression that the car can take anything in its stride. Consequently, after a full day’s driving, we left the car feeling as refreshed as when we started.
Interior & comfort
Like the exterior, the interior of the new Range Rover feels familiar but the overall effect is slicker with less fussy detailing. The air vents are better integrated, and there’s a little less chrome trim.
Sitting pride of place is a 13.1-inch tablet-like touchscreen, which looks a bit more restrained than the bigger touchscreens in cars like the Tesla Model X. It’s placed quite low; we wonder if Land Rover could have gone bigger - but maybe that’ll come in a later update. While the haptic feedback isn’t particularly intuitive, the screen is pleasing to use - and we’re glad to see that physical climate dials have been retained.
The driving position is just as commanding as before, and those large windows give you a fantastic field of vision. It makes you feel special, which is why the Range Rover has become the default choice for many buyers. It also benefits from the digital rear-view mirror originally designed for the Defender with its tailgate-mounted spare wheel. It still proves handy here, even working well to reduce glare from following cars at night.
It’s not entirely perfect, though. The gearlever is a little awkward and its sensitivity makes it hard to find neutral, while some of the plastic bits by the windows aren’t up to the quality of the rest of the interior. Really, though, these are minor gripes with what is otherwise an opulent cabin.
Standard features include high-tech LED headlights, a fixed glass roof, electric heated seats front and rear, air suspension, adaptive cruise control, wireless phone charging, a surround-view camera and all-wheel steering. Some of the extra kit fitted to HSE models include upgraded headlights, bigger wheels, ventilated seats, a head-up display and park assist.
Above that are the Autobiography, First Edition and SV specifications. You can customise the car to your heart’s content, and even call upon the services of Land Rover’s bespoke department if you so wish.
Road and wind noise is well suppressed, although the largest 22-inch alloy wheels can allow some thumps into the interior - even if the air suspension does a good job of keeping things comfortable.
Practicality & boot space
The wheelbase (the distance between the front and rear wheels) is longer than the previous Range Rover’s, which improves legroom. You can order a three-seat rear bench or two ‘Executive Class’ seats - the latter is reserved for high-end models, and includes a powered table that rises out of the centre console. There’s a fridge available, too. Interior storage impresses, thanks not only to deep door bins and a centre console with four individual areas, but also twin gloveboxes.
You’ll need to specify a long-wheelbase variant if you want to order seven seats. Those in the rearmost seats might find their knees a bit higher than is optimally comfortable, as the seats are mounted quite low, but there’s a good amount of knee and headroom. All seats are powered, and the third row folds away into the boot floor at the touch of a button.
The lower portion of the tailgate is a little smaller than the one fitted to its predecessor, which makes it a little easier to reach the back of the boot, but it’s still awkward. Incidentally, the Range Rover offers an 818-litre boot in five-seat mode, but that’s likely to be measured to the roofline rather than the parcel shelf - which is what most manufacturers do.
There are a few party tricks too, including the option to press a button to lower the rear suspension, making it easier to lift heavy or awkward items into the boot. The lower tailgate also makes a handy place to sit while out and about, and Land Rover has capitalised on this, adding a pop-up backrest and even a place to put your drinks.
Reliability & safety
Land Rover’s record for reliability is concerning, with over 30% of buyers reporting faults with their cars in the first year of ownership. That contributed to the British brand placing 14th out of 29 brands in our 2022 Driver Power survey.
Perhaps Land Rover is turning a corner, though; it has recently put huge investment into its Solihull plant to try and overcome its lacklustre quality reputation, and our test cars felt extremely well-built. With the sheer amount of technology on the Range Rover - bolstered by new features like all-wheel steering - there’s potentially a lot to go wrong, but hopefully owners won’t find that to be the case.
The Range Rover was crash-tested by Euro NCAP in late 2022, and a strong chassis and plenty of driver assistance technology meant it proved itself adept at keeping its occupants safe and out of harm’s way. It achieved a five-star score, managing more than 80% in the Adult Occupant, Child Occupant and Safety Assist categories.