I finally got to drive a full Range Rover. JLR in Bethesda has several in stock, which is a big surprise. They have 2 V8s and 3 6 cyls. They had a beautiful green V8 model with an MSRP of $143,000 I wanted to drive but they had just sold it 10 minutes earlier. The other V8 was on the showroom floor and was an Autobiography with an MSRP of $273,000. Passed on driving that lol. I wound up driving a fairly low optioned 6 cyl model with an MSRP of $116,000.

First let me say the interior is stunning. Incredible material quality everywhere, really blows a W223 S Class away, and also bests the 7 Series. Beautiful matte open pore wood, leather stitching everywhere, all the metal trim is real, just a beautiful, beautiful interior. Remember thats the BASE model, materials just improve from there. Truly impressive. Seat leathers are very good, carpeting is great. Displays are all very high quality, just a nice, nice place to be. Legroom is quite tight in the second row, very different than what I am used to driving flagship sedans. I would want the LWB, but they are impossible to get an allocation for.

I love the style of the vehicle personally, great build quality outside too with nice paint and tight tolerances. It just feels special.

Ride and drive is very nice, handlingwise it belies its height and size and feels very manageable and carlike. Seating position is great, very commanding with a nice view out over the hood. The 6 cyl is smooth enough and power is fine, but I think with the V8 the whole vehicle would be elevated. Ride was a little firmer than I anticipated, and this was on small wheels. I didn't check the tire pressure. Very quiet and serene at non highway speeds, but on the highway wind noise sets in about 70-75MPH, and at 75-80 its considerably louder than my S560 and certainly an S580 or a 7 Series which are even quieter. I measured 63 dB at 75 while my S560 measures 59...thats about the same as my Pacifica, for example. That would be an issue for me personally.

I would like to drive the V8...that will be difficult though. All in all, I liked it but honestly I think I liked the drive of the GLS580 I drove better, it was certainly quieter at highway speeds, but the RR is much much nicer inside and overall feels more special without a doubt. Overall I think its still hard to beat a big sedan for me.

 

Will it fit in the garage?

 

Oh yeah, the LWB one is the same length as my S560, 207 inches long. Actually the one that concerns me is the 7 Series, its 212 inches long...

 

Nice review @SW17LS .

What color package did you drive?

I always like their interiors and from your testimony, they look as good in person as in the pics!

 

It really is. A white one parked next to me and my buddy at lunch a week ago. We kept talking the rest of the day how freaking beautiful it was.

I think it would be worth it even if it's difficult. You'd never be satisfied with the turbo 6 no matter how good it is. The V8 could tip you over the edge into getting one.

Yea an SUV just can't replace the nimbleness/handling of a sedan.

 

The one I drove was black on black, boring. The one I liked was Belgravia Green with a Caraway interior:

 

I really didn't like this generation when it came out but I've really come to appreciate it. Saw quite a few in the UK last week when I was over there. It grows on you.

 

Yeah it really does, they're beautiful

 

Our newest neighbors have a Range Rover that's very nice. The only thing for me at least is that his is black with black wheels which don't do it any favors IMO. If I were to venture a guess it might have a black interior too. Otherwise, a beautiful SUV. That Belgravia Green you pictured is beautiful on the RR.

They also have a couple of other really nice cars a MB and a Porsche. One or the other is always in the driveway since they have a two car garage.

 

I agree that's a first-class interior except for the screen-mount.....IMHO it would look better integrated into the dash like GM did up until some of their very latest models.

Yep, that green is nice. Dark Green is a lot more popular in Europe, particularly with the British Racing Green, than it is here in the U.S., where most people seem to worship the neutral colors.

Unfortunately, that might (?) not extend to other parts of the vehicle. Land Rover products are well-known for electrical and hardware problems....they rank very low on the reliability charts.

That might (?) explain the firmer-than-expected ride. I tested a new Defender a couple of years ago, if you remember my review on it. It had a very comfortable ride on pavement, even as a purpose-designed classic off-roader. Typically, when new vehicles come off the transporter, they have tires pumped up over recommended PSIs, around 40-45 or so......I've seen a couple of vehicles near 50. I don't know exactly why they do that, although the most likely explanation is to keep the expensive alloy wheels on new vehicles from contacting the floor of the truck or train with soft tires when the vehicles are chained down and the truck or train rocks or bounces over bumps. When the vehicles reach the dealership, the PDI (Pre-Delivery-Inspection) people are supposed to bleed the tires back down to around recommended PSI, but, believe me, this often is not done...I've bled the tires myself, many times, on vehicles I sample. In fact, more than one Sales-Manager and/or General Manager was red-faced when they told me the vehicle was ready for a test-drive, and I went out and showed them that the tires were still way off LOL. Perhaps, though, some of that is to be expected....when you pay the PDI people insultingly low wages (they are not unionized, at least that I know of), you can't expect them to do a first-class job.

Perhaps for now it is (I was the same way for many years).....but you are substantially younger than me. As you age, you may find that your back and legs may prefer something higher off the ground than the typical low-slung sedan.....sports-cars, of course, are even worse for easy entry/exit.

 

My only gripe with the Range Rover is that the interior design is practically identical to the Jaguar XF, which is less than half the price. I'm sure material quality is better though.

 

love this spec

I am also getting some dejavu
have you shared this photo before?

 

Agreed, but thats the trend now, it is what it is. At least the gauge cluster has a binnacle and its better integrated than many designs.

I know a bunch of people with modern ones and they have been fine. Wouldn't be something I would own, but to lease it for 3 years I think it would be fine.

They do it for transport, so the tires don't flat spot. Like you said the PDI guys are supposed to back the pressures off and they don't.

Oh believe me, I'm there. I like the higher up stance and the ease of getting in and out, although these are still a little climb up, it may not have been set to kneel when parked the way they can be set. My issue is I still prefer the way a sedan rides and drives.

Possible! I just googled the color and grabbed a picture off the internet

 

This is a beautiful car. It somehow looks stealthy yet ostentatious all at once. I've only been in a previous RR Sport and even that I thought was the nicest interior I've ever had the opportunity to sit in, I can't imagine how nice this car is inside.

 

love the exterior but not really feeling the interior design. i'm sure the materials are great though.
don't really like the steering wheel design and the screen being the 'stuck on ipad' design.
and the climate block under the screen looks a bit plain. in some ways i like the jag one posted more in terms of being a more cohesive design.