Land Rover Range Rover

Land Rover Range Rover – Overview

One of the questions often asked on the Internet is “Land Rover vs Range Rover”. A simple answer would be Land Rover is the manufacturer and Range Rover is a sub-brand. Land Rover models are catered to being luxurious while Range Rover focuses more on sportiness and adventures. Vehicles under the Land Rover brand are the Discovery, Discovery Sport, Defender, and Range Rover. The sportier models are Range Rover Sport, Range Rover Evoque, and Range Rover Velar.

Currently, in the fourth generation, the Range Rover is a full-size luxury SUV made by the British carmaker. It was launched back in 2014 and in 2017, it went through a facelift. The Land Rover Range Rover has long been the luxury SUV benchmark with British Royalty and celebrity owners. This makes it irresistible to someone who wants a comfortable and luxury car that can occasionally drive in multiple terrains.

Luxury is always perceived differently depending on the individual. Competition for this luxury SUV can range from the regular upscale models such as the BMW X7 and Mercedes Benz GLS. It could also compete with luxury models like the Bentley Bentayga, Maserati Levante, Aston Martin DBX, and Rolls-Royce Cullinan, just to name a few. The starting price in Malaysia for a Vogue SE is RM 1,220,000.

Land Rover Range Rover – Exterior

You will instantly know when one approaches you because of the big lettering that spells Range Rover on the hood. It is hard to miss and is telling you, “I have arrived”. The “in your face” large grille commands a great overwhelming presence. 

Highlights of the exterior are the floating roof and continuous waistline. It begins as a stripe on the lower part of the front bumper, continues through the doors with the vents and ends at the sides of the rear bumper. The exterior design is a contradicting one. While it is intimidating especially when up close, it is also exuding simplicity and elegance. 

Another styling point is the lights used for the Range Rover. In the front there is a recognizable angular, LED headlights with Daylight Running Lights (DRLs). The LEDs make driving at night less tiring with Beams Pattern Assistance, which gives maximum visibility with the least effect on others. 

In the rear, the LED tail lights use two red rectangles stacked on top of each other. When you stare at these rectangles, it gives off a hypnotizing effect that makes you want to follow it. The standard wheels size used is 21-inch wrapped in wide 275/45 tyres for high grip. 

Land Rover Range Rover – Interior

As an SUV for the rich, the cabin has to be class-leading in luxury. It speaks of taste and is not flashy. It is done in an exceeding way that shows with its selection of color and material. Premium leather is that ingredient for that luxury and inside the Range Rover, anything that can be is already wrapped in leather. The result is an interior that exudes a high-class environment for the high-society.

Besides being luxurious, the interior is a high-tech place especially with the usage of digital touchscreens. The first one is the 12.3-inch instrument panel, which Land Rover calls the Interactive Driver Display. Not only does it act like your usual instrument panel but the Interactive Driver Display could also display driving information, media, and navigation. Then, there are the dual touchscreens on the center console that act as a multi-function infotainment system. These touchscreens replace buttons and dials to create an uncluttered console that is cool and less distracting to the driver.

There is one thing in particular that is a surprise to be found in any car. If you look under the center armrest in the front, you will find a fridge for your drinks. The boot has an auto split tailgate and handsfree opening, accessible with a wave of your feet. It offers a whopping 900 liters of storage space with all seats up and increases to a crazy 2,190 liters with all rear seats down.

Land Rover Range Rover – Features

The interior climate control is a three-zone air-con: two for the driver and front passenger, and one for the rear. Controls can be accessed via the bottom touchscreen and the Dynamic Dials. The dials change their display depending on the adjustment. You can make it more comfortable by getting the optional four-zone climate and control and in-cabin air purification system with PM2,5 filter.

The Range Rover gets a wealth of safety features such as airbags, Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), cruise control, emergency braking, Lane Departure Warning, Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Electronic Traction Control (ETC), Cornering Brake Control (CBC), Roll Stability Control (RSC), Emergency Brake Assist, and Hazard Lights Under Braking.

Range Rover has two optional drive packages. The Drive Pack offers Driver Condition Monitor, Blind Spot Monitor, Traffic Sign Recognition, and Adaptive Speed Limiter. Meanwhile, the Drive Pro Pack includes Lane Keep Assist, Blind Spot Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control, and High-Speed Emergency Braking on top of the other package.

There are features that deliver easy parking solutions. You get Front and Rear Parking Aid (sensors) and a rear camera as standard. You can opt for the optional Park Pack that entitles you a 360-degree Parking Aid with four digital cameras, Rear Traffic Monitor, and Clear Exit Monitor. If that is not enough, you can get the automatic parking, Park Assist option on top of the previous options as part of the Park Pro Pack.

Considered one of the best infotainment systems in the car industry, the Range Rover features the Touch Pro Duo. It consists of two 10-inch touchscreens that uniquely allows simultaneous view with multiple features. You could view the navigation on upper screen and play media on the lower screen or pay media on top and control the air-con below. The Meridian Surround System helps bring entertainment experience to a new level. It has 18, 825 watts speakers and a dual channel subwoofer to produce the surround effect.

Passengers on the rear do not have to be left out of the entertainment. You could opt for the optional Rear Seat Entertainment system that provides a twin 10-inch touchscreen mounted on the back of the front seats. The entire car comes with 17 connection ports that include 12V sockets, HDMI, and USD ports to connect or charge your favorite devices.  

Land Rover Range Rover – Powertrain

The Range Rover in the Vogue SE trim level has a 5.0 liter, V8 engine with a supercharger. It is one of the most powerful engines in the company’s product line and puts out a mighty 525 PS at 6,000 rpm and 625 Nm of torque at 2,500 to 5,500 rpm. It is equipped with Stop/Start technology and regenerative ability to capture kinetic energy.

The supercharged V8 is attached to an 8-speed automatic transmission from ZF, where power is directed to an All-Wheel Drive system. This transmission allows you to always be in the optimum gear that maximizes fuel efficiency and acceleration. 

Gear changes are subtle and the gearbox will adapt to your driving style. Ranger Rovers does not have a conventional gear stick but instead has a rotary shifter on the center console called the Drive Select to select gears. The 8-speed can be shifted via paddle shifters on the steering wheel.

This generation’s Range Rover uses a unibody chassis made entirely of aluminum and according to Land Rover, this is the first 4x4 SUV to do so. This helped the factory achieve an outstanding 39 percent lighter body shell, and a reduction of 420 kg compared to its predecessor’s steel unibody.

Suspension wise, the Range Rover has an electronic air suspension with variable ride height on each wheel. It could be adjusted between these modes: Access, Normal On-Road, Off-Road, and Extended Height for a composed drive. The Speed Lowering System lowers the car by 15 mm when speed exceeds 105 km/h to reduce aerodynamic drag and fuel consumption.

The all-wheel drive is permanent and utilizes a two-speed transfer case with an Electronic Center Differential that offers a 50:50 torque split between the front and rear wheels. Range Rover’s Terrain Response system monitors ground conditions and immediately reconfigures transmission, suspension, and traction settings to handle the situation. Terrain Response settings selections are Comfort, Dynamic, Eco, Grass/Gravel/Snow, Mud and Ruts, Sand, and Rock Crawl.

There is also the Active Locking Differential that locks the rear wheels to give the best combination to maximize traction. Other systems such as Dynamic Response and Adaptive Dynamics minimize body movement to ensure a stable ride throughout the journey. Low Traction Launch uses unique throttle maps to provide enough torque to pull away from slippery surfaces. 

Land Rover Range Rover - Fuel Economy

Land Rover Range Rover – Driving Performance

We must not forget the fact that the Range Rover is also a very capable off-roader. It doesn’t matter whether it is on-road or off-road, the drive can be easily handled with the lot of safety and driving features available that assist the driver by automatically and instantly adjusting the traction, throttle and suspension (height and dampening).

Land Rover Range Rover - Ride Comfort

This is how comfortable the ride is with the air suspension. Inside, the comfort comes from the Semi-Aniline upholstered seats. These seats are wide made with deep cushions and soft foam interlayers equipped with heating, cooling, and “hot stone” massage function (front). 

Buyers can opt for the Executive Class Comfort Pack that upgrades the rear seats to include adjustable bolsters, upper shoulder support, headrest pillow, and massage function. A higher package, Executive Class Comfort Plus that adds heated armrests, calf rests, and footrests are available too.  

Land Rover Range Rover Conclusion

Here we have a vehicle that is a pinnacle of simplicity and elegance. You have an instantly recognizable exterior that is timeless and not exaggerated. A minimalistic interior that is comfortable and made with great taste. You wouldn’t have expected such a luxury car would have great off-road capabilities. Put all those together and add a powerful engine, you will get the Land Rover Range Rover. A great combination for any occasion for the wealthy.