Land Rover Range Rover

The 395-hp, 3.0-liter supercharged and turbocharged six-cylinder engine is smooth, quiet, powerful, stately—just what you would expect. But that big power is offset by big weight. We noted some initial delay when accelerating from a standstill, even with the rather seamless engine start/stop system deactivated, which leads into a surge of power. Once underway, the power delivery is both punchy and refined. 

On the road, the Range Rover has a plush ride that absorbs nearly any road aberration without punishment despite those massive wheels. It laughs at potholes, as it sails majestically down the highway, managing to have both a supple ride yet also limited body roll through corners. By any standard, let alone for an off-road capable machine, this SUV has a superb ride.

The Range Rover isolates its passengers in a leather-lined cocoon. There is some wind noise, but road and powertrain noise is quite subdued. You can not only enjoy conversation at any speed, but you can also appreciate the audiophile-grade sound system. The generous sound deadening does allow some engine purr to intrude when accelerating, and it is delicious. 

The interior gets a fabulous attention to detail. Soft, padded leather surfaces abound: window ledge, dash, and center console. Plus micro-suede coverings for the pillars and headliner. Rich colors on our rented Range Rover added a restrained burgundy flourish, without being gaudy. The tasteful décor evokes images of an exquisite study in a British castle. Among its cool features: Illuminated seat belt receptacles that make buckling a cinch in the dark. Everything you see, touch, and smell gives an aura of luxury and pampering—just as you would expect for its price.

Most controls are a bit unique with no apparent benefit. Logbook comments call them “messy and frustrating” and describe the steering wheel icons as “hieroglyphics.” Those steering wheel controls sometimes have the labels where you are meant to interact and other times, the icons are adjacent to the control itself. Plus the organization isn’t ideal. For instance, the heated steering wheel button is nestled amidst the adaptive cruise control buttons. These controls are composed of a single piece of shiny black plastic, rather than being physically delineated as distinct buttons. It is easy to misplace a finger when driving.

The aesthetics on the infotainment system screen are sophisticated, with muted tones and detailed illustrations. But there is a learning curve to be able to navigate the screens, especially when in motion, to find many controls that are often done with regular buttons and switches in other vehicles.

The push/pull climate controls are clever, as seen on other Land Rovers, but they require more driver attention than they should, as you need to confirm the mode they are in—push, neutral, and pull each to activate a separate set of controls, such as fan, seat-heat, and cabin temperature. 

Adjusting lumbar support through the screen is another infraction, but at least when one touches the physical seat controls, a popup on the screen presents a shortcut.

The front seats are superb. The driver sits quite upright, like in a chair, with wide-spaced bolsters holding one in place. Numerous adjustments allow all-day comfort, aided by the massaging feature that can cause a ripple to cascade through the seat. The rear seat offers plenty of head and legroom, as well as space to tuck your feet under the front seats.