Overview & Reviews

Pedigree means everything at the top end of the sport-utility market, and no luxury SUV has more pedigree than the Land Rover Range Rover. The Land Rover name dates to 1948, when the Rover group began building bare-bones 4x4 vehicles with extraordinary off-road capability. The Range Rover emerged from this off-road tradition in 1970, billed as the first Land Rover civil enough to be driven by a person in a business suit. This two-door SUV was stylish, yet quite primitive by today's standards, but it was immediately popular among wealthy U.K. consumers with a taste for the safari aesthetic. Sales in the United States started in 1987, though quite a few Range Rovers were imported through the gray market in the years preceding.

Now in its third generation, the Land Rover Range Rover still carries considerable prestige. From an off-road perspective, it's one of the most capable SUVs available at any price. From a luxury perspective, it's probably the most elegant and distinctive utility vehicle on the market, despite a few rough edges. High pricing keeps all but the very rich from buying a new Range Rover, a fact that only adds to the appeal of this elite 4x4.

2013 Range Rover Specs
The 2013 Range Rover is a five-passenger luxury SUV available in two trim levels, both featuring 5.0-liter V8s. The HSE model produces 375 horsepower and 375 pound-feet of torque, while the Supercharged's V8 develops an impressive 510 hp and 461 lb-ft. Both engines are paired with a six-speed automatic transmission with manual shift control.

A permanent four-wheel-drive system is standard on all Range Rovers, along with low-range gearing and nearly 11 inches of maximum ground clearance. The standard Terrain Response system allows the driver to customize powertrain, suspension and electronic stability and traction systems to best handle five predetermined off-road conditions.

Engineered in the late 1990s during the brief period when BMW owned Land Rover, the Range Rover is nevertheless aging quite well. It employs unibody construction (instead of body-on-frame architecture) and a fully independent suspension (instead of solid axles). These changes make all the difference when cruising on pavement, as the Range Rover now delivers the composed ride and secure handling expected of a true luxury SUV. Yet BMW engineers went about their work carefully so as not to compromise all-terrain ability.

Cabin design is a mix of traditional and modern in the new Range Rover. The upright seating position, blocky dash and large steering wheel evoke the feeling of an old-school Land Rover, while supple leather seats (with contrasting piping), walnut inlays and a navigation system with both on- and off-road mapping assure you that this is indeed a contemporary luxury vehicle. The cabin, like the exterior, manages to be both retro and modern at the same time, especially with the new gauge cluster that is, in fact, a large LCD screen. Nevertheless, its controls can be rather arcane in fine British tradition. A roomy reclining rear seat makes it possible to carry a pair of adults or three children in back, but cargo room is only average due to a high load floor.

If you're looking for a premium SUV with unparalleled off-road abilities and a legendary pedigree, the new Range Rover is an obvious choice. If you want to save some money and get a bit more on-road talent with that same legendary pedigree, the Range Rover Sport is a good compromise. However, any Land Rover has an albatross slung around its neck in the form of disappointing reliability. Buying one has been known to cause headaches (and breakdowns), which is certainly ironic given their status as go-to vehicles for adventures to Outer Mongolia.

Used Land Rover Range Rover Models
The present-generation Range Rover dates back to its introduction for 2003. Between then and '05, a BMW-sourced 4.4-liter V8 rated for 282 hp was the only engine available. It came with a five-speed automatic transmission. However, in 2006, then-parent company Ford replaced this engine with a pair of Jaguar-sourced V8s. The HSE featured a 305-hp 4.4-liter V8, while the Supercharged had a 4.2-liter V8 that was (surprise!) supercharged to produce 400 hp. The same number of transmission gears and four-wheel-drive system were employed as in the current Rover. The current 5.0-liter V8s showed up for 2010.

Buyers interested in technology will want to pay particular attention to year-by-year changes when shopping for used Range Rovers of this generation. The navigation system was CD-based until Land Rover upgraded it for 2005 (although it's once again a bit behind the times). A rear back-up camera and adaptive headlights were added to the standard equipment list for 2006.

There were significant changes made for 2007 when the interior was given a mild refresh, with twin gloveboxes, new cupholders and a slightly more intuitive control layout. The customizable off-road settings debuted that year along with an upgraded rear differential and an electronic parking brake. Airbags were also relocated for better performance and a driver's knee airbag was added. For 2010, there were minor exterior updates, a new LCD instrument cluster and navigation system, adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring and a 360-degree parking assist camera. Updates were also performed on the adaptive suspension, Terrain Response and stability control systems.

There were two previous generations of the Range Rover. Both are coveted on the used market, but potential buyers should know what they're getting into, because Range Rovers have been phenomenal off-roaders, but reliability is poor and repair costs are high.

Sold from 1995-2002, the second-generation Range Rover is the better bet of the two for buyers seeking a luxury experience. Note that 1995 was an overlap year: Rovers bearing a "4.0 SE" badge are the new model, while those with "County Classic" or "County LWB" badging are the old design. For 1996, Land Rover added a high-line 4.6 HSE model, and for the sake of acceleration alone, this is the better bet: The Range Rover 4.0 SE was powered by a 188-hp 4.0-liter V8, while the 4.6 HSE took a 222-hp 4.6-liter V8 with considerably more torque. A four-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel drive were standard on all models, as were leather upholstery, wood trim and a high-end audio system. Interior furnishings were opulent by the standards of the day, with ample comfort for front and rear passengers.

Second-generation Range Rovers still had solid axles front and rear, but engineers fitted self-leveling air springs to improve their manners on pavement. There's only so much you can do with old-fashioned hardware, though, and compared to other high-end SUVs, the Land Rover Range Rover's ride quality was harsh and body roll was excessive around corners.

Shopping for a first-generation Range Rover could make sense if you're looking for a dedicated off-road vehicle and don't mind repair bills or doing your own repair work. Only a four-door version of the Range Rover came to the U.S., and initially it had a 3.9-liter V8 (rated for anywhere from 178-182 hp, depending on the year) and a four-speed automatic transmission. A long-wheelbase model known as the County LWB joined the lineup for 1993, and not only did it have another 7 inches of rear legroom, it upgraded to a 200-hp 4.2-liter V8.

User Reviews:

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  Super Supercharged - 2006 Land Rover Range Rover
  By willie - January 3 - 9:46 pm

  The moment I got behind the wheel I knew this was the vehicle made for me. The style both interior and exterior are superb. It drives like a luxury sedan and is quick like a sports car. One of the "funnest" cars Ive ever owned. I felt extraordinarily safe driving in the recent torrential rainstorms in my area. It handles extremely well in bad weather.

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  Range Rover The Best Lux SUV Period - 2004 Land Rover Range Rover
  By amgbenz - January 2 - 10:00 am

  This is a great SUV the Luxuary is second to none for a Truck that is so great off road. Very relaxing and calm to drive, I love it!

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  very nice vehicle - 2003 Land Rover Range Rover
  By Riskit - December 30 - 2:00 am

  This is a very solid car. After 10000 miles nothing has failed. Average mpg on the road is 18.5 in town 16mpg. This is a very comfortable car to ride in with surprising performance for heavy vehicle.

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  Best Car Ever Owned - 2006 Land Rover Range Rover
  By RR Lover - November 26 - 1:01 am

  I have owned many cars including Porsche, Mercedes, and BMW. Although these were all great vehicles, I never liked any as much as this Range Rover. It has the perfect combination of luxury, class, smooth and solid ride, power, sturdiness, quiet cabin, rides high, family size, storage, safety, etc., etc., etc. Couldnt ask for more... At 110k and going strong, luckily, I have had very few problems with this RR.

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  WONDER - 2004 Land Rover Range Rover
  By crimson - November 21 - 10:00 am

  What a perfect car. Will never buy any other Suv.

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  Feel like royalty - 2004 Land Rover Range Rover
  By phandwerk - November 21 - 10:00 am

  Along time rover owner and the lastest is a wonderful evolution of the rover history. I always fell like the Queen when I am driving my Rover!

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  Third time a Charm - 2005 Land Rover Range Rover
  By bb cruiser - November 3 - 8:00 pm

  After having bought a Mercedes ML55 2002, a BMW X5 4.6 2003, I moved to a 2004 Range Rover. A big improvement over previous model(owned a 2000 Range Rover) and the BMW design and running gear provide the performance for a high end SUV. Best is the comfort and ability to handle towing needs,and get up and go when required. Off road capabilities exceed most if not all needs of the average user. A very comfortable four passenger SUV/Sedan.

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  Reliable Rover - 2006 Land Rover Range Rover
  By Dina B - October 24 - 10:13 am

  We had 2 previous RRs (2003 & 2005)and we had issues with both. This SUV is the most reliable we ever owned and we owned BMWs, Lexus and MBs. The new Jaguar engineers seemed to have addressed the reliability issues we had with our previous RRs. This SUV has been reliable and flawless. We kept up with the main. schedule and we have nothing but praise for this suv. Reading other reviews make you wonder about where some of these owners purchased their cars from? I cant relate to one thing written on some of these reviews even with the 2003 & 2005 we owned. The luxury, comfort and reliability of this suv is unmatched and we elected to hang on to this SUV and wont even dream about trading it in.

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  Old & Reliable - 2006 Land Rover Range Rover
  By Ash - October 2 - 12:23 pm

  I have about 53,000 miles and its exactly 4 years in just a few weeks. We also owned a 2006 LS430 Lexus during the same period. Our RR outperformed the Lexus in reliability & comfort. We no longer needed 2 vehicles and we dumped the Ls 430 without a second thought. Kept up with the maint. and the car is running great. My only issue is the early wear and tear on the seats. You can thank our environmental wackos for that as the process for finishing(dyeing) the leather is not what it used to be because of some crazy environmental hazards. The new finishing process causes early wear and tear issues as explained by a number of upholsterers. We are enjoying every mile we drive this awesome vehicle.

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  WOW - 2003 Land Rover Range Rover
  By Rick Stenlake - September 24 - 10:00 am

  This RR is head and shoulders above the previous modle. I had a 1994 LWB that I really loved. This one is far advanced from the modle after mine. I do take my RR off road and this on performs very well off road as well as on the road. It finally has good power to weight ratio and is fun to drive. My frind has a Lexus 470. I used to like to take his places, including off road. Now the RR is vastly superior to the Lexus so his is not much fun to take anymore. This is an impressive vehicle.