Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
Can you see me? I might look small, but that's because I'm next to this massive Range Rover.
Land Rover has made the latest Range Rover even posher than before - rather than being
an SUV it's more like a limousine you can drive pretty much anywhere. That's why we
named it our CarBuyer Luxury Car of the Year for 2013. And it's not hard to see why.
Despite the new look there is no mistaking this is a Range Rover. It has all the classic
design cues of the old car but with even more of an aristocratic air. The shape is slightly
less brick like so more streamlined while making the body out of aluminium means the
latest Range Rover is around 400kg lighter than before.
Another improvement is the interior space. The Rangie is about the same size on the road
as before. But with the old car when you got in the back you wondered where all the room
had gone. No such problem with this one as legroom back here has been increased by 118mm.
And it's comfy for three adults -- it helps the floor is flat so there's room for everyone's feet.
I'd say it's pretty lovely back here. But it's even better in the front.
The interior is perhaps the RR's defining feature. It's just a gorgeous machine to sit
in. In terms of Luxury it's right up there with the likes of Bentleys and Rolls Royces.
The new centre console is cleaner than before with fewer buttons and plenty of classy gloss
trim -- though you can have it with wood if you prefer.
Equipment is very good too. Like for like the Range Rover beats its rivals for standard
equipment. The options are plentiful too like this panaormic opening roof, massage seats
and a £4,000 1700W meridian hi fi sound system, rear entertainment system, an auto park facility
and all round cameras. As for safety -- - well the only thing I'd feel safer would be a nuclear
bunker.
Speaking of which there's plenty of hidy holes through out the cabin to prevent your clutter
from spoiling the interior ambiance. You can even get a fridge to keep your drinks chilled.
Cool...
The Range Rover is also good for carrying loads as the boot is huge with the seats in
place and even bigger with them down. What's more you operated electrically -- what did
you expect it's a range rover????
And because it has the classic spilt tailgate you can use the back as a bench to take a
rest after a grueling day shooting grouse. In fact you don't have to even strain your
self shutting it as both parts are electric....
The Range Rover is imposing, luxurious and full of gadgets. But really the best thing
about it is the way it makes you feel like royalty when driving it.
There's something about sitting up high in these wonderful throne like chairs that gives
you a sense of superiority and the way the supple suspension and incredible sound insulation
isolate you from the outside world. It's as though the normal stresses of driving just
don't apply to you if you are in a Range Rover.
Obviously the likes of the new Mercedes S Class have a similar calming effect on you
-- but it can't do any of this.
The new Range Rover may be as luxurious as any limousine but it's just as capable off
road as ever. The low ratio gearbox combined with very latest electronics make it easy
for the novice to tackle even the most tretcherous of terrain. You can even drive it through
water of up to 900mm deep while an optional sonar can warn you if that puddle is in fact
a lake.
So the RR is great off road. But really most will never be used there. And that brings
us on to the downsides because all that off-road capability adds weight and so even though
its significantly lighter than before the RR it's still pretty heavy. Yes it no longer
handles like a super tanker but a Porsche Cayenne is way more agile. And while the new
V6 diesel can do 37mpg you get much better economy from a BMW X5.
What's more the Range Rover's size makes it a little tricky to navigate trhough tight
spaces. So you may well be needing those optional surround cameras and self park features...
But while there's plenty of tech it's a shame the touch screen you control most of the gadgets
through is a little bit slow to respond, the menus aren't the simplest and the screen's
definition isn't great.
And then there the small matter of reliability. The last Range Rover came bottom for reliability
in the 2013 Driver Power owner satisfaction survery. If you want to rate your car you
can at driverpower.co.uk
Finally there's the fact some people will find getting in and out of such a tall vehicle
isn't as easy as slipping into a normal saloon like an Audi A8.
But then I know which vehicle I'd rather have -- CarBuyer's luxury car of the year for 2013
of course.