2015 Land Rover Range Rover HSE
The fourth-generation Range Rover launched its first gasoline V-6 engine, supercharged just like the V-8s, but not badged to that effect. It offers the calming, confident Range Rover experience on less fuel and coin, and fewer feature options: You will have to make do with a 19-speaker, 825-watt Meridian audio system because the 1.7-kW 29-speaker Reference system is reserved for the V-8. (Overall score: 8)
Walkaround
The Range Rover eschews modern slit windows for vast areas of glass, benefitting both style and vision. The window aperture tapers slightly heading aft, as do the lower extremities but this retains traditional Range Rover proportions and characteristics favored from the Louvre to London and Dubai to the desert.
Complete, effective lighting jewelry is attention-getting when illuminated, outer grille slats are painted rather than boring black plastic, front door gills may be finish matched to the lower rub strip and a variety of wheels chosen. I'm the minority preferring the smallest diameter that clears the brake calipers.
In keeping with Rover's subdued influence there are no shiny exhausts cluttering the tail or melting your luggage, and real 4×4s don't need a badge. (Score: 8.4)
Interior
After an hour of basking in broad comfortable chairs with a superb view, soaking up the serene environment disturbed only by the aforementioned "radio" and smitten by the Rover's ability to maintain that civility regardless of outside influence, two of my previously very practical friends—it's a four-Volvo family—were already shopping lightly used Range Rovers.
It seems to have that effect on people, though I can't say if it's the view, the sound, the cradling seats, how all the metal bits appear milled from a block or the wood cut from a plank. There's a feeling of being unconstrained herein, and by simply steering and pushing the right button you'll just drive right through whatever nature throws at you.
Rover carries 909 litres in back, nearly two-thirds under cover, and there's a matching spare wheel and tire under the floor so you—or your mechanic—needn't lie in the snow to access it. Seats-folded cargo expands to 2,030 litres, more than sufficient for long rifles and hounds, picnic baskets or business-class luggage allowance. (Score: 9.2)
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Tech
Range Rover's physics-defying assists and programming will keep Sheldon Cooper busy quite a while and you out of trouble even longer. Demo an uncompressed file and people marvel it's only the "middle" stereo. Show them the four-wheeling info, how it changes height automatically or at your fingertips, or how InControl apps make the dash screen mimic your smartphone. Just be patient doing so as the touchscreen feels the electronic equivalent of the classic Rover's performance: It doesn't accelerate so much as gather momentum.
On the plus side, monitors and such didn't generate a single false alarm and all the chimes and warning tones are fit for a castle rather than airport security. (Score: 6.7)
Driving
The V-6 Rangie sounds more a machine than the V-8, never harsh or irritating but you know it's an engine. The supercharger is rarely heard and throttle response, like everything else, is smooth and seamless; when power's not sufficient simply press the pedal further—it has lots of travel. Against estimates of 13.9/10.4 I managed mid-9s on the highway and averaged 11.5 despite hours of idle and low-range gearing use…a highway tank range of 1,000 km with 100 km in reserve for me.
Until the diesel arrives I'll happily forgo the two seconds lost in full-blast sprints to 100 km/h to the V-8, as I passed and climbed everything I wanted to. The V-6 even tows the same 3,500 kg, and that's with the Rover fully loaded, not like a pickup with one person on board. But you'll need to pay attention to tongue-weight limits.
Driving any Range Rover reminds me of an old French car…fair bits of pitch, dive and body roll yet it bends into a corner, takes a set and just motors on. Long-travel suspension that makes it so good on the trail is tuned so all the travel can be used on pavement yielding a velvet-soft ride that shrugs off bumps big and small. Yes, a Bentley Bentayga or Rolls may ride better, but they will cost a fortune more. (Score: 9.1)
Value
An HSE delivers the style, quiet comfort and all-around Range Rover ability with a bottom line almost $15,000 less than the V-8 model. Big bucks for sure, but not much more than a rebodied Tahoe, Expedition or Land Cruiser masquerading as a luxury utility. Well equipped like this one—$113,290. (Score: 6.7)
Conclusion
Land Rover puts the Range Roger name on lots of things these days but this is the only real Range Rover. Charles Spencer King, designer of the original, always wanted the RR used as intended, not just a way to get rich kids to school, and he'd probably be amused at the number of pretenders that simply can't do everything a Range Rover can.
Autofocus.ca is a Canadian automotive website dedicated to making car shopping easier and driving more fun. Follow Autofocus on Facebook and Twitter.
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