The Land Rover Range Rover is a full sized luxury SUV that serves as the flagship model among all Land Rovers and Range Rovers. Featuring a slight more rounded body style than before, the Range Rover sits above other Range Rover models such as the Range Rover Sport, Range Rover Velar, and Range Rover Evoque. Though it is built to be ultra luxurious, the Range Rover retains all the off-roading drive modes you'll find on other Land Rover models, and features a roaring 4.4 litre twin turbo power unit, as well as the latest Pivi Pro infotainment system.
Introduction
You might not realise this - but for as long as the Range Rover has existed, the car has been associated with luxury. In pop culture, the Range Rover has consistently been cast as the vehicle of choice for the super rich super villain, who gets driven about in one of these ultra luxurious monster trucks through a beautiful but sinister looking forest.
We're not so sure about the super villain bit - but the Range Rover is undoubtedly luxurious. Pop reference aside, the new Range Rover takes the luxury factor to a completely different level from its predecessor and seems just as comfortable performing as a luxury SUV as it does an off-roading one.
What Makes it Special?
Despite its off-roading capabilities, bred from generations of Land Rover pedigree, the Range Rover is quintessentially a luxury vehicle that won't be overshadowed beside more expensive offerings in the market. Its massive frame is imposing and obnoxious in the best way possible - with a fire breathing 4.4 litre Twin Turbocharged V8 under the bonnet powering this behemoth, producing 523 bhp and 750 Nm of torque, which will propel the Range Rover's 2.5 tonne frame from 0-100km/h in just 4.7 seconds. In doing so, the development of the Range Rover as Land Rover's flagship vehicle feels wonderfully committal - without any half measures or compromises to luxury or performance.
How Does it Make You Feel?
Due to its immense size, stepping into the car via the retractable side steps is an occasion on its own - and one that will likely make you feel like an absolute baller. This is a good thing, and probably something you'd expect to feel after paying this amount of money for a full fledged luxury SUV. When seated in the driver's seat, the height and vantage point of the Range Rover is unmatched, and frankly, very empowering. Aside from the fact that you're seated so high up in a vehicle so large that it makes small lorries feel tiny from your perspective, it is also deeply rewarding that you're cocooned in some of the finest interior finishings available.
Keen on something a little sportier? Check out the Land Rover Range Rover Sport.
Soft touch materials aplenty, the Range Rover also sports an interior design that feels quite minimalist, with a neat layout that feels mature and understated, but nonetheless very premium. To top things off, the Pivi Pro infotainment system, though found on numerous other Jaguar Land Rover models, is wonderful to look at and adds a sheen of modernism to the cockpit.
How Does it Drive?
The sheer size of the Range Rover means that this is always going to be a difficult car to manoeuvre in tight carpark spaces. However, if you're driving one of these, chances are you're not exactly the type who needs to deal with HDB multi-storey carparks on a day to day basis. That said, once you get used to the dimensions of the Range Rover, the car actually feels relatively easy to drive, and you don't exactly feel the size of the car once you're up on the road. Keep in mind though, that the 1.87m height of the car means that it won't clear every single parking lot in Singapore, as some older buildings like Queensway Shopping Centre have a height limit of 1.8m.
Up on the road, the Range Rover is a nice car to pilot, in huge part thanks to the wonderful power unit that is taken from a certain German car manufacturer. This means that the Range Rover is more than capable of producing some raw brute strength when called upon and turning into something of a performance vehicle. When pushed, the engine feels like a happy-revving one, though the extremely well insulated cabin does block off a lot of the audible pleasantries. That said, we do get the feeling that the Range Rover's power was intended to make a calm journey effortless rather than for outrunning cars that cost less than itself.
Personally, I like the Range Rover best when I'm thundering along on the outer lane of an expressway, because when the mere mortals see you barrelling down upon them, most of them tend to get out of the way - and who doesn't love a car with such imposing qualities. However, it's not just the driver that has all the fun. If you're being driven in the Range Rover, you'll be riding first class with the comfort of air suspension, as well as a full suite of reclining, massage, and even foot rest features while your driver parts the red sea of traffic with the Range Rover's sheer awesomeness.
Who Should Buy?
As much as the Range Rover is an ultra luxurious SUV with plenty of real world practicalities, it is also a tad big and bulky to do well as a daily driver, especially if you have to deal with peak hour traffic and tight carpark spaces. On the flip side, individuals who have the luxury of doing things at their own pace will be able to fully enjoy the luxury offered by the Range Rover. For that reason, the Range Rover works well as an ultra luxurious weekend family car that will work well on leisurely weekend brunch trips or long overseas drives - or as a statement piece for those who can afford to have daily brunches in Dempsey at 10am on a week day.
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