Land Rover Range Rover 4.4 SDV8 Vogue SE 4dr Auto Diesel Estate

Ten Second Review

Defining the 4x4 Range Rover's global appeal in words like unique, icon and majestic remains almost as futile as rivals have found it to deliver credible opposition. Some are faster roadrunners, many are cheaper, but none match Range Rover's relaxed repertoire of relentless progress in outstanding comfort, regardless of terrain. You could pay over £200,000 for a Rolls Royce and still hanker after this alternative Range Rover's astonishing abilities. Especially in this improved and still potent 339PS SDV8 diesel form.

Background

The big news with this car centres on a strengthened right to a priority place on worldwide luxury car shopping lists. For this is so much more than an extraordinarily capable 4x4. No, the Range Rover also deserves consideration from customers looking at conventional super luxury models in the £100,000 classes, such as the Mercedes S class and the like. Yet this is not the fattest of fat cats. A gigantic diet focussed on an innovative aluminium chassis slashes weight, boosting efficiency and driving dynamics. To the point where this generation model has been able to adopt a more economical entry-level 258PS V6 diesel that offers much the same performance as the previous generation's TDV8. Why then, with this MK4 Range Rover, would you want to opt for 339PS SDV8 power? That's what I wanted to find out at the wheel.

Driving Experience

You really get two cars in one package with Range Rover. The first a truly luxurious saloon and the second a proven offroader that retains its composure through extreme rough road duress. The SDV8 we certainly fast enough, making 62mph from rest in around 6.5s, a second quicker than the TDV6 version, on the way to a top speed of 135mph. With 740Nm of torque, this 4.4 litre diesel has the most pulling power in the range. Just what you need for a substantial vehicle, especially if it has a full complement of occupants, luggage and is hitched up to an appropriate Range Rover boat or horsebox load. Off road prowess has been further improved in recent times thanks to a revised version of the already impressive all-terrain drive select system. Terrain Response2 has an extra 'Auto' mode, which means you can concentrate on driving over any surface from snow, via rugged rocks, to sodden grass, without pausing to select a suitable setting. This is a machine for many moods, all seasons and so many reasons. From lazy amble through 8-obedient automatic gear ratios, to paddle-shifting pace that becomes more impressive as the weather or terrain worsens, this versatile vehicle does not just comply promptly with your wishes, it positively pampers you as your commands are pleasurably executed.

Design and Build

There are no exterior changes to this updated model but it remains an elegant thing, the classy panelwork draped around a lightweight all-aluminium monocoque body structure. Inside though, quite a lot has changed. As before, there's an optional long wheelbase bodystyle if you feel the interior of the standard short wheelbase model to be insufficiently spacious for your needs. Either way, the cabin now features wider, softer seats that at the back, free up an additional 186mm of legroom. Rear seat folk can also specify a massaging system and can make use of up to 17 media connection points. If you need even more rear space, then as before, there's also a LWB version of this car offering an extra 200mm in length, all of which goes for the benefit of rear seat folk. Up front, the key interior change with his revised model lies with the addition of the brand's latest Touch Pro Duo infotainment system which features a pair of high-definition 10-inch touchscreens that form the centrepiece of the minimalist cabin. Otherwise, things are much as before. As ever, we particularly like the way that the car's air suspension system automatically drops to its lowest 'Access Height' when parked to make entry and exit easier.This car's substantial size isn't enough to permit the fitment of the couple of occasional rear boot-mounted seats you'll find in a Land Rover Discovery or (optionally) in a Range Rover Sport. Still, buyers of this top Range Rover model have never seemed to want them. Luggage room has always been a greater priority, so I should point out that there's 505-litres of it - which may be a little less than you were expecting. Perhaps that has something to do with the greater priority that Land Rover's designers have given to space for rear seat passengers.

Market and Model

Expect to pay from around £87,000 for your Range Rover SDV8, or more once you've allowed for a few well-chosen extras. That's around £7,000 more than the entry-level TDV6 diesel version. There's the usual single five-door, five-seat bodystyle and Vogue, Vogue SE and Autobiography trim levels. The long wheelbase version comes only in top 'Autobiography' or ''SVAutobiography' trims, with prices starting from a cool £113,000. As you'd expect, you get a lot for that in terms of equipment. Items added as part of this range revamp include a gesture-controlled sunblind; a cabin air ionisation system; Pixel-laser LED headlights that never have to be dipped at night; and an 'Activity key' allowing you to securely lock and unlock the doors without the need to carry a conventional key fob. Other clever driving features include Adaptive Cruise Control, plus Land Rover's 'Queue Assist and Intelligent Emergency Braking' set-up. Advanced Tow Assist takes the anxiety out of reversing when towing a trailer. And Low Traction Launch is a manually selectable driving mode that helps you gain traction when pulling away on slippery surfaces.

Cost of Ownership

Nobody buys a Range Rover as an economy purchase, but the company know that they have to deliver competitive fuel economy and emissions figures versus their rivals, which is why Jaguar Land Rover made such a massive investment in the reinforced aluminium body that delivered such a rewarding weight loss. Overlooked by many is that depreciation is the biggest financial factor to run a car from the top end of the mark. However, employing so much aluminium content will also fight corrosion more effectively than any rival, bringing longer-term benefits to fight depreciation. Over three years the current forecasts are that the diesel V8 will retain 50% of its value over 3 years and a typical 36,000 mileage. And ongoing costs? Well, the bottom line figures are 33.6mpg on the combined cycle and 219g/km. Insurance charges? Group 50. Other routine costs contain few surprises. Service intervals are set on an annual basis or 15,000 miles, whichever occurs first.

By Jonathan Crouch

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