2020 Land Rover Range Rover Review

　　

2020 Land Rover Range Rover Review

byCameron RogersManager, News

　　Cameron Rogers has worked in the automotive industry since 2013. He has tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Today, he leads the news team in developing cutting-edge news articles, opinion pieces and sneak peeks at upcoming vehicles. Favorite cars that he's driven during his tenure at zzdcar include the 991-era Porsche 911 Turbo S, Rolls-Royce Ghost and several generations of Honda Odyssey (really).

　　Thinking of going off-road in your luxury SUV? Most of today's models aren't really suitable for anything other than driving along a dirt road. A notable exception, however, is the 2020 Land Rover Range Rover. It's just at home bouncing along a muddy and rocky trail as it is cruising Rodeo Drive.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2020 Land Rover Range Rover P360 4dr SUV 4WD (3.0L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$222/mo  for Range Rover P360

　　Range Rover P360

　　P360 4dr SUV 4WD (3.0L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) - $90,900 MSRPTDv6 4dr SUV 4WD (3.0L 6cyl Turbodiesel 8A) - $91,700 MSRPP400e HSE 4dr SUV 4WD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric plug-in hybrid 8A) - $95,950 MSRPP400 HSE 4dr SUV 4WD (3.0L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) (Most Popular) - $96,150 MSRPTDv6 HSE 4dr SUV 4WD (3.0L 6cyl Turbodiesel 8A) - $96,950 MSRPP525 HSE 4dr SUV 4WD (5.0L 8cyl S/C 8A) - $105,950 MSRPP525 HSE LWB 4dr SUV 4WD (5.0L 8cyl S/C 8A) - $109,950 MSRPP400e Autobiography 4dr SUV 4WD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric plug-in hybrid 8A) - $130,300 MSRPP525 Autobiography 4dr SUV 4WD (5.0L 8cyl S/C 8A) - $143,800 MSRPP525 Autobiography LWB 4dr SUV 4WD (5.0L 8cyl S/C 8A) - $150,300 MSRPSVAutobiography Dynamic 4dr SUV 4WD (5.0L 8cyl S/C 8A) - $178,500 MSRPSVAutobiography LWB 4dr SUV 4WD (5.0L 8cyl S/C 8A) - $209,500 MSRP

　　vs

　　$229/mo

　　Avg. Large SUV

　　Every model in the lineup is equipped with an adaptive air suspension, a healthy list of luxury features, and several advanced safety systems to make city driving easier. The Range Rover also comes with standard four-wheel drive (and an optional Terrain Response 2 system for even greater capability) and plenty of ground clearance for situations when you're escaping the city life. There's even a sensor that displays how close you are to the Range Rover's maximum wade depth of 35.4 inches.

　　New for this year are two new powertrains to bolster the Range Rover's already impressive engine lineup. The first is a turbocharged inline-six paired to a mild hybrid system; it's more powerful and, Land Rover says, more fuel-efficient than the supercharged V6 it replaces. If you want to use even less gas, there's a new plug-in hybrid that uses a turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Its 19 miles of estimated EV range is impressive given the Range Rover's size and weight. However, once you run out of electricity, the gas-only engine is actually thirstier than the six-cylinder.

　　If you go just by the spec sheet, the Range Rover has everything it takes to win a place in your garage. But we're less than impressed with the vehicle's overall execution. The ride feels floatier and less composed than others in the class, and the seats are uncomfortable for long drives. The most egregious problem, however, is its technology suite. The touchscreen has a confusing interface and is unforgivably slow to react to user inputs.

　　Overall, the Range Rover's appeal depends a lot on how you're going to use it. It's an obvious choice if you want something that can handle both pavement and trail. Otherwise, rivals such as the BMW X7, Mercedes-Benz GLS and Porsche Cayenne will likely be more appealing.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Below Average

　　6.9

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

6.5/10

　　How does the Range Rover drive? The big, plush Range Rover isn't meant to be a performance machine, but almost any demand taxes its capabilities. The six-cylinder engine in the P400 is smooth and sufficiently powerful, but there's a noticeable delay between asking for acceleration and getting it. Braking performance is also subpar, and at low speed the grabby brakes can make it hard to stop smoothly.

　　The soft suspension and slow steering make driving along curvy roads a sloshy, woozy chore. Even in a straight line, the Range Rover requires near constant steering correction, adding to the business of driving the big luxo-barge. On the plus side, the Range Rover is impressively competent off-road.

　　

Comfort

7.0/10

　　How comfortable is the Range Rover? Premium vehicles come with high expectations for comfort, but the Range Rover misses the mark. The front seats are big and wide but also relatively flat. We found ourselves tiring of them on longer drives. The suspension irons out most road imperfections, but at the loss of any sort of body control. The soft, floaty ride has the stability of a noodle and might be tough on sensitive stomachs.

　　One notable strength of the Land Rover is noise insulation: The cabin is cut off from traffic noise, there's no wind noise to speak of, and what road and tire noise makes it in is filtered down into nonintrusive frequencies.

　　

Interior

7.5/10

　　How’s the interior? Most of the Range Rover's controls are well placed, and the use of multiple touch screens cuts down on button clutter. You have to learn the system menus to adjust settings, and with so many screens it's not always obvious where to look. In practice, it's not as sleek of a system to use as it appears.

　　The Range Rover offers plenty of space all around, and the tall windows only increase the impression of roominess. Those big windows contribute to excellent all-around visibility. The surround-view parking camera system can also help with parking, but our test car's was buggy and inexplicably switched to the vehicle's parking sensor diagrams when reversing.

　　

Technology

6.5/10

　　How’s the tech? Truly a mixed bag. Our test vehicle's Meridian stereo provided top-notch sound quality. The navigation system is highly functional, with good traffic routing and the ability to easily add points of interest to your route. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration is a pleasant highlight, largely working well and displaying nicely on the crisp screen.

　　Unfortunately, all of this tech routes through an infotainment system that can be slow to respond. The system is pleasantly customizable and graphically sharp, but it's also slow to start up, buggy and often irritating to use. The rudimentary voice controls, with their mediocre accuracy, don't help matters. Driver aids are likewise behind the curve in refinement and functionality.

　　

Storage

7.0/10

　　How’s the storage? The Range Rover's cargo area is spacious, though three-row competitors offer more room behind their second rows. The split tailgate design is useful for keeping small or loose items confined to the cargo area, but it also requires you to push bulkier items over carpet to get them situated, which is not ideal for loading big, heavy objects.

　　In the cabin, there's some useful storage space, including the dual gloveboxes and several cubbies. The cooler box isn't really worth it — it eats up storage space and doesn't do too much to chill food or drinks. The 7,700-pound max towing capacity is among the best in the class, adding utility to the Rover.

　　

Fuel Economy

7.0/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? We tested the mild hybrid P400, which is rated by the EPA at 21 mpg combined. This is decent for a big luxury SUV. But in practice, we found the Range Rover had trouble cracking 20 mpg, even with a bias toward freeway driving.

　　

Value

7.0/10

　　Is the Range Rover a good value? The Range Rover is one of the pricier large luxury SUVs — it starts around $90,000 and quickly climbs above the $100,000 mark with options. You get a good amount of standard capability, and the cabin materials and construction are top-notch even by luxury standards. But at this highly competitive price point, the Range Rover just doesn't seem quite worth the money. Other than the off-road features, there's little else in the Range Rover that stands out.

　　

Wildcard

6.5/10

　　The Range Rover has an undeniable presence and can make the driver feel special from behind the wheel. There's something to be said for its unapologetic truck-like character. But with more competition in the class, it's no longer the only big SUV that can make you feel like a lord.

　　It's also a lot of work to drive. Some might see that as part of its charm, but it's a distinctly un-luxurious trait. You have to think about throttle and braking, planning every action, and the steering wheel requires constant tending. It's hard to escape the conclusion that, in today's competitive landscape, the Range Rover has gone from being a unique proposition to another face in the crowd.

　　

Which Range Rover does zzdcar recommend?

The base Rover is well-equipped, but for our money, the HSE is the true starting point in the Range Rover lineup. It comes with a more powerful version of the turbocharged six-cylinder, along with a bunch of extra features and an expanded options list. The HSE is also the base trim for the plug-in hybrid, as well as the most luxurious model you can get with the diesel engine.

　　

2020 Land Rover Range Rover models

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover comes in five main versions: base, HSE, P525 HSE, Autobiography, and SVAutobiography. While the base Range Rover comes well-equipped, the HSE gives you more standard features. The P525 HSE is similarly equipped but has a supercharged V8. Next, the Autobiography provides more luxury options and driver assist systems, and the SVAutobiography adds more power and sportier suspension tuning. The long-wheelbase versions of the P525 HSE, Autobiography and SVAutobiography add more than 7 inches of rear legroom.

　　The Range Rover is available with a wide range of powertrain options. All are paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission and feature four-wheel drive. The most common is the P400, which comes with a turbocharged inline-six. Power stands at 355 horsepower and 365 lb-ft on base models and 395 hp and 406 lb-ft on the HSE trim.

　　If saving money on fuel costs is important to you, Land Rover offers two alternative powerplants. A fuel-sipping, diesel-powered 3.0-liter V6 — which Land Rover calls the Td6 — is available on base and HSE trims. It produces 254 hp and 443 lb-ft.

　　There's also a new plug-in hybrid powertrain (which Land Rover calls the PHEV) available in HSE and Autobiography trims. It uses a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four and an electric motor to develop an impressive 398 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque. Land Rover estimates the plug-in hybrid will achieve 19 miles of all-electric range before the gasoline engine kicks on.

　　The most potent powertrain is a supercharged 5.0-liter V8. In P525 HSE and Autobiography trims, it produces 518 hp and 461 lb-ft. SVAutobiography models get a further power boost to 557 hp and 516 lb-ft.

　　Standard features on the base Range Rover include 19-inch alloy wheels, LED exterior lights, an adaptive air suspension, a hands-free liftgate, a panoramic sunroof, keyless entry and ignition, tri-zone climate control, a power-adjustable steering wheel, 16-way heated front seats with memory settings, a 60/40-split rear seat and leather upholstery.

　　Tech features include dual 10-inch touchscreen displays, a Wi-Fi hotspot, navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality, and a 13-speaker Meridian sound system. Front and rear parking sensors, low-speed forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, and lane departure warning are also standard.

　　Next up is the HSE, which adds the more powerful engine tune, 20-inch wheels, soft-close doors, upgraded front seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, as well as access to a greater catalog of options. It also includes the safety-related Drive and Park packages, which are optional on the base Range Rover. Selecting the plug-in hybrid powertrain further adds the Terrain Response 2 system and a 19-speaker audio system.

　　Next is the Range Rover P525 HSE, which simply adds the supercharged 5.0-liter V8 and 21-inch wheels.

　　The next rung up is the Range Rover Autobiography. It adds significantly more content, such as the Terrain Response 2 and All-Terrain Progress Control systems, an active rear locking differential, a 360-degree parking camera, a head-up display, four-zone climate control, 24-way power-adjustable heated and ventilated front seats with massage, heated and ventilated rear seats, upgraded leather upholstery, and a 29-speaker Meridian sound system. It also adds a few packages that are available on other models, such as Drive Pro and Park Pro that pad on even more driver assistance features.

　　If you want the sportiest Range Rover, go with the Range Rover SVAutobiography Dynamic. Its contents include an uprated version of the supercharged V8, a lower ride height, a more aggressive on-road suspension calibration, quilted leather upholstery, and additional rear-seat adjustments.

　　The long-wheelbase models all share the same extended chassis and provide extra rear legroom. As the top dog, the SVAutobiography LWB starts with SVAutobiography Dynamic content plus a front cooler under the center armrest, along with an even more luxurious rear-seat environment.

　　

2020 Range Rover Highlights

Type: SVAutobiography LWBSVAutobiography DynamicSUVPlug-in HybridDieselSUV

　　Trim: P360TDv6P400e HSEP400 HSETDv6 HSEP525 HSEP525 HSE LWBP400e AutobiographyP525 AutobiographyP525 Autobiography LWBSVAutobiography DynamicSVAutobiography LWBP360

　　

Base MSRP	$90,900
Engine Type	Mild hybrid
Combined MPG	21 MPG
Cost to Drive	$222/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	31.8 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	four wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles