2021 Land Rover Range Rover Review

　　

2021 Land Rover Range Rover Review

byKurt NiebuhrSenior Vehicle Test Editor

　　Kurt Niebuhr has worked in the automotive industry since 2005. A automotive photographer by trade, Kurt is now one of zzdcar' high-performance test drivers. He's driven and photographed hundreds, if not thousands, of vehicles all over the world, so Kurt's library of automotive experiences would certainly make for a good book. When not dreaming about getting his racing license or trying to buy out-of-date film for his cameras, Kurt can usually be found cursing at his 1966 Mustang.

　　The more things change, the more they stay the same. This is especially true of the icon of British luxury and capability, the Range Rover. Now in its 50th year, the Range Rover continues to offer deeply impressive all-terrain capability while maintaining a firm grip on the luxury that its clientele have come to expect. With six available powertrains — ranging from a turbodiesel to a supercharged V8, with a plug-in hybrid somewhere in between — the Range Rover can be outfitted to serve a slew of duties.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 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

　　$233/mo  for Range Rover P360

　　Range Rover P360

　　P360 4dr SUV 4WD (3.0L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) - $92,000 MSRPP400e HSE 4dr SUV 4WD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric plug-in hybrid 8A) - $97,000 MSRPTDv6 HSE 4dr SUV 4WD (3.0L 6cyl Turbodiesel 8A) - $98,000 MSRPP400 HSE Westminster 4dr SUV 4WD (3.0L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) (Most Popular) - $103,500 MSRPP525 HSE Westminster 4dr SUV 4WD (5.0L 8cyl S/C 8A) - $113,500 MSRPP525 HSE Westminster LWB 4dr SUV 4WD (5.0L 8cyl S/C 8A) - $117,500 MSRPP400e Autobiography 4dr SUV 4WD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric plug-in hybrid 8A) - $131,000 MSRPP525 Autobiography 4dr SUV 4WD (5.0L 8cyl S/C 8A) - $144,500 MSRPP525 Autobiography Fifty 4dr SUV 4WD (5.0L 8cyl S/C 8A) - $148,500 MSRPP525 Autobiography LWB 4dr SUV 4WD (5.0L 8cyl S/C 8A) - $151,000 MSRPP525 Autobiography Fifty LWB 4dr SUV 4WD (5.0L 8cyl S/C 8A) - $155,000 MSRPSVAutobiography Dynamic 4dr SUV 4WD (5.0L 8cyl S/C 8A) - $179,500 MSRPSVAutobiography Dynamic Black 4dr SUV 4WD (5.0L 8cyl S/C 8A) - $183,000 MSRPSVAutobiography LWB 4dr SUV 4WD (5.0L 8cyl S/C 8A) - $211,000 MSRP

　　vs

　　$229/mo

　　Avg. Large SUV

　　But other manufacturers have been creeping in on the Range Rover's luxury turf. The Mercedes-Benz GLS sets a new standard for comfort, tech and drivability, and the bold BMW X7 isn't far behind. Even the redesigned Cadillac Escalade is the wheelhouse of the Range Rover. The British firm has imbued its flagship with ever-improving new technology to keep up, but is it enough to keep the Range Rover out in front at the valet stand? Read our Expert Rating to find out.

　　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 touchscreens 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, the system is not as sleek 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 unluxurious 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?

We think the most well-rounded Range Rover can be had by choosing the Autobiography trim and selecting the 518-horsepower supercharged V8 as the source of motivation. The Autobiography ensures you get Ranger Rover's Terrain Response 2 for the ultimate in luxury off-road capability, as well as 24-way power-adjustable front seats and a monstrous 1,700-watt audio system.

　　

2021 Land Rover Range Rover models

The Land Rover Range Rover is available in a head-spinning number of configurations but comes in seven main trim levels: Base, HSE, HSE Westminster, Autobiography, Autobiography Fifty Edition, SVAutobiography Dynamic and SVAutobiography. The Base and HSE trims come with the standard wheelbase, but the HSE Westminster, Autobiography and Autobiography Fifty Edition are also available in a long-wheelbase configuration. (The SVAutobiography is long wheelbase only). Every Range Rover comes equipped with all-wheel drive.

　　Six powertrains are available, all of them mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission:

　　3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 (254 horsepower, 443 lb-ft) P360 turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder (355 hp, 365 lb-ft) P400 turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder (395 hp, 405 lb-ft) P400e turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder plug-in hybrid (398 hp, 472 lb-ft) P525 supercharged 5.0-liter V8 (518 hp, 461 lb-ft) SVO supercharged 5.0-liter V8 (557 hp, 516 lb-ft) All Range Rovers come extremely well equipped and offer a near endless array of customization options. Highlights include:

　　Base

　　Starts off with:

　　P360 six-cylinder engine (355 hp, 365 lb-ft) 19-inch wheels Adaptive air suspension Two-speed transfer case All-terrain driving modes LED exterior lighting Leather upholstery Wood interior trim 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen 16-way power-adjustable, heated front seats 380-watt, 13-speaker audio system Three-zone climate controlHSE

　　Unlocks optional engines and adds some luxury with:

　　Either 3.0-liter turbodiesel (254 hp, 443 lb-ft) or P400e plug-in hybrid (398 hp, 472 lb-ft) 20-inch wheels Upgraded leather upholstery 20-way power-adjustable front seats Power-reclining, heated rear seats Heated steering wheel Blind-spot monitoring (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your blind spot) 360-degree camera system (gives you a top-down view of the Range Rover and its surroundings for tight parking situations) Rear-passenger safe exit system (can prevent a rear passenger from opening a door into traffic approaching from behind) Rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle behind you is about to cross your vehicle's path while you're in reverse)HSE Westminster

　　Adds more engine options and extra luxury with::

　　Choice of P400 six-cylinder (395 hp, 405 lb-ft) or P525 V8 (518 hp, 461 lb-ft) 21-inch wheels Foglights Special exterior trim Ventilated front seats Four-zone climate control Adjustable ambient lighting Refrigerated front console 825-watt, 19-speaker audio system Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line onto the windshield) Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Range Rover and the car in front)Autobiography

　　Adds more capability and luxury with:

　　Choice of the P400e plug-in hybrid (398 hp, 472 lb-ft) or P525 V8 (518 hp, 461 lb-ft) Tow hitch Terrain Response 2 (Range Rover's more advanced off-road driver assist) Locking rear differential 21-inch wheels Upgraded leather seating surfaces 24-way power-adjustable, massaging front seats Captain's chairs (replace rear seat bench) Wood and leather steering wheel 1,700-watt, 29-speaker audio system Parking assist (automates some of the parking duties in parallel and perpendicular parking situations)Autobiography Fifty Edition

　　A special anniversary edition featuring:

　　P525 V8 (518 hp, 461 lb-ft) Distinctive 22-inch wheels Special paint colors Unique exterior trim Leather headliner Black-veneer interior trim Two 110-volt household power outletsSVAutobiography Dynamic

　　Cranks up performance with:

　　SVO engine (575 hp, 516 lb-ft) Sport-tuned suspension Performance air intake Black-painted roof Unique exterior trim Rear seats with more adjustability Upgraded leather upholstery Aluminum and carbon-fiber interior trim Optional Black Edition (fully blacked-out exterior and interior trim)SVAutobiography

　　Maxes out luxury with:

　　SVO engine (575 hp, 516 lb-ft) Long wheelbase Unique suspension calibration Special 21-inch wheels Quilted-leather seats Unique interior wood trim Rear-seat entertainment system with 10-inch screens Soft-close doors (catch as they're being closed and gently pull shut) Leather-covered tray tables Power sunshades for rear passenger windows

　　

2021 Range Rover Highlights

Type: SVAutobiography Dynamic BlackSVAutobiography LWBSVAutobiography DynamicSUVPlug-in HybridDieselSUV

　　Trim: P360P400e HSETDv6 HSEP400 HSE WestminsterP525 HSE WestminsterP525 HSE Westminster LWBP400e AutobiographyP525 AutobiographyP525 Autobiography FiftyP525 Autobiography LWBP525 Autobiography Fifty LWBSVAutobiography DynamicSVAutobiography Dynamic BlackSVAutobiography LWBP360

　　

Base MSRP	$92,000
Engine Type	Mild hybrid
Combined MPG	20 MPG
Cost to Drive	$233/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	31.8 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	four wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles