2021 Land Rover Range Rover Autobiograph Reviews

JLR Australia has confirmed pricing for its flagship electric SUV, the Range Rover Electric.Priced from $317,718 plus on-road costs in Australia, the 2026 Range Rover Electric has a three-grade line-up from launch.Built at JLR’s revamped Solihull manufacturing facility, the three Range Rover Electric variants all use a dual-motor, 405kW/850Nm powertrain that draws power from a huge 118.5kWh lithium-ion battery.The Range Rover Electric will wear a 600km claimed driving range figure under NEDC testing, though JLR admits to a real-world range of 535km.The entry-level 2026 Range Rover Electric is the HSE (standing for High Specification Equipment) which is suitably luxurious despite being the ‘cheapest’ of the bunch at $317,718 plus on-roads.The HSE features:22-inch alloy wheelsSynthetic leather upholsteryA 13.1-inch multimedia touchscreenA 13.7-inch driver displayWireless phone chargerThree-zone climate control Configurable interior mood lightingFront seat armrestsA powered roof blindGesture-opening tailgateSoft-close doorsStarting from $357,718 before on-roads, the mid-spec Autobiography adds:Upgraded digital LED headlights with “signature DRLs” and image projectionA sliding panoramic roofAn upgraded Meridian sound system24-way adjustable heated and cooled massage front seatsExecutive rear seatsFour-zone climate controlAmbient fragrance diffusion Illuminated metal Autobiography scuff platesThe top grade from launch is the SV, which starts from $417,418 and includes:Serenity or Intrepid exterior theme optionsSemi-analine leather seats‘Hot stone’ massage front seatsExecutive Class Comfort Plus rear seatsBody and Soul Seat (BASS) 4D sound system with physical seat vibrationsIlluminated metal SV scuff platesRange Rover Managing Director Martin Limpert says the Range Rover Electric is the result of a decade of engineering and development.“Electric propulsion is perfectly suited to the exquisite refinement of Range Rover, elevating the sense of calm and secluded sanctuary for occupants.“At the same time, Range Rover's breadth of capability is uncompromised thanks to the combination of a powerful, adaptable electric powertrain and advanced chassis technologies that make every Range Rover peerless, accomplished and desired.”

An electric version of the fifth-generation Range Rover (L460) wasn't meant to be this late.The delay that sees it land four years after the current car first went on sale, was triggered first by having to reconfigure the Range Rover's MLA Flex platform's outdated 400-volt electrics to more powerful 800-volt hardware and then by the huge decision to go ahead and design, develop and engineer the battery and drive units in-house.The final barrier to its launch was when, after extensive testing, engineers realised the all-new front motor that it had developed from scratch was prone to overheating in extreme off-roading, prompting a costly last-minute switch.In the end, the pioneering tech developed needed no less than 300 patents, not that the new Range Rover Electric advertises its state-of-the-art tech.Just a tweaked front grille, revised underbody and set of fresh 22-inch wheels give the game away. All have been aerodynamically optimised to benefit range.The reason for the under-the-radar approach is that even deep into its middle age, the current Range Rover's design remains a major attraction for buyers.The same well-heeled bunch are pretty partial to the way the big SUV looks and feels within, and that's why the Electric version's cabin is also unchanged, which is a very good thing when it comes to the fit, finish and the intuitive tech available, plus the Range Rover's trademark towering driving position and incredible comfort.The decent 575-litre boot also remains undisturbed and is still accessed via the excellent split tailgate, although there's no space for a spare wheel and no frunk up front for cables.The Range Rover Electric can't match the all-new BMW iX5's 845km range, but data from 350 million journeys collected from owners suggests the 600km NEDC range provided by its 118.5kWh battery is more than enough, especially since that figure translates into up to 535km in the real world.Plug it in and, thanks to its 800-volt electrics, a 10 to 80 per cent top-up takes around 22 minutes, which isn't bad, but its 350kW peak charging is some way off the 460kW rate a BMW iX5 is capable of.While a 10 minute burst of charge adds up to 220km of range, its German rival will have squeezed in as much as 350km into the battery, but in Australia, finding a charger powerful enough to realise those numbers won't be easy.For now, just one powertrain will be offered that combines two 260kW e-motors that drive each axle to produce 405kW and 850Nm.That translates to a brisk 0-100km/h dash of 4.5 seconds and an 80-120km/h sprint of 2.7 seconds, which is said to demonstrate that this EV is as quick to overtake at higher speeds as the V8 version.What's remarkable is that performance is achieved with a kerb weight in excess of 2800kg, with the battery accounting for 700kg of that mass.Behind the wheel on our brief drive, the Range Rover Electric is effortless, off the mark and gathering pace, it doesn't feel heavy.Helping disguise the weight is an 88mm lower centre of gravity, but the large SUV hasn't quite morphed into anything remotely sporty.Like other models, rear-wheel steering and twin-chamber air suspension are present, but the star of the show is the new Integrated Traction Management tech that can monitor and adjust torque in 50 milliseconds – 100 times faster than the combustion version.Capable of climbing 45-degree slopes, there's now even a one-pedal off-road mode for when you're in the mud, snow, sand or rocky terrain for a safer, more precise way of tackling unfamiliar territory.The system is so quick and smooth to work that it's difficult to detect any slip, even with clumsy stabs of the throttle.Come to a river crossing and the Range Rover can still wade through water up to 900mm, although there is one drawback of going electric – towing is wound back to just 2500kg – 1000kg less than the V8 and 500kg behind the plug-in hybrid.In Australia, the Range Rover will be available with HSE, Autobiography and SV trim, with the entry model likely to feature:22-inch alloy wheelsMeridian 3D surround soundSoft semi-aniline leather20-way adjustable front seatsHeated and ventilated front and rear seatsLarge head-up displayThe Autobiography will add:Upgraded headlightsSliding panoramic roofMore powerful sound systemBody and Soul 24-way adjustable massage chairsQuad-zone climate controlThe Range Rover Electric has yet to be crash-tested but the combustion versions were rated the maximum five stars for protection by Euro NCAP and ANCAP back in 2022.The large luxury SUV comes with Land Rover's five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty and eight-year/160,000km protection for the high-voltage battery.Expect the Range Rover to come with the option of pre-purchased, fixed-price servicing for up to five years.The Range Rover Electric has been priced from $317,718 for the HSE, $357,718 for the Autobiography and $417,418 for the flagship SV, with all pricing excluding on-road costs.The new battery-powered SUV is offered with the standard and extended-long wheelbase, but a seven-seat version will be off the menu.

Land Rover’s Defender Dakar is a road-legal version of its hardcore 2026 Dakar Rally racing Defender Octa complete with a “flight mode” to ensure perfect landings after doing jumps.In another case of completely-unnecessary-but-we-want-it-desperately-anyway, Land Rover is bringing us a road-going  - or anywhere-going - version of its Dakar Rally D7X-R racing SUV.The Defender Octa is an already bonkers high-performance off-road beast with its 4.4-litre V8 engine (the same found in BMW’s M5) making 367kW and 750Nm, outstanding four-wheel drive capability combined with mind boggling on-road dynamics, but the Defender Dakar goes more berserk.“We’ve pushed our engineers to go further than they’ve ever gone before,” Defender Managing Director Mark Cameron said. “First, we evolved Defender OCTA into D7X‑R and then we asked: could we make the Dakar Rally‑winning D7X‑R road legal? The result is the Defender Dakar.”The Defender Dakar keeps the same V8 engine, transmission and body architecture as the D7X-R and adds a 35-inch all-terrain tyre package with unique 20-inch forged wheels.The ride height is lifted with coil suspension and Bilstein advanced dampers and the track is widened. There’s new modes for sand dunes and gravel, plus there’s flight mode.Flight mode is a sophisticated system that detects the moment the Defender Dakar becomes airborne over hilly terrain. Then, instead of letting the wheels spin freely in mid-air, which will send an enormous amount of shock force through the transmission upon landing, the torque to the wheels is calculated and controlled to ensure a smooth touchdown.     Holding the driver and co-pilot snugly in place are race seats with an optional four point harness. The Defender Dakar is a 2+2 seater with storage for race helmets and a purpose-built spare wheel mount inside the cargo area along with air-compressor. The Defender Dakar comes with the same Dakar Sand and Yanbu Turquoise colour scheme as worn by the D7X-R, with a range of other hues to pick from.Adding to the tough looks is a fixed metal roof with light pods, carbon fibre raised air intakes,  flared wheel arches with exposed rivets, along with metal front under shield and underbody protection.The Defender Dakar made its international debut at the Monterey week in the United States over the weekend with full specifications to be announced at the 2027 Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia.Land Rover Australia has confirmed to CarsGuide the Defender Dakar will be landing locally and said the price and the number of units being made available will be announced in January 2027.  As a guide, the Defender Octa Black lists ofr $313,800 or about $10,000 more than the regular Octa. Buyers can expect the Defender Dakar to sit above the Octa Black in the range when the model arrives in Australia.

In 2016 the global bosses at Range Rover laughed when I asked if the brand famous for SUVs would ever do a car - you know a saloon or wagon. Now here we are a decade later and Range Rover has just revealed its first car - the GT.So, was I onto something top secret they already had planned? Did they know Jaguar would completely stop production in 10 years and saw an opportunity to produce saloons? Or could something else be happening?The laughter still rings in my ears. It was at the 2016 Paris Motor Show and myself and two other journalists were squashed into a tiny interview room with Jaguar Land Rover’s (JLR) senior global executives. You’d think I’d cracked the most hilarious joke ever, but all I asked was if Range Rover would ever make a car and would I be right in thinking this would happen?JLR’s Global Sales Operations Director Andy Goss laughed the hardest but something told me there was more to it.“I can’t see that happening. But then again Jaguar does have an SUV,” Goss said through his guffawing. Goss has now left JLR and Range Rover has just revealed the GT, and while not quite a saloon it is the most car-like vehicle the brand has ever produced.The official images released last week show a four-door wagon style vehicle with a coupe-like swooping roofline.And yes it’s is more of a crossover vehicle in that it’s a bit of a mash up between an SUV and wagon, and while the dimensions are yet to be confirmed, the GT looks to be about 1.5m tall or about the same height as a BMW 3 Series Touring station wagon, although wider and sleeker.If anything the GT looks very much like Jaguar’s Type 01. And that’s controversial.The Type 01 was to be the mould-breaking new vehicle to reboot Jaguar as it entered a brave new era that completely re-imagined the brand’s approach to its design, technology and philosophy. Jaguar revealed the Type 01 in May after a long teaser campaign that brought us images of hulking great saloons with cartoon proportions. The Type 01 stayed true to the bold concepts with its giant bonnet, low stance, beefy rear haunches and coupe roofline. While it looked very different to what we were used to seeing from Jaguar it was also easy to see the styling to be an over enhanced take on Jaguar’s most iconic car, the E-Type.Under the Type 01’s chiselled exterior was a fully electric powertrain with a massive 120kWh battery, 800V architecture and four electric motors making more than 735kW.It seemed like Jaguar was on the way back to finding its mojo and equipped properly for a new age of electric vehicles.Until Range Rover crashed the party with the GT - the car it may not have been supposed to do and the one that will also be underpinned by the same electric platform as the Type 01.It’s a seriously unusual move for Range Rover to steal Jaguar’s possible last chance to make a comeback. Because of course the Range Rover version will sell better than the Jaguar.It’s almost as if Range Rover doesn’t want Jaguar around any more because it truly does want to branch out into passenger cars and hasn’t been able to because until now.So maybe, just maybe, all the way back in 2016 when I asked those JLR executives about the prospect of Range Rover making a car, they actually were in the early stages of planning one. After all, a completely new vehicle can take from eight to 10 years to go from an idea to production.It’s very possible also that JLR’s senior executives knew Jaguar might not survive the next 10 years given the sales struggles it had been through. The F-Pace SUV was selling well and so was the F-Type sportscar, but a bad decision to invest big in diesel engines, an underwhelming attempt to challenge Tesla with its i-Pace electric SUV, Brexit and saloons that weren’t anywhere near as appealing to buyers as they were in the 1980s saw Jaguar eventually discontinue operations entirely by the end of 2025.The Land Rover side of the business was keeping the lights on with sales of Range Rovers and the Defender proving relatively lucrative, but even that is not enough to survive and so we’ll now see the introduction of cars like the GT.Nobody wants to see Jaguar disappear, nor Land Rover, and I’m well aware of the dangers in journalists speculating about this kind of thing.JLR’s parent company Tata Motors needs to see things pick up and without having been in the room where the discussions take place it appears that every option is being executed from tearing up Jaguar and starting again, building and selling Range Rover electric saloons and wagons and even Chinese joint ventures that allow brands like Chery to use JLR intellectual property, such as the Freelander name.You’re watching JLR pull out all the stops in real time.And that’s my very long way of saying 10 years later, I was right Andy, wasn’t I?

Buyers still love 4WDs in Australia. It remains a big-selling segment, but some of its biggest hitters are suffering losses.China is starting to get a foothold in the market with budget offerings posing a serious threat to established regulars.Emissions-heavy vehicles such as 4WDs are also coming under fire from increasingly stringent rules in Australia.Here is the rundown of the best-selling 4WDs up to June 2026. The Ford Everest large SUV is up front with more than 11,000 sales in 2026 so far, despite a near 10 per cent year-on-year drop. It is based on the Ford Ranger, which is the best-selling ute in Australia.The Toyota Prado takes second place with more than 9000 sales so far this year, but it has experienced an even sharper drop of nearly 42 per cent year-on-year.The Prado is a scaled down version of the LandCruiser 300 Series, using a 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, as opposed to the more powerful V6. Isuzu’s MU-X is third, making 7564 sales up to June, but it too experienced a more minor slump of 3.2 per cent. The LandCruiser 300 Series is currently fourth on the standings, and is the only car in the top five to have experienced a substantial growth in sales. Its 6451 sales constitutes a 26.3 per cent rise compared to first six months of 2025.Toyota also released a performance petrol hybrid V6 variant earlier this year.The Suzuki Jimny rounds out the top five as a much smaller and cheaper competitor to those above it. Priced from $31,990, before on-road costs, the Jimny is down 11.1 per cent compared to this time last year, while still amassing 3882 sales. The Nissan Patrol is down nearly 25 per cent compared to its sales result up to June 2025, with 2843 sales so far in 2026. The current Y62 petrol V8 Patrol will cease production next month, and order books for a new twin-turbo V6 will open later. GWM’s Tank 300 mid-size SUV off-roader has continued to surge up the sales charts in 2026, with 2759 sales so far.The Tank 300 is available in petrol, diesel, plug-less hybrid and plug-in hybrid set-ups - more varied than any of its competitors. BYD’s Denza sub-brand is another Chinese rival experiencing a solid sales return in Australia.Its B5 plug-in hybrid SUV has already accumulated 1445 sales this year, having only gone on sale in December 2025.Its bigger sibling the B8 is also approaching the 1000-unit mark midway through this year. The ultra-luxury GMC Yukon Denali from the United States is starting to pick up momentum in Australia. The V8-powered eight-seater Yukon Denali went on sale in the middle of last year, but 2026 has seen sales explode by nearly 190 per cent. It remains a low-volume model with only 202 sales, as it carries a $174,990 price tag. The 4WD segment is about undergo some serious changes in the next few months, including an influx of new models.The Mitsubishi Pajero will return to Australia, along with several new Chinese competitors likely to join it over the next 18 months.The anticipated Geely Galaxy Cruiser is slated for a UK launch, meaning Australia could its next step, while the GAC Yue 7 also seems to be on the way. 

Land Rover is about to axe its cheapest model.The brand will end production of the Discovery Sport luxury mid-size SUV in December 2026 after a more than 11-year run, according to United Kingdom magazine AutoCar.The car is also no longer listed for sale on Land Rover’s Australian website, essentially verifying its imminent departure from the market."Discovery Sport production will end in December 2026, in line with normal product lifecycles," a spokesperson for Land Rover Australia told CarsGuide. "As part of this transition there will be a managed sunset of manufacturing, ahead of this date, for certain markets."It comes with petrol or plug-in hybrid power, starting from $78,454, before on-road costs, with top-spec examples costing in excess of $100,000.The Discovery Sport is a cheaper rival to the Audi Q5 ($81,000) and BMW X3 ($87,300).The 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine produces up to 184kW and 365Nm, while the 1.5-litre-turbo petrol plug-in hybrid set-up produces 227kW and 540Nm.The Discovery Sport has not been a prolific seller for Land Rover, with the more expensive Defender proving to be the brand’s most popular car.The bigger Defender SUV is the key driver of sales for the brand globally, eating into the previously popular Discovery name.Land Rover increased the price of the Discovery Sport by nearly $5000 last year in a minor refresh for the model.It has been one of Land Rover’s longest-running models in production, but the brand is now taking a different direction.Land Rover has hinted at the more rugged Discovery taking on greater responsibility within its lineup as part of a commitment from Jaguar Land Rover Chief Executive Officer P.B. Balaji.“Discovery is very much part of our ‘House of Brands’,” Balaji told United Kingdom outlet Auto Express in May 2026.“You should expect to hear from us, future plans on Discovery, sooner rather than later.“We are as committed to the Discovery as any of our other brands.” 

When you're spending the best part of $200K on a family SUV you want more than a little luxury and performance to go with its day-to-day practicality. Add in petrol-electric plug-in hybrid efficiency and the Range Rover Sport Dynamic HSE P460e starts to look like a compelling proposition. We spent a week behind the wheel to test its credentials.

The new Range Rover GT is the British SUV brand's most car-like creation ever.Sleeker, lower, longer and wider than the firm's Velar, the all-electric Range Rover GT is a shock for fans of the luxury brand's more typical SUVs, even when supposedly disguised in camouflage.Built to be a fifth member of the Range Rover family, the new GT doesn't replace any existing model, execs told CarsGuide at a recent media event held at JLR's powertrain plant near Wolverhampton in the UK.Instead, the swoopy SUV is primed to sit above the Evoque and Velar but below the Range Rover Sport and flagship full-size Range Rover.Officially, Land Rover's posh brand won't tell us anything about its new GT as its full reveal is penned in for later this year, so we don't know if it will be a rival for the inbound BMW iX4 or the larger unannounced BMW iX6, but an unscientific walkaround suggests dimensions not far off the Range Rover Sport.In the flesh, it's hard not to draw parallels between the striking four-door SUV-coupe and the smaller Polestar 4, although we'll need to see it when stripped of its disguise.What we do know is that the new GT has been created to be nothing less than the most technologically advanced Land Rover ever.The first of many to be based on JLR's all-new flexible Electric Modular Architecture (EMA), the GT launches with all-electric power, but the platform can support electrified combustion engines, with a plug-in hybrid or range-extender hybrid version already in the pipeline.Although it sits low to the ground, the new car-like Range Rover will deliver on the brand's trademark comfort and refinement with even the promise of real off-road capability – although we expect it will need height adjustable air springs to jack its body high away from harm.Like the latest Jaguar Type 01, the Range Rover GT should come with powerful 800-volt electrics and a large battery over 100kWh.Expect ultra-fast DC charging beyond 350kW and, if you factor in its slippery styling, a range of more than 700km could be possible.Land Rover remains tight-lipped about how many e-motors the GT will come with, but all-wheel drive and, at least dual motors should be standard, although later on a hot SV variant might rock up with a triple-motor setup that's lifted from the Jaguar Type 01.Spy photographers have already caught what now looks like a Shooting Brake wagon version of the GT, but some reports suggest the more practical body style could be a replacement for the ageing Velar.Inside the Range Rover GT designers have applied their famed reductive approach to create the car-maker's most impressive cabin yet.Accessed via large frameless doors, perhaps the bravest decision was not to follow the trend of plastering the dash with screens that stretch from pillar-to-pillar.Instead, one designer told us they used the very smallest screens they could get away with and then attempted to hide as much of the onboard tech as they could.The result, Range Rover claims, is a calmer lounge-like atmosphere that doesn't even offer a passenger touchscreen as an option, offering instead the full digital detox experience for your co-pilot.As standard, the GT comes with four seats, but a more practical five-seat version is also available for families.Unusually for a Range Rover leather is absent. Instead, wool-rich blend materials cover the seat backrests, while ultrafabric is stretched over the simple-form seats. The approach helps slash the carbon footprint of the cabin while saving weight, with the fabrics weighing half as much as animal hides.The real reason for the lack of leather is the look, one designer told me, natural hide doesn't stretch in quite the same way, so it wouldn't achieve the show car's clean, minimalist look.From the woven textiles used on the dash that sneakily hide the speakers, to the metallic vertical strips on the door cards, or copper coloured centre console, to the 1970s-inspired steering wheel, the Range Rover GT feels stylish and special and makes some of the German rivals’ cabins feel overwrought in comparison.It's also been designed to be easy to use.There's an advanced AI-powered natural speak voice assistant, while above that ultra-cool oval-shaped steering wheel is a clear thin instrument panel that sits freestanding on the dash and provides the speed, estimated range and battery charge.It's hard not to read into the concept's dash reading 288 miles (464km) at 80 per cent charge, with the suggestion that a full 100 per cent charge would equate to a total range of 580km.As well as being stylish, climb into the rear pews and there's also plenty of headroom in the for the tall, while legroom is claimed to be on par with the firm's largest Range Rover.All models will also come with a full-width panoramic roof that turns opaque at the touch of a button.Thoughtful touches for the second row include two large rear air vents and a touchscreen control panel between the seats.Confirming the Range Rover GT will land later this year, Land Rover's luxury arm will reveal full details then, including powertrain specification, pricing and positioning, as well as local timings.Commenting on the new GT, the Range Rover brand's boss, Martin Limpert, said: "The Range Rover GT will redefine the grand-touring segment with the ability to deliver beautiful and engaging GT poise, proportions and long-distance refinement while offering capabilities no conventional GT can match. "We have spent the last few years working obsessively on the fundamentals of the GT formula, reinterpreted in a sophisticated, uniquely Range Rover way. The result is the most car-like, yet unmistakably capable."Its blend of effortless EV performance, first-class long-haul refinement and all-terrain capability is pure Range Rover; while its calming interior previews our vision of a modern grand tourer."

More than 30,000 Jaguar Land Rover SUVs have been subject to urgent recalls in Australia, according to notices from the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sports and the Arts. The largest of these recalls concerns 23,313 Land Rover Defender, Discovery and Range Rover SUVs for the model years 2019 to 2026.“Due to a manufacturing defect, the connection to the driver’s airbag clock spring may corrode over time and lead to an increased resistance in the airbag circuit,” the notice stated.“As a result, the airbag may fail to deploy in the event of an accident.“In the event of an accident, the airbag not deploying as intended could increase the risk of injury or death to vehicle occupants.”The second issue relates to the Jaguar F-Pace SUV, Land Rover Defender and Discovery, as well as Range Rover, Range Rover Sport and Velar models.It impacts 7152 units from the 2024 to 2026 model years.“Due to a manufacturing defect, the front-end auxiliary drive belt idler pulley may over rotate and cause damage to the oil pressure and temperature sensor,” the notice stated."This may lead to an oil leak and engine stalling resulting in a loss of motive power whilst driving.“An engine stall or sudden loss of motive power could increase the risk of serious injury or death to vehicle occupants and other road users.”The brand will contact the affected owners of all affected vehicles asking them to contact a dealer and have the work to fix the issue carried out, free of charge. A spokesperson Jaguar Land Rover said these are recalls are a part of a global recall and there have not been any reported incidents of the issue occurring in Australia. 

It's easy to make a vehicle work on the road or off-road, but it's much harder to make it excel in both situations. But that's precisely what Range Rover did with the Sport model which combines effortless cruising with genuine off-road ability. It even looks great. But that's where the cheering stops, because this is a vehicle with a very patchy reliability record. But should you ignore it now?