2005 Land Rover Range Rover Reviews

A decade ago fundamentalist greenies accused SUV owners of damaging the planet's climate and plundering fossil fuel reserves.Today, a 5m long, near-$180,000 Range Rover SUV uses the same amount of fuel as an automatic 2012 Toyota Corolla. Argument over. The Range Rover Vogue - even in its entry-level TDV6 version - may be out of financial reach for most people but nothing can deny it a place as one of 2013's most remarkable motoring exhibits.The all-alloy Vogue's versatility, perfect form and outstanding function will arrest prospective luxury-car buyers. The equipment level, the superb ride comfort and spaciousness put it above saloon cars and its performance smothers many so-called sports cars.Show it the dirt and it'll plunge through where no normal SUV would dare. It is, in fact, the motoring equivalent of Inspector Gadget - a car that is everything to all buyers. Damn shame it costs so much.My wife wants a Thermomix because it's one kitchen appliance that does everything so we don't have to buy five devices.The Range Rover falls in the same category. Of course, like the Thermomix, the price is five times the price of a single-purpose appliance. So at $178,900 (plus $13,420 of options) the 3.0 TDV6 Vogue isn't cheap but can be all cars to all men. And women. The warranty is ordinary, the service costs are high-ish but fuel costs are low.Hot features include massage and heated front and rear seats, huge sunroof ($3080 must-have option), dual-view touch screen ($1300 option) and superb audio. Your neighbours will hate you.This 2013 model softly reflects the original Range Rover silhouette but does so with a bigger, more accommodating body.There is more subtly with the styling - note the neater grille, headlights and tail lights - while 21-inch alloys ($3240 option) give power to the design. Cabin design is beautiful. Lots of leather and wood, excellent graphics and switchgear, superb seats and a wide field of driver vision.It's also big inside with giant-size leg and headroom in the rear and an expanded cargo area that fits a mountain bike without removing its wheels. The electric tailgate, electric fold rear seats and rear-seat control panel adds icing to the cake.The big news is its all-aluminium body that shaves up to 400kg off the old model. The 190kW/600Nm 3-litre V6 turbo-diesel may pale against the optional V8 diesel and Porsche's new 4.2-litre oiler, but it's the right choice for owners who don't tow heavy gear.It's mated to an eight-speed auto that goes through a constant all-wheel drive system. Unlike most rivals, it has a low-range gearbox. The suspension is air adjustable, electric-assist steering, there's Terrain Response to electronically dial in the wagon for different off-road conditions and even stop-start to save a bit of fuel. Brilliant.It's (only) a four-star crash-rated car with nine airbags, electronic stability and traction control enhanced with roll-stability and cornering brake control, cruise control (adaptive is $3240 extra), all-wheel drive and a full-size spare wheel.Boat lovers will salivate over the aquatic bent of this vehicle. It moves forward like a luxury launch, cutting a fluid path and gently pitching and rolling with an unseen ocean's swell. That underbody cushioning - attributes of air suspension - and leather armchair comfort create the feeling that your loungeroom is suddenly capable of motion.There's a cautious vagueness about this marshmallow ride but even when thrown into a corner, the wagon reacts immediately, hardening the suspension and steering so it unrelentingly follows its confident line through the bend.The engine is quick to respond, though there are moments when it gets caught napping and the turbo fails to quickly ignite the engine. In terms of response though, it's a better engine than the optional V8 turbo-diesel that in comparison feels almost truck like.Acceleration to 100km/h is a quick 7.9 seconds and it feels like being pushed in the back by a powerful, velvet-encased glove. It's an incredibly quiet car as well. Electronics run this wagon, from the steering to the optional adaptive cruise to the ride-height air suspension and the five-mode Terrain Response system.In the sand and gravel this never even looked like slowing down. The low-range box, gobs of torque and diff locks sneered at sand. Pump the air suspension up to the max (from 220mm to 295mm) and while wheel travel is reduced, the wagon will clear some really big hurdles.Towing is rated at 3500kg so it may suit a lot of holiday haulers.This is a clever vehicle. Few cars come close to its flexibility while being luxurious, secure and even fun to drive.

I love the new Range Rover. And I hate most SUVs. I'm not in love with the price, or the thirst of the supercharged V8 engine, or the long history of Rangie horror stories, but I love the idea of a full-sized luxury limousine that can turn left at any time and head out for Kakadu.And, make no mistake, the all-new Range Rover is really a luxury car that's only dressed up like an SUV. It can easily tackle the worst off-road conditions in the world, but would you honestly go bush in a car that costs more than $200,000 and has a cabin as plush as a five-star hotel?These days, the cabin of the Range Rover is as comfortable and cosseting as any Benz S-Class or BMW 7-Series, although you might need a step ladder to climb aboard if you forget to lower the air suspension to the loading level."It's the halo. The flagship. It's what people look at when they think of Land Rover," says the brand's boss in Australia, David Blackhall. "The money we put into this car, which is about $1.5 billion, tells you how important the car is. It's the one people look for, and our owners come back time and again."A couple of hundred wealthy Australians will take delivery of a Range Rover this year, with around a four-month wait from placing an order. The Vogue with a 4.4-litre diesel engine is expected to be the most popular choice.A new Range Rover has never been cheap, but you can get at least get one now - an HSE with 3.0-litre diesel V6 engine - from `only' $168,900.Blackhall describes the starting point as "pretty much unassailable", but there are cheaper quality choices including a fully-loaded and lovely Porsche Cayenne GTS from $164,400.For perspective, a Benz ML now starts below $100,000 but go for the GL that really runs against the Range Rover - arriving in April with claimed quietness to beat an S-Class - and you'll be spending at least $130,000. A BMW 7 Series also stickers from $204,700.The Carsguide test car is towards the top of the Range Rover line, priced at $234,960 thanks to a bunch of extra equipment added to the $224,200 base of the supercharged V8 Vogue SE. But there is incredible value in everything from the sumptuous leather to the safety systems, cracking infotainment package and a suspension and driveline system that sets the benchmark.Ultimately, though, the price and thirst are the worst things about the Range Rover. And the things that cost it a five-star Carsguide rating.A full aluminium body, eight-speed automatic gearbox, an updated and automatic terrain response system for four-wheel drive work, radar cruise control, air suspension, a classy touch-screen infotainment package with rear displays, remotely-adjustable electric rear seats, and even a night light that projects a Range Rover logo onto the ground beisde the doors. The Range Rover has it all.There is more and more and more, but the key things are the alloy construction that slashes more than 400 kilograms from the Rangie's heft, a modern and techno-loaded cabin, adaptive dynamics to match the drive feel to the conditions, and the safety and driver-assist systems.For perspective, the new Range Rover still runs to five metres in length, but its drag is down with a roofline that is 20 millimetres lower, fuel economy is better by as much as 22 per cent on the diesel V6.The chassis package means the car can still handle the toughest off-road conditions - perhaps not with the optional 22-inch alloys - that means it is still a paid-up member of the Land Rover crew. Horse people will be happy to know it has a 3.5 tonne towing capacity.There is no disguising the sheer mass of the new Range Rover but, for an SUV, it's not bad looking. It's not as svelte as the Cayenne GTS, but definitely nicer than a Lexus LX. Design chief Gerry McGovern says he needed to maintain a historical link to the three earlier generations of Range Rover, but developed a package with considerably more interior legroom.It's the cabin that shines, with lovely seats, lots of technology and a logical layout. It takes time to learn your way around the controls - even with voice activation for the infotainment - but even back-seat passengers are pampered and the signature clamshell tailgate is fully electric.ANCAP is not going to be slapping a Range Rover into a wall, but it's sure to be a five-star car thanks to everything from the rigid body structure to emergency braking as part of the radar cruis control system.Apart from the regulation ABS braking and ESP stability control, it comes with eveything from a roll stability control and trailer stability assist to blind-spot monitoring and hill-descent control for off-road work. There are also a variety of operating heights to match the terrain, together with the latest Terrain Response system to make any dummy into an off-road winner.The Range Rover won me in less than a kilometre. I was captivated by the cabin and the sumptuous ride, which is such a contrast to the thumping and wallowing of lesser SUVs. And then I began to pick up the sound system, and the steering feel, and the impressive brakes, and all the rest.I confess that I did not go seriously off-road, barely away from the bitumen at all, but I just know what a Range Rover can do from plenty of previous experiences with Land Rovers of all sizes and prices. And Craig Duff, who drove for Carsguide in Morocco, reports that the new Rangie is just about unstoppable and superb at speeds well beyond Australia's 110 limit.The supercharged V8 in the test car is thumping and impressive, with massie torque for towing, but not so good with economy running at 17.4 litres/100km in a mix of conditions. I'd definitely take the 4.4 diesel V8.Even passenger who rides in the Rangie is impressed by the equipment and the comfort and quietness, although they are often shocked by the price. And every day I spend with the car I find something new to enjoy, like the Range Rover logo that's projected onto the ground at night like some sort of corporate Batman callout.As I said at the beginning, I'm not a fan of SUVs. I like the new Cayenne GTS a lot, the Benz GL is plush and enjoyable, but even X5s and MLs feel bulky and I'd much prefer a station wagon to the vast majority of affordable SUVs. But I don't think of the Range Rover as an SUV. For me, it's a luxury car with the works.When the end of the world is coming, I want to be driving the new Range Rover.

The new Holden Commodore is the most important new car of 2013. The upcoming VF, and the VF alone, points to the future of motoring in Australia.

Noxious brown water was lapping over the bonnet of Land Rover’s new flagship. Forget towing a boat, I’m in danger of turning the $200,000 Range Rover into one. At the time — midway through a 5km survival swim up Morrocco’s Oued Ourika — it is only of passing concern.I was far more focused on what was happening under the surging torrent as the luxury four-wheel drive lurched from boulder to boulder. I could feel the Terrain Response software shunting torque to alternate wheels trying to scrounge grip against the current and shifts in weight.The result was technology and engineering won out and the 2.2-tonne turbodiesel kept ploughing resolutely on, despite being literally out of its 900mm wading depth and coping with ground that was causing a Defender with off-road rubber nearly as many problems.It had already survived some axle-deep sand dune runs and a rock crawl that had Land Rover PR Tim Krieger wincing on the few occasions when the 260mm of front and 300mm rear of wheel travel were exceeded and the Rangie did bottom out. That wheel travel was tested again in the river run, where one of our group managed to drop two wheels off a silt ledge and can’t the SUV on a 45 degree lean that no one believed it could recover from.We were already discussing how they were going to extricate the car from the bottom of a ravine when the driver managed to recover it — despite doing almost everything wrong, from trying to swing back up the ridge, thereby increasing the tilt, to gunning the engine and making the Rangie jump. The car was built from the ground up for just this purpose and it’s a travesty that very few owners will be have the chutzpah to test the extreme capabilities of their decidedly luxurious SUV. One wouldn’t want to despoil the leather interior now, would one? It’d be like mucking out the stables in a pair of Gucci loafers.Regular owners can rest easy though, because the Range Rover is probably even more composed on the freeway, where revisions to the steering and suspension have all but eliminated the head-shake that beset the previous model at speed and improvements to the insulation make it a serene workplace. Even with the speedo needle nudging 200km/h, it was as composed as a well-trained butler. And the steering wheel, which spun like a child's toy on the sand, stiffens up to sports car levels on the road. Other carmakers should tear it down to find out how to make an electric steering system that works at all angles.All models have a 3.5-tonne towing capacity and unless you intend to regularly use it, the V6 turbodiesel’s 600Nm and 0-100km/h time of 7.9 seconds should do the job for most owners. The diesel V8’s 700Nm make it the pick for heavy haulers, while the supercharged petrol V8’s 5.4-second sprint time gives it performance bragging rights.VALUEIf you have to ask, you can’t afford it. Given there’s no direct competition, Land Rover benchmarked the car against everything from BMW’s X5 and 7 Series to the Audi Q7 and Mercedes-Benz GL-Class and S-Class — and says the Range Rover is quieter than them all at highway speeds. The V6 turbodiesel will go on sale in February at $168,900 in HSE trim and will be the volume seller, though a $178,900 Vogue spec will also be offered.The turbodiesel V8 will be a $195,100 proposition in Vogue format, stepping up to $217,100 for the Vogue SE and $232,800 for the “with-the-log” Autobiography trim. The supercharged V8 is the sole petrol engine destined for Australia and starts at $224,400 in Vogue SE spec, rising to $240,100 for the Autobiography. A diesel hybrid will join the range late next year.TECHNOLOGYThe fourth-generation Rangie uses an aluminium monocoque chassis and alloy panels to trim more than 300kg of weight from most models. That is then promptly returned with an apps store of technology, reinforced aerodynamic shields under the SUV and heavy-duty air suspension to give it the legs to go anywhere. Even if anywhere will be no farther than a gravel driveway or grassy paddock for most owners.It is part of the Range Rover mystique that this vehicle is as capable as it is classy. To make life easier for owners, the Terrain Response system has been upgraded with a default auto mode that switches between five settings — general; grass/gravel/snow, mud/ruts, sand, and rock crawl — as it detects the surface it is travelling on. Each setting alters the car’s throttle response, gearbox shift points, centre differential and chassis systems to optimise drive.A dial still lets owners manually choose their preferred mode and there’s an adjacent switch to active the low-range function. The latest Bosch ABS software includes stability, roll and traction control, along with hill ascent and descent control. The V8 models also pick up a lean control system that uses hydraulics to adjust the stiffness of the front and rear stabiliser bars and reduce head-toss on uneven surfaces.All models have automatic variable damping that can be best felt when switching the eight-speed automatic transmission from drive to sport. That also sharpens throttle and steering response.DESIGNThe traditional Range Rover look has been refined and given a sportier makeover. The clamshell bonnet has been kept, the side fins are still there (though moved from the front quarter panel to the front doors) and the floating roof, courtesy of blacked out pillars, has been retained. The bottom of the two-part tailgate can still act as a standing platform at the polo, but both sections are now powered.Designers did sharpen the windscreen angle, which improves looks and fuel efficiency and the roofline itself has been lowered to give the big SUV an edgier look. The “camera style” bi-xenon headlamps are the easiest way to spot the Rangie, especially at night. It still has the presence of a truck, just a very good-looking one.SAFETYIt hasn’t been tested yet, but expect the Range Rover to keep its occupants supremely safe. The only criticism of the last model was it didn’t protect pedestrians. Land Rover has responded by fitting a raised bonnet and optimising the bonnet and bumper to absorb energy.Adaptive cruise control is now linked with an optional queue assist function for stop-start driving and there’s blind spot warning and automatic emergency braking systems. Front parking sensors are boosted with a reversing camera and there’s six airbags to cover all occupants.VERDICTComposure is a learned trait and the Range Rover has learned over the years how to do it with panache. The substantial price is matched by as much substance on and off the road as any potential buyer could desire. It’s not as nimble as an X5 but it is has more presence on the road and behind the wheel. Simply put, it is the most luxurious heavy-duty tow vehicle on the market, with the potential to do much more if the owner dares.Land Rover Range Rover TDV6Price: $168,000Warranty: 3 years/100,000kmService interval: 12 months/26,000kmSafety: Six airbags, ABS with EBD, BA, TC, ECS, hill ascent and descent, blind spot warning, reversing cameraCrash rating: Not assessedEngine: 3.0-litre turbodiesel, 190kW/600NmTransmission: Eight-speed automatic, four-wheel driveDimensions: 5m (L), 1.98m (W), 1.84m (H)Weight: 2.16 tonnesSpare: Full-sizeThirst: 7.5L/100km, 196g/km CO2

More. Give us more.  That's what Range Rover's well heeled buyers want with each new model. And the company is only too happy to oblige, with the addition of a even larger, harder hitting twin turbo V8 diesel that produces a whacking 700Nm of torque.We put the big Rangey through its paces on NSW's South Coast over a mixture of back roads and fire trails. It was all a walk in the park for the Range Rover Vogue which combines supreme off road ability with sumptuous luxury appointments. But, with prices starting from $158,000 - it's not for everyone.ENGINE AND MECHANICALThe diesel sounds like a V8 when presshed hard and is paired with an eight-speed ZF auto, complete with paddle shifts. It doesn't get much better than this. Power jumps 15 per cent to 230kW and torque is up nine per cent to 700Nm, compared with the previous 3.6-litre engine. What's more, the extra torque is produced 500rpm lower in the rev range, from a low 1500rpm.To go with the diesel, there's two petrol V8s one of which is supercharged. Both are carry overs from the previous model. The supercharged engine produces 375kW of power and 625Nm of torque while the naturally aspirated V8 delivers 276kW and 510Nm. Both petrols are teamed with a six-speed ZF auto.The most popular configuration by far is the V8 diesel which accounts for about 70 per cent of sales. And why not when it sounds like a V8 and uses half the fuel, with a rating of 9.4 litres/100km.DRIVINGWhichever way you jump it all translates into effortless cruising and overtaking. But start to push the big Rangey hard and you are reminded of the bulk and weight of this vehicle, which ranges from 2.5 to 2.8 tonnes, depending on what model you're driving.Despite its size the Vogue gets going, with the diesel taking a scant 7.8 seconds to reach 100km/h. Ultimately, however, the vehicle's weight counts against it. Corners are best approached with caution and the car will try to run wide if you're carrying too much corner speed. Best to go in slow and come out firing.The Vogue's electronic stability system cuts in early and harshly to avoid expensive mistakes. Six piston Brembos are fitted at the front, but it's still a big ask, especially in traffic. Ideally, it's best to be decisive and brake early. The 2011 model is further enhanced by improvements to the Terrain Response system in the form of Hill Start Assist and Gradient Acceleration Control.Inside the diesel inherits the push-button, rotary gear selector which has earned accolades for Jaguar in the XF and XJ. There is also and improved entertainment system and illuminated treadplates for the front doors are available as an option. New colours and wheels have been added and a new exterior design pack allows customers to give their Vogue a more individual look.LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER VOGUE TDV8Available: NowPrice: $160,500 - $212,500Engine: 230kW/700Nm 4.4-litre V8 bi-turbo-dieselEconomy: 9.4 l/100kmTransmission: 8-speed sequential automatic; 2-speed transfer case; constant 4WDDimensions: 4972mm (L); 2034mm (W); 1877mm (H)Wheelbase: 2880mmWeight: 2810kg (loaded)Tow: 3500kg.

SAD news from Sydney this week as a V8 Range Rover squashed a Prius on the Princes Highway. No one was injured but the fact the Range Rover cruised the highway for 82km at 110km/h and averaged a stunning 5.3 litres/100km - including slowing for traffic congestion - shows new engine technology is catching hybrids napping.Sure, the new 4.4-litre turbo-diesel Range Rover Vogue didn't get that fuel-sipping figure all the time but for a 2.5-tonne SUV once labelled as an environmentally-insensitive, fuel-guzzling monster, it's very impressive.Parent company Land Rover says this is the start of a new wave of engines - and vehicles - that will redefine SUVs and change people's perceptions of economy versus space, comfort and performance.The Vogue now comes with the optional 4.4-litre V8 diesel that replaces the old 3.6-litre unit. The bigger engine gets more power, torque but much lower (down 18 per cent) emissions and fuel consumption. Even the 11.1 litres/100km average over a savage off-road test section is remarkable given the Vogue's size, weight, brick-like aerodynamics and whopping engine.VALUEThe Vogue 4.4 TDV8 arrives in three versions - Vogue, Luxury and Autobiography with respective prices at $160,500; $184,200 and $212,500. It takes on all the luxury SUV models but because it has competent off-road ability - thanks to a low range gearbox, lockable differentials and height-adjustable suspension - it really targets the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Porsche Cayenne, Lexus LX570 and Toyota Land Cruiser Sahara.Better than those? In some ways. It has loads of performance and a top-notch cabin of leather and wood, but misses some niceties - electric boot, adaptive suspension and active cruise control as some - yet includes common sense things like a full-size spare wheel.Its also only a five-seater. If you want to seat seven, buy the Discovery or wait for the next generation model.DESIGNNothing outrageous here, just beautifully chiseled lines that in stereo shout function and luxury. Its a real stand-out on the street and likewise reeks luxury in your driveway.New for the 2011 Vogue is a new grille and wheel patterns. Not much, really. The instrument panel is a TFT screen that will change its display items - and even move them to one side to make way for more information - in reaction to what information the driver specifies. Select low range in the gearbox, for example, and the speedo dial moves to the right and a chassis diagram appears in the centre.The Range Rover still seats five adults and despite this being a substantial vehicle, cabin room isn't overly generous.TECHNOLOGYThe fuel figure says it all. This new turbo-diesel - a sequential-turbo unit wholly created in-house by Jaguar Land Rover - is brilliant but the spotlight should also shine on the sequential eight-speed automatic transmission. Combined, they blend performance and economy ingredients and come up with the perfect bake.Adaptive suspension is a boon for rural drivers - it isn't on the base model Vogue but should be mandatory - while the series of cameras aids parking and greatly improves pedestrian safety.There is excellent integration of the audio with television and the central monitoring system and though theres a lot of things to learn here, can make life a hell of a lot easier for the busy motorist.SAFETYFive-star crash, 10 airbags, electronic stability control with a heap of other preventative cures against ailing drivers and predatory road (and off-road) conditions. As you would expect for $160,000-plus-plus.DRIVINGAt idle, the V8 is a bit - disappointingly - grumbly. Like an old man who didn't get his cup of tea, it can be cured by giving it one. In this case, acceleration. Underway, it is silent, very responsive and smooth though theres some annoying wind noise from the mirrors above 100km/h. In motion it is a worthy rival to a V8 petrol and is almost guaranteed to lure many critics into the diesel fold.Maximum torque comes in low and there's little need to exceed 3500rpm. Steering wheel paddle shifters can quickly pluck any of the eight cogs to improve performance but, unless needed for low-speed work or towing, is a function that is almost obsolete because of the engine's broad and willing torque delivery.The Vogue is also arrestingly comfortable. The seats in all models are superb - firm yet with intimate contouring - and the suspension just soaks up all the ills of the road. I liked the seating position, the expansive adjustment of the seat and steering wheel, appreciated the front and side visibility - but the back seat head restraints diminished rear vision - and liked the switchgear placement.But with so much forward urge the Vogue needs better body control. There's adaptive suspension on some models but the base model driven misses out. So, though its all-paw design hangs on through corners, it can get floaty which doesn't inspire much confidence.VERDICTStunning effort in the performance and economy stakes but Vogue favours condensed families.LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER VOGUE TDV8Available: NowPrice: $160,500 - $212,500Engine: 230kW/700Nm 4.4-litre V8 bi-turbo-dieselEconomy: 9.4 l/100kmTransmission: 8-speed sequential automatic; 2-speed transfer case; constant 4WDDimensions: 4972mm (L); 2034mm (W); 1877mm (H)Wheelbase: 2880mmWeight: 2810kg (loaded)Tow: 3500kg

Two words have defined the luxury SUV class for just over 40 years. Those words, Range Rover, have just been applied to the 2011 update of the iconic British off-roader with the usual promise of ultimate luxury.The 2011 changes are focussed a new turbodiesel V8 engine and a new level of refinement and luxury. Paul Walker, chief program engineer at Range Rover, says the twenty-eleven model is the latest in a long line to deliver exactly what Range Rover customers want in an SUV."The 2011 model will deliver unparalleled luxury and comfort that our customers have told us they want. Not only is the Range Rover a luxurious SUV, it has to be the most capable SUV available as well," Walker says.PRICINGThe price line will not be set until later in the year, but the flagship Range Rover Vogue should be up near the $200,000 mark when the first cars land in November. The 2011, a development of the third-generation Range Rover we first saw in 2002, has always been extremely well equipped and the new model will be no different.DRIVETRAINWhile fans know all about the interior appointments available at this end of the spectrum, the big news surrounds the barnstorming new twin-turbo diesel V8 engine and its eight-speed automatic transmission.Displacing 4.4-litres, the new V8 cranks out 230kW of power and 700Nm of torque which is then funnelled through the liquid-smooth eight-speeder to get the nearly 2800kg SUV moving like nothing of this weight and heft has any right to. The fuel figure is perhaps even more impressive than the outright power numbers with usage claimed to be a scant 10L/100km. That’s an 18 percent improvement over the outgoing 3.6-litre engine.This biggest factor in the improvement in fuel consumption is the auto. Its shifting characteristic is incredibly smooth, fast and precise. It always seems to select the right gear for any given speed, reacts well both on road and off, and is scarcely even noticeable when shifting either at cruising speed or flat stick on the freeway. It’s been designed with low slip levels for better takeoff and power transfer, improved gearing across a variety of speeds, and its rotary-shift technology delivers an enhanced connection between driver and gearbox.Walker says the new engine is a symbol of everything Range Rover. “There has been no compromise, no shortcuts which is exactly what our customers expect," he says.FIT-OUT AND EQUIPMENTInside, the latest Vogue is everything you expect with an array of interior colours and options to ensure you feel as good as you should for the money you’ll be outlaying. The traditional automatic shifter has been replaced with a rotary dial that emerges from the console when you power the vehicle up. It's the same as the one employed on the latest Jaguars and works well once it becomes second nature.Terrain response settings are now adjusted by rocker switches, as opposed to the dial previously used in the Vogue. Rear seat legroom has been enhanced, with passengers able to move the passenger front seat forward from the back to create as much legroom as they need. Rear seats are also fitted with airconditioning. It's almost more pleasant to be in the back seat than behind the wheel... almost.DRIVINGThe old engine never felt slow, but it does once you’ve driven the new 4.4-litre. The extra seamless urge delivered by the new engine is evident from the minute you depress the accelerator. Plant your right foot and the nose lifts slightly and the Range Rover rockets forward to the tune of a muscular engine note. The 100km/h mark is dispatched easily in only 7.8-seconds, and the Vogue will continue working its way to an indicated 220 without raising a sweat.From the driver’s seat, the Vogue is incredibly quiet regardless of speed or road surface. It’s cosseted and comfortable inside and long freeway trips are completed with ridiculous ease. Take sweeping corners at speed and the Range Rover is never unsettled or shaken off its line no matter how nasty the mid-corner road surface.There are no squeaks, rattles, or annoying noises from anywhere within the cabin as you’d expect for a vehicle of this calibre. In fact, continent crossing in this SUV might almost be too easy. And you can take the whole family with you in comfort as well.What is most impressive is how efficient the Range Rover is at dealing with even the nastiest off-road terrain, particularly given how competent and composed it is on-road. Select the correct Terrain Response setting, engage low range, and simply point the Vogue where you want to go. It will clamber over rocky escarpments, channel through deep water, and climb the most powdery steep hills you would ever think to point its nose toward. All while the driver sits in climate controlled luxury. Hill-start assist and gradient descent control make off-road driving just about foolproof.Put simply, no SUV is as luxurious and capable as the Range Rover Vogue. And that’s exactly how the honchos at Range Rover HQ want it to be. The Vogue will go anywhere you need it to take you. You’ll emerge unscathed and unruffled at the other end as well. Which is just as important as getting there when you’ve spent nearly 200 grand.RANGE ROVER VOGUEOn sale: December 2010Price: estimated from $170,000Models: VogueEngines: 4.4-litre turbo diesel V8Power: 230kW/3250-4000 revsTorque: 700Nm/1500-3000 revsTransmission: Eight-speed automatic, all-wheel driveEconomy: 10.0L/100km

MY first encounter with a Range Rover is seared into my memory.  Years ago in the wilds of North East Victoria, we took several brand new Range Rovers through inhospitable snow country, made worse by a late spring dump.  The scenic terrain became serious winch country in axle-deep mud and snow.Wing mirrors were ripped off, our car's fine alloy panels were scratched and some dented and our patience with the conditions wore thin.  But the fully loaded Rangie I was driving just soldiered-on, including doing a tricky a hand-brake start on a treacherously steep and slippery slope to avoid disappearing sideways into a deep gully.It was a struggle keeping the car upright and crawling through conditions even our hosts admitted were challenging.  The trek was far removed from the off-roader's usual day-to-day school run pounding the tarmac in Toorak or Double Bay.  That experience forged a deep respect that endures even today.Despite the arrival of the Porsche Cayenne, BMW X5, Audi Q7, Volkswagen Touareg and Mercedes-Benz M-Class, the Rangie is still the ultimate off-roader.  The newcomers may have better utilised interior space but the Rangie has the looks and undisputed reputation. A proper full-size spare is reassuring.Like a trusty Saint Bernard, you know it will get you through the worst blizzard and deepest snow. Inside the comfy cabin, heated leather seats and yes - a heated steering wheel - will cocoon you from the worst and deliver you to the ski resort in style.  If the luxury doesn't win you over, the electronic off-road gizmos will. Land Rover's high-tech "terrain response" system is one of them.Flick a switch and you can select the conditions you're about to tackle, from mud and rock through to snow and ice. It also has a "sand launch control" to make it easier to get going in sand.Next up are the five outside digital cameras that allow you to see if the car is about to come to grief on a rock or tree stump. It's useful in tight situations.The car rides and handles beautifully. It's perhaps not as crisp as a Cayenne or X5 but it certainly is plush.Considering its bulk, there is no wallowing in corners, thanks to the adaptive electronic air suspension, which can be raised to provide ground clearance of 283mm.  The latest supercharged 375kW/625Nm 5.0-litre V8 - shared with Jaguar - reinforces my admiration for the car's impeccable credentials, even if the Vogue Autobiography costs a stratospheric $229,500 and fuel economy isn't a strong point.  Just think of it as the automotive equivalent of Louis Vuitton hiking boots.

It's the biggest toy in the Land Rover playpen ... and it remains one of the favourites almost 40 years after the badge was first displayed. Range Rover, in this case the range-topping Vogue collection, was the first of the luxury off-roaders and remains the leader of the pack for those wanting to mix the good things in life with the ability to take them absolutely anywhere."This is a considerable step forward for what is already regarded as one of the world's most complete luxury vehicles," Land Rover managing director Phil Popham says. "New engines deliver formidable power, efficiency and refinement while the new technologies are world first."Variants and pricing The Vogue is not going to come cheap to Australia — but then, it never has. The $155,000 entry level model is powered by the carry-over 3.6-litre V8 turbo diesel with 200kW and 640Nm while the mid-specced Luxury version of the same engine package is $179,500 and the fully-trimmed Autobiography will set you back $208,900.Step up to the petrol models with the all-new 5-litre V8 and the 276kW and 510Nm naturally-aspirated version in ‘basic’ trim is $158,000. Sitting at the top of the tree is the full-fruit supercharged Autobiography version of the same engine with 375kW and 625Nm for $229,500. That is a $16,800 rise over the outgoing supercharged model with its ageing 4.2-litre V8."The supercharged engine (as already seen in the Jaguar) is one of the most efficient in its class," says Malcolm Sandford, engine group chief engineer. "As well as stunning top-end performance these engines deliver the low-end flexibility essential for real-world driving."EquipmentRange Rovers have always brought an impressive level of specification to the table and the new models are no exception. Even in the most basic trim the cars boast 6-speed automatic driving the permanent FWD through electronic centre differential with low range, cruise control, hill descent control, terrain response, air suspension, 19-inch alloys, full-size spare, nine airbags and an absolute grab-bag of electronic stability programs including EBD, all-terrain ABS, dynamic stability control, corner braking control, roll stability, trailer assist stability and understeer control logic.Add to that a sunroof, rain-sensing wipers, rear-view camera, bi-Xenon lights, parking assist front and rear, full towing preparation, filtered climate control, power seats, leather trim, an LCD virtual instrument panel, 11-speaker Harmon Kardon audio system, navigation, Bluetooth and USB and iPod interface and the mix is already rich.For the mid-spec Luxury there are 20-inch alloys, Oxford leather seats with heating and cooling on the front and heating for the rear passengers, heated steering wheel, a Logic 7 14-speaker sound system and rear-seat DVD.Step up to the Autobiography and the fare includes adaptive dynamics, electronic rear differential, a five-camera surround view system, automatic high beam dimming, upgraded leather seats, full leather facia and headliner and dual-view display screen.The screen, also available as a $1200 option for the Luxury, is a truly impressive bit of breakthrough technology. Claimed to be a world automotive first the screen allows a different view to the driver than to the passenger — looking from one side all the driver will see is the navigation or information screen while from the passenger side a movie can be watched. There are some surprising omissions from standard fit in the Autobiography including four-zone climate control ($3390), adaptive cruise control ($5300) and, most surprisingly, metallic paint ($1800).DrivingWith the new engines, some major engineering improvements to the platform, an upgrade for the brakes and the refresh of the cabin and exterior Range Rover has brought up to date a model that was last re-styled in 2002 while most of its key competitors — BMW's X5, the Lexus LX570, Porsche Cayenne and the Mercedes ML — have all brushed up their act far more recently.Range Rover's engineers have been busy with some clever technology, including the adaptive dynamics system which claims to be predictive in delivering better ride quality and superior body control through damper pressure sampling 500 times a second.Does it work? There is certainly a more relaxed feel about the big Rangie on the open road. Body roll has been reduced and while it is impossible to hide the fact that this a very large vehicle at 2.7-tonnes it is dynamically much closer to the very roadworthy X5 than previously. It is a no-contest for the engines. The supercharged is a stunning thing and its ability to get the big Rangie off the line and racing at the horizon is little short of breathtaking.Yet, it is off the tarmac that Range Rover still leaves the majority of its competitors wallowing. The one exception may be the LX570 based off the very capable LandCruiser 200 series, but even there it is a close-run thing.During a drive around the Land Rover Experience headquarters at Eastnor Castle the diesel Rangie, on road tyres, made light work of mud slurry, slippery climbs and steep descents and even distinguished itself with a rock crawl obstacle that would have had more than a few ‘serious’ off-roaders blushing.Most of the Range Rovers sold in Australia are — like the majority of large 4WDs — going to spend the vast majority of their time standing out in city traffic. Where the Rangie differs from a host of rivals is that should you wish to head into wilds it has the capability to take you there and, more importantly, get you home.Range Rover Vogue Price: from $155,000 to $229,500Engines: 3.6L/V8 turbo diesel 200kW/640Nm; 5L/V8 276kW/510Nm; 5L/V8 375kW/625NmTransmission: 6-speed automatic, constant 4WD, low-range transfer boxEconomy: 11.lL/100km (diesel), 14L/100km (V8), 14.9L/100km (V8 S/C) combined cycle.

Unlike the magazine's 4WD Of The Year award, which only looks at vehicles that are new or significantly revised in that year, these annual accolades look at all the 4WDs on the market. In fact long-time champions dominate these awards but sometimes even long-time champs are forced to step aside. Best Value for Money