Land Rover Range Rover Vogue SDV8 SE 2013 review

It's hard to believe the new Range Rover is only the fourth generation of the iconic premium off roader. It's been around for 40 years so the people at Range Rover obviously put plenty of thought into any new model before committing. They must have put an extra effort into the latest version because it's a huge step up over the previous (already impressive) model.

Range Rover seems ready and willing to adopt new technology which abounds in the new model. It's all aluminium for a start shaving weight by some 420kg.

Value

The large format touch screen has a split screen function that enables the driver to see one set of images and the passenger to see something completely different. Digital TV is piped in on three screens (two in the back) and the sound system on the mid range test car pumps out some 850w of power.

But this is all the frilly stuff around the edges because a Rangey must be the ultimate off roader as well as offering ultimate luxury.

Technology

Power comes from a cracking good 4.4-litre, twin-turbo, V8 diesel with 250kW and 700Nm of torque from as low as 1750rpm. It drives the permanent all wheel drive system through an eight speed auto with paddle shift. This is sufficient to propel the 2360kg Rangey from 0-100kmh in a scant 6.9 seconds while consuming as little as 8.7-litres/100km.

The poms have nailed it with this vehicle which can go pretty much anywhere a driver chooses on and off road. The multi-mode Terrain Response system takes care of everything simply by rotating a dial to the required setting for a given driving environment. You can raise and lower the vehicle on its adaptive air suspension or leave that to the auto mode.

Sick of not being able to see what's coming when reversing out of a car park? Not a problem with this Rangey - it looks three ways for you, left, right and straight behind.

Design

The front seats are lounge-size and multi adjustable and the rears recline and offers sumptuous room. Then there's the large load space down the back with a full size spare under the floor - just as it should be.

The entire roof is pretty much glass. We like the look from some angles. It's bluff fronted and too chamfered at the rear behind the wheel but still looks the goods - a real Rangey.

Driving

On the highway it's superb, off road - equally as good with a supple, controlled ride from the air suspension and enhanced stability from the 21-inch wheels. The turning circle is tight, there's plenty of ground clearance up to 295mm, it will wade through almost 1.0 metre of water and can tow up to 3500kg braked.

The test vehicle was more with selected options like the desirable adaptive cruise control with queue assist - yes, it will maintain your position in a queue automatically. 

Quite disconcerting at first. Would you take it off road? Hardly but that would be underutilising possibly the most capable luxury off roader on the planet.