Ian Lamming wonders whether good things are worth waiting for as he takes to the roads in the brand new Range Rover
AROUND four years ago Land Rover revealed it planned to replace the Range Rover with a new one.
My friend placed his order there and then – he collects it in three weeks’ time. He’s had them before and loves them. In the unlikely event he doesn’t like the latest, he’s not worried because it is highly likely, in the current climate, that he’ll get more than his money back – that’s the strength of the brand.
Why? Well they are the chosen transport of royalty, rich folk and the renowned. They are aspirational but still accessible.
With such a winning formula, changing what is already successful must be one of the most stressful jobs of all time for the designers and engineers.
Customers want things to change but at the same time stay the same and somehow that is what they have managed to do with the latest model.
It is so recognisably Range Rover that you need to stand it next to the previous incarnation to spot the difference.
When you study them it becomes clear that new is less fussy than old. It is smoother, cleaner, crisper at the front, somehow tidier, more minimalist, more modern. At the back the changes are even more noticeable as the lights seem to completely disappear. They haven’t, the lights are just vertical, super-slim and the indicators are hidden horizontally on the tailgate. From the side the lines are pure Range Rover, complete with gills, albeit contemporary ones.
So aesthetics-wise, it’s more of the same, in a good way, subtle evolution rather than revolution, and it’s definitely worthwhile because aficionados will spot and love the changes but not be upset by anything too radical.
That decluttering of the exterior is carried over to the interior. It has been truly cleansed. The dash now comprises simple and elegant virtual clocks at which you peer through the redesigned steering wheel, which comes complete with haptic controls.
To the left sits a large rectangular touchscreen which operates satnav, ancillaries and infotainment. Below that, bridging the gap between dash and transmission tunnel, are the heating controls, dials for temperature and fan, haptic buttons for front and rear demists. All very neat and tidy which seems to be the hallmark of the car.
Move back again and there’s the sliding lid of a cubbyhole under which there’s a charger plate for your phone. A tactile stubby lever controls the automatic gearbox, next to which is the starter button and the control for various modes of 4x4. Then there’s another deeper cubbyhole and under-armrest storage deep enough to swallow the moon.
Controls for the 20-way electrically operated seats are on the door, complete with memory settings of course, but to get the heaters/coolers operating you have to press a switch on the dash which then projects the seat controls onto the touchscreen. Choose left, right, front and rear, temperatures ranging from one to three and there’s ventilated for the summer months.
Test car also comes with a panoramic sunroof and an excellent Meridian sound system so cabin ambience is spot on, relaxed and great for you mental wellbeing.
Under the huge bonnet sits a 3.0 twin turbo diesel which is well proven. With 350HP and 700Nm of torque there is power aplenty and it will hurl the Range Rover to the 60mph barrier in under six seconds, impressive for something weighing 2.5 tonnes. Economy-wise, expect 32mpg to be easily achievable, 35mpg if you tread carefully.
Air suspension looks after the handling and masks the worst vagaries of our utterly shocking roads, while ride height is adjustable for easy entry and exit and off-road forays. Steering is four-wheel which makes what is a gargantuan vehicle surprisingly manoeuvrable and agile.
Nice touches include the electrically operated split tailgate, the cool and very bright puddle lamps which shine down from the underside of the wing mirrors at night and the trendy rear view mirror that can be conventional glass or switch to a camera screen.
New Range Rover is more aspirational and technologically advanced than ever and fans will be happy to take their turn. I’m sure for them it will be well worth the wait.
Fact File
Range Rover D350 HSE Ingenium
Engine: 3.0 six cylinder diesel
Power: 350HP
0-60mph: 5.8 secs
Top speed: 145mph
Combined MPG: 35.7
Transmission: Eight speed automatic
CO2 g/km: 207
Price: £122,360.00 (including options)
