Range Rover review: Brian Byrne, Irish Car

I remember in the very early 1970s an English friend of my Dad's came to our family pub, having driven over in his new Range Rover, writes Brian Byrne. I had a (much) younger man's interest in cars at the time, though I was still almost two decades away from writing about them.

"Want to take it for a spin?" he said, dropping the keys on the counter in front of me. I didn't need to be asked twice. Two hours later I brought the car back and handed him the keys. "I'm afraid I got it a bit dirty," I mentioned. He grinned. "If the dirt's on the inside, you'd better hose it out."

I had taken the car to an off-road training area not far from my home, operated by the Irish defence forces. And I had fun, even though I'd never at that point had any experience in off-road driving. It was a measure of the car's ability even then that it steered me out of any difficulty. And a measure of my own naivety that I had chanced bringing it into the mud and gullies at all ...

That car was a new take on the Land Rover theme. A modern shape, though still on the body-on-frame platform that served the original LR vehicles so well in rugged terrain use. Smart estate style — though at the time with only two passenger doors. High tech with a 3.5-litre V8 petrol engine derived from a former Buick 'small block', and full-time AWD. Stopping power of disc brakes all round. It was also more comfortable on road than the usual Land Rover, with coil springs instead of truck-style leafs. With all that, though, it wasn't intended to be a luxury vehicle. Vinyl seats and plastic dashboards were designed to be hosed down, just like the utilitarian Land Rovers.

I was remembering those things recently when I collected the latest generation of the Range Rover for review. That it is just the fifth iteration of the car in 53 years says something about the style longevity ethos of the model — change only because it is time to change, and then only with substantial improvements to excellence. It is several generations ago of the Range Rover now since it became a luxury car. And each decade of change since has been to enhance it in that luxury space. But not at the cost of ability to work in the rough, though the technology to allow that has moved by a quantum from the fairly simple AWD system in the original.

The latest Range Rover has the smoothest styling of any of the five generations. A mix of straight lines with subtle edge-softening and a move away from aggressive grille shapes are part of it. Clean but carefully drawn horizontals emphasise the width, which is only exceeded in the segment by BMW's X7 (and even larger Rolls-Royces). There's an engaging simplicity about the rear of the car that hides the two-way tailgate which among other uses provides a clean seating area for those who want to watch the pony shows or picnic to mountain views from the back of the car. While that afore-mentioned subtle curving of the edges minimises any bold look, the car retains a real presence.

Moving inside, plush has gotten noticeably plusher, with a techy edge. The ivory leather in the review car worked well with the dark trims and satin metal fittings on the dashboard, door furniture and storage spaces. The dashboard design itself manages to create both opulence and simplicity, and thankfully makes do with just a single centre infotainment screen, unlike some Range Rover derivative models. Large knobs and buttons for climate control, and a coherent treatment of the primary driving instruments are all welcome. There's more room for the rear seat passengers than in the Range Rover Sport I drove a while back, and the extra headroom also makes a significant difference here. Some of the extra length of the car also extends the boot space.

Like that smaller Range Rover, the power in the big brother came via Land Rover's own 3.0 inline six petrol with plug-in hybrid electrification. The range of the battery on its own proved to be a genuine 80-plus kilometres, while the overall 8.8L/100km that I achieved in my time with the car was quite respectable for a 2.4-tonne vehicle. All travel is done, as it should be for a car with a price that would go a long way to ensuring a small mortgage for an average house, in a smooth and almost serene manner.

And no, I didn't get it dirty. I had previously driven one of this model in some rough and grotty places and knew that I didn't have to do it again. Besides, any time I try for the military training place these days, there's a jeep-load of MPs on my tail in short order ... I think they have a camera there. Also, if I got the inside mucky, I wouldn't be able to hose it down.

PRICE: From €143,998; review car €183,968. WHAT I LIKED: Remembering my early 20s. 

Review: Range Rover, by Trish Whelan - Irish Car

Range Rover is a 4x4 full-size luxury SUV produced by Land Rover, a marque and sub-brand of Jaguar Land Rover, writes Trish Whelan. First launched in 1970 by British Leyland it is now in its fifth generation. Standard (SWB) or Long Wheelbase (LWB) body designs are available with five seats, while the LWB model can seat up to seven adults. 

This flagship Range Rover is larger than the previous version at 209mm in width, 5,064mm in length (standard wheelbase), and 1,870mm in height. It is now even more luxurious, with the very latest technology, and is also more capable on and off-road than before. Land Rover claim it is also the most aerodynamically efficient luxury SUV in the world. The new design incorporates a beautifully sculpted clean body style, falling roofline, strong waistline and rising sill line. The side shows a clear expanse of metal, while rear tail lamps are ‘hidden until lit’. Huge 23-inch wheels add even more poise to the car. 

The interior exudes calmness and wellbeing with its clean surfaces, tactile materials and natural wood veneers. Feeling cosseted, you sink into gorgeous seats and exit them feeling refreshed. They can be heated or cooled, including in the rear which has its own climate control. Power adjustments for front seats are on the side doors along with three memory seat settings. The huge sliding panoramic roof on my review car was an extra as was the heated steering wheel. 

As this is such a high car, you get a commanding driving position with really good all-round visibility. Blind spot cover is excellent. Parking aids include a 360deg camera and you can manoeuvre the 3D surround camera to show a view of the parked car from every angle. 

Almost all the car’s functions can be controlled via the 13.1-inch touchscreen. Each screen is divided into three different sections and you swipe as needed. Climate controls keep hard knobs. The new high resolution 13.7-inch interactive driver display also has configurable layouts and you see important trip info at a glance. When you use navigation, your planned route to your destination shows on the Head Up Display. The car can park itself and exit parallel or bay manoeuvres. Cubbies abound. You also have a wireless phone charger, and small type C USBs. Boot space is 725 litres with the rear seats up. 

Rear seats can be lowered by the touch of a button on each side of the boot. Inside the boot, a floor panel can be raised forward, across the width of the load area forming a partition to keep smaller items within easy reach when unloading. It can also pivot backwards to serve as a backrest when you use the lower tailgate as outdoor seating. This lower tailgate can take a man’s weight. You can also adjust the car’s suspension to raise or lower the vehicle to be able to sit comfortably on this lower tailgate. 

Low traction for going off-road is controlled by a button while a circular knob is for choosing driving modes. Terrain Response, slope assist, wade sensing, were all part of the system. You can also choose Hybrid, EV and Save driving modes to optimise the powertrain for any journey. The Terrain Response 2 automatically adapts the car’s system to any surface or conditions - or you can select what you feel is the most appropriate setting manually. All-Wheel Steering is standard. It allows for a more refined drive, stability at higher speeds, and improved manoeuvrability at low speeds. The Range Rover’s off-road systems proved their worth on a previous tricky off-road course negotiating tight bends in thick wet mud as did the ability to show the ground below the vehicle when bridging a steep hill with no sight of what lay ahead over the rise. That view was relayed on the central screen as I went over the hill top. 

New Range Rover comes with a range of advanced six- and eight-cylinder engine options, including mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains. The PHEVs come in 434hp and 510hp versions and offer an EV range of up to 100km and C02 emissions below 30g/km. Both use a 3.0 Si6 petrol engine matched to a 105kW electric motor and a large 38.2kWh battery. Land Rover say a typical RR customer will be able to complete up to 75pc of trips using electric power only if they start each journey on a full charge. 

My car was the PHEV 440hp in a beautiful British Racing Green exterior in gloss finish (an expensive extra at €6,045), and matched with cream coloured perforated semi-aniline leather seats and in the mid HSE grade. When I collected the car, the driver’s screen showed 91kms of battery charge before the system would change to petrol, and up to 680km in total. Driving in city streets or suburban areas, you realise just how big this vehicle is and the need to be vigilant at all times. On country roads, when testing the suspension, the car seemed to glide over bumps and potholes. 

An all-electric Range Rover will premiere next year. Priced from €138,090. My car from €154,240 excluding delivery and related charges. Road tax is €140.

 

Range Rover revises Velar

Range Rover have revised their Velar model, a mid-size in the luxury brand's range, writes Brian Byrne.

Externally there's a new grille, and newly-styled LED headlights, and there have been detail changes to the rear including a new bumper. Inside the car gets a new single centre console-located touchscreen in curved glass.

Powertrains continue to be options from petrol and diesel, with mild hybrid technology and a plug-in hybrid that is rated to have a greater EV range of up to 64km. That version has a combined power output of 404hp.

The revised car is now available to order in Ireland priced from €91,680.

New Range Rover & RR Sport models in September

The good times are back with the announcement that new Range Rover and Range Rover Sport models are due to arrive here in September, with hefty price tags, writes Trish Whelan. Around 96pc will be low emission Plug-in hybrids. Huge interest has already been expressed by potential customers. 

At a special preview of both cars at Jaguar Land Rover, Spirit Motors in South Dublin on Monday last, Eddie Kavanagh, company Managing Director, said the new third generation RR Sport brings new levels of refinement as well as exceptional performance. It is hailed as the most thrilling RR Sport ever with a 0-100km/h time of 5.4 seconds. 

Mr Kavanagh is pictured above with the new Range Rover Sport on show at dealerships this month.

The suite of powerful and efficient powertrains includes six-cylinder extended range electric hybrids, a potent new V8 and mild hybrid six-cylinder petrol and diesel engines. Pure-electric propulsion will be introduced in 2024. All models are fitted with an eight-speed automatic transmission and Intelligent All-Wheel Drive while Land Rover’s latest Terrain Response system applies the most appropriate settings for the terrain. A new feature is Adaptive Off-Road Cruise Control which helps drivers navigate tricky terrain by maintaining steady progress according to the ground conditions. You select one of four comfort settings and the system adjusts the speed accordingly. The new model is 35pc stiffer than before which is sports car level standard. 

Its electric performance has a combined output of 510hp and 700Nm torque, a total real-world range of 740km, and a 113km WLTP EV range - the average daily commute is around 60kms. The battery can charge to 80pc with DC rapid charing in 60 minutes, within five hours with a home charger. C02 emissions are as low as 18g/km. 

Pictured above is the interior of a LHD Range Rover Sport model.

Connectivity includes a 13.1-inch screen, Haptic display, wireless connectivity, over-the-air updates, and voice control. RR Sport also has powerful and precise lighting with digital LED with dynamic light projection making the road ahead visibly brighter for 500 metres and the all-wheel steering, 3D surround cameras and manoeuvring lights which all make for effortless agile manoeuvring of the car allowing a turning circle of 11 metres. When using the navigation, the car knows your location and can read the road up to 3kms ahead to prepare for upcoming corners, adjusting the suspension settings to minimise body roll. The car can also park itself. 

It is available in S, SE, HSE and Autobiography specifications, with a First Edition available throughout the first year of production. The Range Rover Sport Dynamic SE with 460hp PHEV is priced from €114,150. 

The new Range Rover, pictured above, will also arrive in September. The First Edition D350 on view with a left-hand-drive version, is priced from €147,500.

Irish customers can have exclusive previews of the new RR Sport during this month as it visits Land Rover dealerships across the country. They include an in-depth walk around with product experts plus the chance to configure and pre-order their new vehicle.

Potential customers can still view the car this weekend (Friday and Saturday 17 and 18 June at Johnson & Perrott Land Rover, Bishopstown Cork; from 20-21 at Lyons Land Rover, Ballysimon Road, Limerick; from 22-23 at Autoboland Land Rover, Cork Road, Waterford; and from 24-25 at Conlans Land Rover, Naas, Co Kildare.

 

 

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Range Rover marks 50 years with special edition

Range Rover has marked 50 years since the introduction of the model that defined luxury SUV with a special version, the Range Rover Fifty, writes Brian Byrne.

Only 1,970 units of this special edition will be available globally, devised by Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations. The number reflects the year in which the original was launched, on 17 June.

The Range Rover Fifty is based on the Autobiography grade, with special badging and details, in both standard and long wheelbase variants. Powertrains from the latest fourth-generation Range Rover in petrol, diesel and hybrid will be offered.

More than a million Range Rovers have been sold, and the original model has expanded into Evoque, Velar and Sport companion nameplates.

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Review: Range Rover Evoque

It was a bit like being in a multiplex cinema, writes Brian Byrne. Three screens and a multiple choice of features. When you drive the Range Rover Evoque SE they do their best to make it an experience. After all, you're paying big bucks for the premium seats.

It's the 'baby' Range Rover, and from 2011 it offered a chance to get a very premium badge in your driveway at a relatively affordable price. A cool coupe style as well, if that format is your thing. The size and design was aimed at attracting a new demographic — turned out it was very popular with women. It was also a tilt at offering a compact size crossover for the urban owner who didn't want to bulk of the full size Rangie or its a little smaller RR Sport.

New RR Evoque gains five stars

The new Range Rover Evoque has been awarded a top five-star Euro NCAP safety rating in that independent body’s toughest testing programme to date, writes Trish Whelan.

The luxury compact SUV scored 94 per cent for adult occupant safety - the highest score of any Jaguar or Land Rover product to date. It also received 87 per cent for child occupant safety.

Built on Land Rover’s new Premium TransverseArchitecture, the new RR Evoque comes with the latest advanced driver assistance features, including Emergency Braking; Lane Keep Assist; front and rear parking aids; and a rear camera as standard. There is a comprehensive system of airbags and restraints throughout the cabin, including a pedestrian airbag.

Advanced technologies include Land Rover’s ClearSight Rear View Mirror which transforms into an HD video screen at the flick of a switch. It offers a wider 50-deg field of vision and superior low light visibility by displaying a rear-facing camera feed from the top of the car. It is useful when carrying passengers in the second row, or bulky items in the rear loadspace that obscure the view behind. 

ClearSight Ground View technology is also available, effectively making the bonnet invisible by projecting camera imagery onto the upper touchscreen to show the driver a 180-deg view under the front of the vehicle. This is useful when negotiating difficult parking spaces, navigating high city centre kerbs or for tackling rough terrain. 

The new RR Evoque is available to order now, priced from €42,856.