Pros:
- Best-in-class off-road driving capabilities.
- Opulent cabin competes with ultra-luxury sedans.
- Standard air suspension provides a soft, quiet ride.
- Top-shelf prestige and road presence.
Cons:
- Underwhelming fuel economy.
- Pricey options raise already-lofty MSRP.
- Some clunky infotainment system controls.
Would we buy one? Yes.
Vehicle Type: A four-door, five-seat large luxury SUV.
Price Range: From $92,250 to $210,850 MSRP.
Powertrain: A 355- or 395-horsepower super- and turbocharged six-cylinder mild-hybrid engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel-drive.
A 254-horsepower 3.0-liter V6 turbodiesel, with an eight-speed automatic and four-wheel-drive.
A 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder and a plug-in hybrid powertrain with a combined output of 398 horsepower, with an eight-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel-drive.
A 518- or 557-horsepower supercharged 5.0-liter V8 with an eight-speed automatic and four-wheel-drive.
Overall Score: 8.1/10
Safety Features: 8/10
The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover is one of the best-equipped large SUVs for safety features. There are standard crash-avoidance systems like forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, front and rear parking sensors, lane-departure warning, and lane-keep assist. Only the base model comes with blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic alert. The top-shelf Autobiography and SV Autobiography trims get a head-up display.
Families will appreciate the Range Rover's wide second-row seating area. It can fit three child seats, though attaching one in the middle seat may be a challenge. The LATCH seat anchors are situated low in the seat cushion and can be tough to access.
The 2020 Range Rover has not been rated by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Value: 7/10
The 2020 Range Rover is Land Rover's most expensive vehicle, with prices ranging from $92,250 to $210,850 at any Land Rover retailer. Few rivals can match the Range Rover's incredible on- and off-road driving abilities and exceptional interior refinement. The Autobiography trims cost north of $130,000, and they have best-in-class cabin quality. Even at that price, the Range Rover looks like a bargain compared to ultra-luxury vehicles like a Bentley Bentayga.
That said, a Range Rover can exceed the price of chief competitors, the BMW X7, Lexus LX 570, and Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class. And all three of those models can be equipped with a third row of seats. But the Range Rover has a more diverse engine lineup, as well as more customization options for paint colors and interior materials.
Tech Features: 10/10
Like Lexus and Mercedes, the Range Rover comes with a 12.3-inch touchscreen. It's part of a dual-screen infotainment setup built into the sleek dashboard, activating upon ignition. The futuristic stacked screen setup is reminiscent of what one would find in a top-of-the-line Audi. The upper screen can be maneuvered for better visibility, and it handles the navigation, phone, and audio features. Voice recognition for some commands is also included. The lower haptic-touch screen is housed under glass and cannot be tilted. It mostly deals with interior climate controls and seat heating. It contains some small text and digitized buttons that can be difficult to view from the stately front seats.
Any ultra-luxury vehicle worth its muster should excel in technology features. The Range Rover does not disappoint, with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, an in-vehicle WiFi hotspot (subscription required), front and rear USB ports, a 13-speaker Meridian premium audio system, satellite radio, HD Radio, one-touch automatic windows, tri-zone climate control, heated front seats, automatic LED headlights, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, an adaptive air suspension, and much more. Upper trim levels include a 29-speaker Meridian surround-sound system, adaptive cruise control, a refrigerated center console, a heated steering wheel, heated and cooled seats, 24-way power massaging front seats, 4-way power rear seats, and a surround-view camera. Drivers who regularly off-road can select the $350 optional wade sensing system, which helps when traversing rivers.
Few rivals have the range or quality of optional equipment. Only more expensive options like the Bentayga and Rolls-Royce Cullinan offer more elegantly integrated infotainment and climate features. It's arguable, though, how much better in this respect they are than a Range Rover Autobiography.
Practicality: /10
Interior storage is decent. The Range Rover maintains its sleek cabin style by hiding storage compartments under the door armrests, within the two glove compartments, and the deep center console bin. Unfortunately, there isn't much open storage for the front seats, meaning small items have to go in the cupholders. There are front door bins. Rear-seat passengers get fewer storage options. There's a small covered compartment in the center armrest, as well as two cupholders and magazine sleeves on the back of the front seats.
A hands-free power tailgate comes standard, making it easy to access the trunk with both hands full. It's a two-piece tailgate, with a glass upper section that lifts automatically while the wide door with 'Range Rover' inscribed across it carefully lowers. The cargo area ranges from 21.1-31.8 cubic feet depending on trim and wheelbase length, and it comes with a 12-volt power outlet, thick carpeting, tie-down points, and a folding cover to obscure cargo from prying eyes. A temporary spare tire resides under the cargo space.
The 40/20/40 rear seat can fold down, expanding storage to a maximum of 68.6 cubic feet. Respectable, but the larger Lexus LX 570 and Mercedes-Benz GLS offer 81.3 and 84.7 cubes behind the front seats, respectively. The maximum towing capacity is a competitive 7,715 pounds, in line with something like a Cadillac Escalade.
Styling & Design: 10/10
The Range Rover may be the most iconic full-size SUV on the market. Its 2013 redesign brought a much more modern exterior look, blending past generations' rugged blockiness with a more rounded and car-like front end. It gives the Range Rover an upscale look that allows it to fit in everywhere.
The Range Rover is the flagship vehicle in Land Rover's stable. So it sets the design and style sensibilities for all lower trims, including the Range Rover Evoque, Velar, and Sport, and less luxury-focused Land Rover models like the Discovery Sport. Its streamlined and upholstered dashboard, tasteful tech screens with minimal physical controls, plush touchpoints, and high-quality materials give the Range Rover a uniquely modern and upmarket feel that rivals any ultra-luxury sedan available.
Leather upholstery comes standard on all trims. The Autobiography offers no fewer than 17 leather interior choices. The Range Rover HSE, Supercharged, and Autobiography trims are available in long-wheelbase variants, stretching the rear-seat legroom by 7.3 inches. The Range Rover has one of the most comfortable interiors in its segment.
Available conveniences include premium leather upholstery, soft-close doors, power ventilated rear seats, and a panoramic sunroof.
Driving Experience: 9/10
The Range Rover weighs roughly 5,000 pounds, but it's surprisingly light on its feet, thanks in part to its adaptive air suspension. Handling is secure, and it doesn't feel ponderous to maneuver like other full-size SUVs. Pushed to the limits of cornering, the Range Rover's bulk shows, with stability control and other technologies working hard to keep it in line. The ride is one of the smoothest and quietest on the market, surpassing nearly all competitors. Its suspension soaks up road imperfections with ease. Noise is minimal, and the cabin's top-shelf materials pamper passengers. The Range Rover has a tall driving position that offers a commanding view of the road. Narrow side pillars and large side mirrors greatly enhance visibility, with lane-keep assist and available blind-spot monitoring to help extend the driver's senses.
On-road, the Range Rover is a breeze to drive. The base 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine offers more than enough power for passing other cars and conquering steep hills. It's a mild-hybrid, meaning it features a 48-volt electrical system that helps recapture some energy that would otherwise be lost in braking and reroutes that to the powertrain. All told, the base engine makes 355 horsepower and 365 pound-feet of torque. The standard 8-speed automatic is smooth, and paddle shifters come included, should the driver feel like manually shifting gears for a change. Still, it's not quite as agile as the Land Rover Range Rover Sport or Range Rover Velar, which are smaller, separate models. The BMW X7 and Porsche Cayenne offer sportier driving dynamics.
The more powerful available engine choices are only necessary for those seeking rapid acceleration, or, in the turbodiesel's case, significantly better fuel economy. The available turbodiesel is a 3.0-liter V6 that makes 254 horsepower and an astonishing 443 pound-feet of torque, meaning it'll have no issue getting up to speed on the highway. There's also a plug-in hybrid available; it has a supplemental electric motor, plus a battery pack located under the rear floor area. While it doesn't improve fuel economy very much, it does provide 19 miles of all-electric range, meaning drivers can go on short commutes without using a drop of gas. Finally, there are high-performance engines. Both are 5.0-liter supercharged V8s. The smaller of the two is available on the HSE trim and makes 518 horsepower. The SV Autobiography gets a more potent version that creates 557 horses. These engines provide astounding, sports-car-like acceleration.
Of course, the Range Rover's showpiece is its off-road prowess, which is the best of any luxury vehicle. The air suspension can be raised at the press of a button, lifting the sizable vehicle several inches. The Rover can wade through shallow waters, climb steep and soggy hills, and manipulate rocky trails. The Terrain Response system allows the driver to change to off-road capability on the fly. The way it integrates rugged mechanical components with cutting-edge tech is sheer magic, with awe-inspiring results.
Fuel Efficiency: 6/10
Full-size luxury SUVs are powerful and weighed down by features, making them not exceptionally efficient vehicles. The Range Rover epitomizes this, with an EPA-estimated 21 mpg combined from its turbocharged inline-six engine. Fuel economy drops to just 16 mpg overall for the most potent Range Rover models. But this isn't unusual for this class. The Lexus LX returns 14 mpg combined, while the Mercedes-Benz GLS gets 21 mpg. Drivers can expect 17 mpg from the Bentley Bentayga and 20 mpg from the Porsche Cayenne.
The Range Rover's turbodiesel engine returns the best available mileage, at 24 mpg overall. The plug-in hybrid (PHEV) averages just 19 mpg and a mediocre 19-mile all-electric driving range. The Bentayga's plug-in virtually matches those numbers, while the Cayenne E-Hybrid gets 21 mpg combined and 27 miles of electric range.
