Overview
The Range Rover has been the SUV of choice for celebrities and wealthy elites for decades, but even though it pampers its passengers like a luxury car it still offers off-road capability that means it can venture well off the red carpet. All models come with all-wheel drive, an adjustable air suspension, and plenty of ground clearance. You can choose between inline-six, plug-in-hybrid, and V-8 powertrains. You can also deck the Range Rover out with all manner of luxury features, including massaging seats in both rows, rear bucket seats, power-deployable rear-seat tray tables, and a beverage chiller. No matter which version you choose you’ll pay a six-figure price, which means the Range Rover automatically costs more than entry-level versions of rivals such as the Cadillac Escalade, the Jeep Grand Wagoneer, and the Mercedes-Benz GLS-class. But it’s exactly all of this obvious extravagance that attracts the Range Rover’s image-obsessed buyers, and after sampling several variants of this latest generation of the luxury SUV, we can see why.
What’s New for 2024?
It’s still early in the Range Rover’s fifth generation, but already Land Rover has tweaked the powertrain lineup for 2024. The plug-in-hybrid P440e has been replaced with a more powerful P550e which makes 542 horsepower. P400 and P530 models see no changes to their horsepower ratings, but the top-spec SV model is now powered by a 606-hp V-8 engine that wears the P615 moniker. Elsewhere, Land Rover has introduced a new customization service called SV Bespoke which provides buyers more opportunities for personalization when building their dream Range Rover. To help draw attention to its SV Bespoke program, Land Rover revealed an ultra-exclusive Carmel Edition model during the 2023 Monterey Car Week event in California. The $371,475 special edition features Cream Ash Burr and white ceramic interior trim, pearl oyster accents, two-tone leather upholstery, specially-embroidered cushions, and unique 23-inch wheels with white inserts. The result is fairly spectacular; only seven will be built.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
We’d recommend opting for the mid-range Autobiography model, which adds several sought-after items that luxury buyers will appreciate. For example, the Autobiography comes standard with a 1600-watt Meridian stereo system featuring headrest-mounted speakers and active noise cancellation. The Range Rover will be offered in both short- and long-wheelbase body styles, and we suggest going for the latter since it creates room for a third row of seats and provides a more generous cargo area.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
The Range Rover is available with a quartet of powertrains, starting with a turbocharged inline-six with a 48-volt hybrid system dubbed P400 that develops 395 horsepower. During our initial test drive, it proved to be silky-smooth and provided adequate pep to tug the large Range Rover around. A 523-hp twin-turbo 4.4-liter V-8 engine—Land Rover calls it P530—is even perkier and cranks up the Range Rover’s towing capacity to 8200 pounds. At our test track, the P530 hustled the Range Rover to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds; the P400 did it in 5.5 seconds. A 542-hp plug-in hybrid option—called P550e—is also available but only on the short wheelbase Autobiography trim, and the range-topping SV comes with a 606-hp V-8 called P615. Our long-wheelbase P400 test vehicle managed to hit 60 mph in a fairly brisk 5.5 seconds while the short-wheelbase P530 we tested did it in just 4.3 seconds. The Range Rover’s ride is suitably plush and, with its adjustable air suspension set to Comfort mode, it virtually floats down the road. Turning the dial to Dynamic mode firms things up some, but the big Rover still aims for a comfort-first mission.
Range, Charging, and Battery Life
The EPA hasn’t released official range estimates for the plug-in hybrid P550e, but Land Rover says the system’s 31.8-kWh battery pack should provide around 51 miles of electric-only driving range. The P550e is capable of DC fast charging or can be charged at a home-based charger.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
The most fuel-efficient Range Rover will likely be the plug-in hybrid P550e, but the EPA hasn’t estimated fuel economy numbers for that model yet. The entry-level P400 is rated for 18 mpg city and 26 mpg highway while the V-8–powered P530 has earned 16 mpg city and 21 mpg highway estimates. On our 75-mph highway fuel economy route both the P400 and the P530 delivered the same 23 mpg result. For more information about the Range Rover’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
As with past generations of the Range Rover, this new generation model offers a plush interior decked out with rich leathers and woods, but buyers who want a more sustainable cabin can now opt for a new leather-free option, which subs-in wool or other textiles. The interior can be arranged to seat four, five, or seven depending on configuration and wheelbase. The third row, even in long-wheelbase trims, may not fit tall adults as the headroom there is somewhat limited, but shorter riders and kids will find it nearly as comfortable as the second row. An optional motorized divider for the cargo area helps keep things from moving around too much during travel, and the Range Rover’s split rear liftgate can be used as convenient and comfortable seating for outdoor events.
Infotainment and Connectivity
All models receive a new 13.1-inch curved infotainment display with Land Rover’s latest Pivi Pro interface. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both standard and the system also receives Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant. Other standard features include in-dash navigation, wireless smartphone charging, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a 13.7-inch digital gauge display. A rear-seat entertainment system with dual 11.4-inch displays is available, as is a Meridian stereo system with 35 speakers and noise-canceling technology embedded into the headrests.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
Land Rover offers a host of modern driver-assistance features as standard on the Range Rover, including adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist. For more information about the Range Rover’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:
Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection
Standard lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist
Standard adaptive cruise control
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
The Range Rover’s warranty coverage mostly matches up with the offerings of its luxury competitors, but it doesn’t include complimentary scheduled maintenance. Competitors such as the BMW X7 and Black Label versions of the Lincoln Navigator both include extended periods of complimentary scheduled maintenance in the purchase price.
Limited warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles
Powertrain warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles
No complimentary scheduled maintenance