5th Generation Range Rover: Detailed Analysis and Review

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The Range Rover is Land Rover's flagship vehicle, with a legendary heritage and immense capability. It has always set the standard for others to follow. So, will it do the same with the next generation?

It's challenging to redesign or swap out an iconic car. And even more so incredibly difficult to update. Arduous, yes, but not insurmountable. But, the legendary Range Rover has gone through four versions in a little more than 50 years. A vehicle that epitomizes many things, most notably capability and, more recently, luxury. It's now time to make room for the newest Rangey of the fifth generation.

Ten years after the release of its predecessor, we now have in front of us the new Range Rover. It, therefore, had to be better in every manner, and live up to the long legacy of perfection left behind by its predecessors. Well, one of the biggest expectations that customers these days have majorly revolves around the tech involved and integrated into a car. And the all-new Range Rover thus combines modernity with a sculpted design that is almost similar to a work of monumental art.

Design

Gerry McGovern and the Land Rover design team were under a lot of pressure to nail the styling and appearance. That you may argue to be accurate for any model! However, most frequent customers (and there are plenty who will always exchange their old car for the new one) don't want you to make too many changes to the Range Rover or any classic model and that's the reality. You want changes, updates, and upgrades to the previous tech, but too many changes and that too cosmetically will not fare well with the prior owners of the Range Rover. And so, the company had this thing in mind, that they wanted people to recognize their car right away. And hence, important was to strike a balance between meeting fresh, modern, and progressive demands while also upholding Range Rover characteristics. And it is what you see in this brand-new car.

So while the exterior is unmistakably Range Rover, new retracting door handles and adaptive front illumination with maneuver lights are also included (a first for the Range Rover). Power-assisted doors in the car make it easier for the driver to open and close them. And have a gentle touch function, too. They even have hazard detection, so if they notice an obstruction, they will halt. These features enhance the level of luxury of the car and the comfortability of the owner.

The car has a strong waistline that emphasizes the size and gives it a lot of definition. The all-new Range Rover is entirely different at the back, with a new characteristic design element, while the appearance up front is extremely evolutionary. The tailgate of the automobile is sort of defined by a wide horizontal blacked-out feature that forms a C shape. It hides every component of the rear lighting. Therefore, even if it gives the automobile a slightly narrow and tall appearance, it looks quite amazing when it is lit up. With brakes applied, the taillights and vertical parts become even more dazzling. The indicators are also built into the horizontal slat. And that will be the something that gets the most attention. They refer to it as "hidden till lit."

It is undeniably a distinguishing feature of the new Range Rover's design language. All Range Rovers have always had a split tailgate, and for decades owners have used the lower section to sit on when folded out. So the car now comes with a seat cushion as part of what Land Rover calls the 'tailgate event suite.' The inner top section of the tailgate has a short backrest and seat cushion, speakers, and lights. So you sit here, taking in the scenery while listening to music. For example, if you're out camping and it's dark, the lights will allow you to read a book. Yes, the Rolls-Royce Cullinan has tailgate seats as well, but they deploy electrically. That new feature will give you an idea of how the car is upping the luxury factor.

Cabin and Tech

A brand new technological interface that immediately impresses. The latest Land Rover Pivi Pro platform features a massive 13.1-inch touchscreen with updated graphics. It has a floating appearance and employs curved glass for added sophistication. It also has haptic feedback, which is great because it reduces the amount of time you have to look away from the road when accessing or pressing certain functions. There is a lot of functionality and features that you are familiar with and would expect. However, new features such as Alexa have been added. And a variety of music interfaces, such as the built-in Spotify platform. Alexa integration utilizes AI capabilities, allowing the system to self-learn and improve its functionality.

You can get news about the weather, general world news, and even check your calendar using voice commands and control. There's also wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, as well as smartphone wireless charging. The 13.7-inch digital driver display or instrument cluster matches the look and feel of the interface. The display itself is sharp and features a plethora of functionality and views to make driving easier and more intuitive. The head-up display in the car complements this and is also a useful feature. The numerous chips that power various systems in the car all have over-the-air update capability - we're talking about over 70 electronic modules that can be updated and improved over time.

The seats are beautifully finished, and there are numerous trim options available. However, the majority of the action takes place in the back seats. Depending on the configuration, 11.4-inch individual HD touch screens fixed behind the front seats for rear passenger entertainment are available. There's also an 8-inch touch panel integrated into the drop-down armrest, allowing rear passengers to adjust their seats for maximum comfort. The armrest can also be electrically deployed, folding up or down at the touch of a button. That's awesome.

You also have sun blinds that open and close with the press of a button. The touch panel also allows you to control them, as well as the lighting and even electrically deployable cup holders! The rear seats can recline and be electrically adjusted as well. There's also a ‘seat away function' in which the front passenger seat folds forward and a footrest is deployed, similar to the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. It provides a vast amount of space as well as a very comfortable first-class experience. The armrest, with its control console, gives the impression of two separate rear seats. But if you need a third passenger, it can go right up and there's plenty of room for that middle passenger.

The touch panel makes all controls accessible from the back seat, and the center armrest folds down to make room for the third passenger.

But here's where things start to get interesting. Aside from what I've just mentioned, there are numerous configurations and options for rear seating. For starters, the long-wheelbase model will provide more legroom and space. The Range Rover now has an optional third row, making it a seven-seater for the first time. The access is gained by electrically folding the second row forward using conveniently located buttons just inside the door. Ingress and egress are simple, and the seats in the back are reasonably comfortable. JLR's special vehicles division has complete control over the Range Rover from the start, so SV trims are available right away.

The new Range Rover SV is even more opulent, especially in the long-wheelbase version, and includes a champagne cooler between the rear seats, among other luxurious features.

The SV version of the car is ultra-luxurious, which means you get everything you could want, as well as plenty of space and comfort - especially if you choose the long wheelbase. Interiors that have been beautifully customized in terms of color palette and materials, as well as some unique features. A small champagne cooler is housed between the individual rear seats and opens electrically, complete with its own set of crystal glasses. There are heated and cooled cup holders that flip open, as well as a custom deployable table. The sheer precision with which that deployable table operates demonstrates how much engineering and finesse has gone into the new Range Rover.

For the first time, the SV's 'Signature Suite' allows you to select new materials such as ceramics, contrasting color palettes, and new metal or wood inlays. The SV Serenity trim, with its Corinthian bronze highlights, is particularly eye-catching.

Safety

The MLA-Flex architecture is used in the car, which still uses a lot of aluminum and some key structural elements made of high-strength steel. The new model has a 'three-ring' structure that provides extra torsional stiffness - 50% more than the previous model! There are also the standard airbags, ISOFIX, and driver aids that you would expect at this price point.

Engine Options and Performance

BMW supplied the 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 engine, which is plenty powerful. It produces 520 bhp of power and a massive 750 Nm of peak torque over a wide range of 1800 to 4600 rpm. All engine types come standard with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The terrain response is standard, and the auto function is included as expected. There are also various drive modes to consider. Everything works more intuitively now, so you don't have to think about switching the car into dynamic drive mode, for example, to achieve a quick response. Without a doubt, the car feels sportier in that mode.
Similarly, it will not slow down in eco mode, nor will it leave you wanting in terms of comfort. And, to be honest, keeping it in auto is the way to go. The car will almost certainly be petrol-only in the United States. A smaller 3.0 liter in-line-6 mild hybrid is also available. However, this will not be the case globally.

The good news is that diesel is still an option, even though many manufacturers are abandoning it. The Range Rover not only continues to offer diesel, but it does so with three different tuned outputs on the nimble 3-liter engine. So you get 254, 294, and, 343 bhp, as well as torque ranging from 600 to 700 Nm. This 3-liter unit also receives the mild-hybrid treatment, which is fantastic! The most powerful D350 variant will be available in India. The mild hybrids - both petrol and diesel - are expected to make their way into other Land Rover models. There will also be a plug-in hybrid option using the same 3-liter petrol engine, which is expected to debut in India only next year. It also has the same 3-liter in-line six petrol engine as the MHEV, but with a 48-volt mild hybrid system.

There are two output options here as well, 353 and 392 bhp. I can confirm that India receives the latter - branded P400. The 6-cylinder version is also quite powerful and fun to drive. Interestingly, and I'm not sure why the front end just feels a little sharper than on the V8! For the most part, my car is in dynamic mode. But I also tried it in comfort and felt the same way.

Handling and Off-Road

The new Range Rover's handling, agility, and steering control are truly astounding. As I previously stated, this is a large vehicle, so that is something I am keeping an eye out for. The fact that the car doesn't feel as big on the road is a testament to the engineering department. The car features fully independent air suspension, which is a trademark of the Range Rover. According to the company, it has developed a new proprietary adaptive dynamics control software in-house that works with the suspension and all-wheel drive to provide effortless performance in any dynamic situation.

Over 100 times per second, it monitors driver inputs, surface information, and wheel grip! The torque is then distributed to the front and rear axles as needed. An active locking rear differential is also standard, which improves traction while driving at high speeds, especially around corners, and improves grip in wet off-road conditions. The car has a massive 900 mm wading depth. You can also use the car's multiple cameras and sensors to track axle articulation and what lies ahead on the screen.
Off-road, the Range Rover does everything a Land Rover should do, albeit with a little more luxury.

To be clear, nothing the car does will surprise you in the least - after all, this is the flagship of the Land Rover brand! So, without getting into specifics, I can confidently state that the Range Rover will perform admirably off-road.

Most buyers in India will be chauffeur-driven, so expect a high demand for the long wheelbase and swank SV versions. The 3.0 diesel and petrol mild hybrids, as well as the 4.4-liter V8, will be available at launch. Trim levels will begin with the SE, HSE, Autobiography, and First Edition on the long wheelbase. The SV models will be available with a short wheelbase. As previously stated, India should receive the PHEV in 2023. A fully electric Range Rover will be available globally in 2024, and we can hope to have one as well.

Verdict

With the new Range Rover arriving a decade after the fourth generation, there was a lot of anticipation. In many ways, that expectation has been met, if not exceeded. It has the understated luxury, elegance, instantly recognizable, sophisticated, packed with technology, safety features such as ADAS, and much more than the buyer would expect. It will undoubtedly be in high demand from India's elite buyers, who range from the Bollywood elite to corporate titans.

This is not a car for everyone, as it costs between Rs. 2.38 crore and Rs. 4.17 crore (all prices ex-showroom). Even those who can afford it can spoil themselves by getting a car that truly meets their every need - and with personal touches thanks to the massive amounts of customization available. In India, the car will be available in July, and the price will undoubtedly be exorbitant! But, as I've previously stated, the Range Rover is designed for a select few.

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