Road test: Land Rover Range Rover TDV8
Range Rover stands for the ultimate in luxury SUVs, but where most of its rivals try too hard to be sporty or opulent, the Brit simply hits its mark. It offers a cabin made from the finest materials and provides ample space, while the underpinnings continue to serve up a wondrous mix of comfort, surprising agility and unrivalled off-road ability. Now, the Range Rover also has a turbodiesel engine to match its other all-round abilities with the arrival of a 4.4-litre diesel V8. More torque than a Porsche 911 Turbo also helps it to be quick off the mark for such a leviathan.
It will come as no surprise to learn that any Range Rover with the new TDV8 engine is not a cheap car to buy. The entry price is similar to that of many well equipped luxury saloons, so just as well the Range Rover comes with a kit list to match. This includes leather seats, electric sunroof, metallic paint, climate and cruise controls, parking sensors and a superb stereo. Move up to the SE or Autobiography models and the levels of opulence increase, though the amount of equipment is not necessarily any more generous. While some buyers will always prefer a petrol-fuelled Range Rover, the TDV8 is the one to go choose for anyone with even a passing interested in running costs. It manages 30.1mpg combined economy to the petrol’s dismal 19.0mpg, and carbon dioxide emissions of 253g/km are at least understandable for the diesel given the car’s weight and size whereas the petrol’s 348g/km are only comparable with the quickest supercars’. Other running costs, such as insurance, road tax and servicing, are all firmly in the top bracket, so if you’d worry about them you’re not in the market for a Range Rover. However, discounts are available on new Range Rovers, so just because this is a car for those with serious wealth, it doesn’t mean you have to waste money to own one.
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