Land Rover Range Rover 2004 Review

Here there is a style and a substance befitting the prince of off-roaders, untroubled by the herd of pretenders chasing down the popular dirt-track dollar and still a very capable four-wheel drive.

The first Range Rover, in the early 1970s, had these qualities; perhaps that second model missed some of the finer style points but this current wagon takes the British machine's imperiousness to fresh heights, rising above its mixed breeding.

For this is the Range Rover conceived under BMW stewardship's of Land Rover and now built under the ownership of the Ford empire.

But it works and it works very well, particularly given the choice of either BMW V8 or BMW turbo diesel up front.

Despite challenges from other well-bred luxury machines, the Range Rover is still the one which best melds on and off-road abilities in a class package.

It starts with the style, an uncluttered style with muscle in its simplicity.

There is the deep glasshouse, straight flanks and uncomplicated front and rear treatment, all of which combine to link this Range Rover to a 30-year heritage. There is no confusion, this is the first of the 21st century Range Rovers.

Perhaps the roofline from the rear appears a touch too tapered, a little too narrow over that broad bottom end but the end result stands out on the boulevard or in the bush.

Then there is the cabin, a commodious area for four big adults and maybe a small bloke in the middle of the back seat.

It is a high and wide limousine, as it should be here with the V8 Vogue arriving at $155,900. (There are cheaper variants and the diesel SE at $115,000 is something of a bargain in this class of machine.)

The wagon is packed with leather and carpet and nice things to touch; this is a warm and tactile interior with the option of custom co-ordinating trim colours and textures.

There is, from that first moment behind the wheel and before turning the centre console-mounted ignition key, a superior feeling.

It arrives with the high and commanding seating position and the cabin ambience and ergonomics, it is enhanced with the start-up of that sophisticated V8.

And already a word of warning, as clever as that V8 can be it also is thirsty when worked to the upper limits of its charms; try about 15-17 litres per 100km, maybe a little more, when pushing around. The diesel is more economical and only misses that little bit of punch out of low-speed corners plus the aural delights of the petrol V8; it is worth consideration.

Either engine delivers power and torque with refinement through the five-speed Steptronic transmission, an automatic with the advantage of slipping into manual mode, handy on and off the road.

The Range Rover V8 steps off with authority.

It is quiet and forever comfortable, around the town or down the highway.

So it may not match BMW's X5 on-road dynamics, yet the Range Rover is quite composed for a 2.4 tonne machine sitting higher than the family wagon.

The steering is quick and light, the all-wheel-drive grip is handy but the bulk and higher centre of gravity can lead to some shifting of the body in the tight and twisties.

The ride is more compliant over uneven surfaces and through the dips than any of the challengers.

And after that, the Range Rover walks away from most rivals.

There is a quick-flick switch for low range, a quick dial of a dashboard knob to lift the body to a maximum 281mm of ground clearance.

Backed by decent V8 torque, and traction control if there are signs of a struggle, the Range Rover and its clearance tackles the ugly stuff with confidence.

This one edged over and around a mass of creek boulders normally best left to an old Cruiser ute with bash plates and diff locks and an exercise at which most rivals would have baulked.

That, and the sumptuous ride back home, confirm the Range Rover's appeal.

Closest of these other luxury four-wheel drive wagons – with genuine off-road ability – would be the Lexus LX470. Others have worthy credentials but none really match Range Rover's combination of limousine and genuine off-road qualities in a package of such class.

It may be expensive but it is very, very good and still the prince of off-roaders.