2002 Land Rover Range Rover Reviews

And yes, there’s acknowledgement of the global necessity for smaller, greener vehicles. But despite all that, Land Rover’s top of the line Range Rover Vogue Autobiography is still a very, very desirable vehicle.PowertrainThe Autobiography we drove is powered by a supercharged 4.2 litre V8 that outputs 291kW at 5750rpm and a whopping 550Nm of torque that gives it the ability to tow 3500kg. A six-speed automatic transmission with Commandshift gets power to the wheels.Each Range Rover model is fitted with a new electronic centre ‘e’ differential to ensure every bit is used to full potential. There is also a terrain response system that adjusts traction settings for optimum performance over varying surfaces.ExteriorYou don’t have to look twice to know it’s a Range Rover. The three-bar platinum mesh grille, huge 20 inch wheels and clamshell bonnet give this ample 4WD an unrivalled presence on the street. Even Hummers are envious.Side power vents, a climate controlled windscreen, bi-xenon headlights and a split tailgate add to the luxury that sets the Rangie apart.InteriorLand Rover have put a lot of work into getting the interior and riving position as comfortable and practical as possible.The quality of the workmanship is obvious from the quality leather seats to the wood trim and heated steering wheel, but just as important are the aspects that don’t initially spring to mind like the low relative waistline, slim pillars and excellent visibility.The heated and cooled seats have an electronic memory and the laminated windscreen and improved bonnet steering promise a quieter ride.A 710-watt Harmon Kardon sound system, Bluetooth wireless communication and a touch screen control make life a little simpler on longer journeys.SafetyOn top of a substantial airbag package the supercharged Autobiography comes with ABS, Emergency Brake Assist, Dynamic Stability Control, Electronic Traction Control, Active headrests, double locked doors and a monocoque body with integrated chassis construction that improves ride and steering feel.PricingThe Range Rover starts at $153,400 for the TDV8 and tops out with the supercharged Autobiography(as tested) at $212,700DrivingThe Range Rover is the 911 of the 4WD set. Both have been around for decades and have been refined to the point they are standards setters.Over the years they have not lost their design ethos or driver experience and they share the same desirability factors of performance, prestige and quality. In many cases they also share the same owners, although brand loyalty in some cases now dictates that 911 owners buy Cayennes. Not a smart decision in this reviewer’s opinion.There is no doubt the Range Rover has presence. It's imposing in the way a Rolls is in that it visually demands your attention. It also demands your attention when parking it in a city car park. You need to get used to watching sprinkler valves and height warning chains flash past the glass sun roof within a centimeter of needing a touch up paint. You will also need to get used to proximity warning buzzers going off - a Range Rover is a tall, wide and long vehicle.Even with these aural and visual anxiety factors, driving a Range Rover is a joy to behold. The ergonomic design, quality and visual appeal of the interior makes it a place you want to be. The near infinite adjustment of the seats and steering wheel allow for an ideal driving position.Performance can't be faulted. The supercharged V8 would leave quite a number of performance cars in its wake, and the same can be said for handling. It also makes low speed city traffic driving tolerable - as long as your parking space is not less than standard width or height.Overall this is an impressive vehicle in every sense. Would I buy one? No way. I hate 4WD’s even when they are this good. It is a bit tempting though.Verdict: 8.5/10 

These days, owning a big four-wheel drive with a V8 badge is about as socially acceptable as spitting. Indeed, owners may occasionally find themselves the recipient of a wet ball of outrage.Follow that badge with the word diesel, however, and the bile is usually kept behind pursed lips.But the new Land Rover-developed TDV8 doesn't wear a badge of immunity. It doesn't even sound like a diesel. The only indication is the Range Rover badge itself, which ironically swaps the supercharged V8's black badge for the colour green.And green it is — at least for a twin-turbo V8.Although the exterior of the Sport and Vogue TDV8s remains unchanged, what lies beneath is brand new and spanking.The V8 diesel engine essentially takes the place of the antiquated TD6 which, while frugal, was never the best beast to pull a fully kitted Vogue with family in tow.This block, though comparatively small at 3.6 litres, was designed in-house specifically for the Range Rover, and does its job darn well.It claims to sip the same 11.6 litres per 100km as the outgoing Vogue six (11.1/100km in the Sport), but puts out 54 per cent more power and 64 per cent more torque. And so it should.The common-rail V8 makes use of variable turbine geometry, which allows its twin turbochargers to efficiently and effectively pull the most from the low and high range.Though still evident when flattening the throttle from a standstill, lag is minimised and an enormous 640Nm of torque is accessible — and fierce — from 2000rpm, particularly in the “lighter” 2675kg Sport version. (The Vogue weighs an epic 2710kg.) It's not a rush of blood to the head like the supercharged version — more a deep, throbbing heartbeat that quickens with the encouragement of the right foot. On part throttle, the heavy cabin soundproofing allows only the slightest engine hum and wind noise from the massive mirrors.At full noise, the sensation is more V8 than diesel, begging for full exploration of the torque mountain.The biggest blunting of this force is the sheer weight and size of the Range Rover. A diet would only make it faster, but that's a terrifying thought.The torquey engine is well paired with a six-speed ZF automatic box, which commands the gears like a smooth politician. Automatic shifts are near-imperceptible, and the first three gears don't pump out the short, sharp changes associated with a diesel (or, indeed, a 4WD).Engage manual mode, and the ZF's gearing reins in that eager engine with gusto. Corners can also be taken sharper and deeper, thanks to bigger brakes and reworked suspension on the Vogue.Brembo four-pot front stoppers from the Sport Supercharged are now standard, and when they bite, it's hard.Pitch under braking is minimal, and the boaty suspension of the Vogue has been reworked in the Sport's vein for more composure — though it's still very soft compared with the latter.Lower-profile tyres, 20-inch rims and a stiffer set-up make the Sport a little more fussy, particularly over potholes and corrugations.A throttle-on vibration through the steering wheel over 100km/h serves as a small reminder that a diesel's knocking on the firewall, but the steering is amazingly sharp and makes for a far more involving drive than the Rangie's size suggests.Despite giving the impression of a sunk-down city SUV, both the Sport and the Vogue are capable of mounting much more than the kerb outside a private school.The Terrain Response system from Discovery3 is standard on the TDV8s, accessed by a fat, funky dial mounted below the shifter. Four excellent off-road modes are on tap — snow or wet grass; mud and ruts; sand; or rock crawl — allowing for idiot-proof, dirty fun.The standard air suspension may hoik the car up and over the sharp stuff, but can also be lowered quite substantially so you don't have to scale half a mountain to get shopping out of the boot.For skirt-wearers, an optional set of hydraulic side steps, activated by the doors opening and closing, is a welcome lift (though at $2349, it would be more cost-effective to simply wear pants).Other civilised additions include an electronic parking brake on the Vogue, revised airbags, an electronic rear diff and a shut-off system that prevents a petrol nozzle accessing to the fuel tank.Range Rover claims its new diesel is so quiet, new owners may just pull up at the petrol pump by mistake. Perhaps a badge somewhere may have prevented that? Fast factsRange Rover TDV8On sale: NowPrice: Sport $107,900, Vogue Luxury $165,900Body: SUVEngine: Eight-cylinder twin-turbo diesel, 200kW, 640NmTransmission: Six-speed automatic, all-wheel driveFuel: 11.6 litres per 100km (combined claim)Safety: Includes Brembo brakes, front side and curtain airbags, fuel shut-off system

It's what I imagine it feels like for a Rajah to ride an elephant through his domain, not that the Rangie is like an elephant on the road.I'm sampling the range-topping supercharged 4.2-litre alloy V8 example of the Range Rover Vogue, as opposed to the new Sport, which also packs a supercharged wallop.The Vogue is propelled by a supercharged V8 engine, which generates 291kW of power at 5750rpm and 560Nm of torque at 3500rpm, to a claimed top of 210km/h, with 100km/h reached in 7.5 seconds.Given the real-world rapid response to the right foot, the numbers are easy to believe. What boggles the mind is the sheer size of this 2570kg vehicle reaching the state speed limit in the same time as the vast majority of alleged hot hatches.It stops smartly, with the Brembo name adorning the calipers around the front 360mm ventilated discs, with the rear wheels halted by 354mm versions.Independent tests suggest the Rangie could stop from 97km/h in just under 35m, which is remarkable for something so big.At 4950mm long and 2191mm wide, including the mirrors, it's longer and wider than the only other luxury off-roader that comes close – the LandCruiser-based Lexus LX470.It's not quite as tall as the Lexus, but sits on a slightly longer wheelbase, which benefits rear passenger leg room more than the cargo space, which is adequate for most luggage requirements but would be stretched for a long off-road journey if spares and fuel were added to the list.The Range Rover's look is deceptively compact, until you try to park it. Thankfully the flagship comes with a reversing camera, front and rear parking radar and the gimmicky but amusing Venture Cam.It's not a Survivor or Lost sponsorship thing, just a remote camera that feeds an image to the LCD screen that also displays most of the vehicle's functions.Also controlled from the touch-screen monitor is the sensational Logic7 Harman Kardon 14-speaker sound system, complete with subwoofer, which can rattle windows with the best of them. All that grunt comes at a cost when pulling up to the bowser for a tankful (104 litres) of PULP. Land Rover claims a city cycle fuel consumption of 22.4 litres/100km.It drops to a claimed 12.2 litres/100km on the highway for a combined consumption rate of 16 litres/100km, which would mean a range of around 650km. My time in the Vogue had the trip computer showing 16.6 litres/100km.At $173,900, the features list would want to take up several pages and it does.Height-adjustable air suspension, electronic stability control, dual front, side and side curtain airbags, sunroof, adaptive bi-xenon headlamps and 20in alloy wheels rate high on what's included in the purchase price.Complaints are limited to the rear bench seat being on the firm side. The front electrically adjustable pews are comfortable, if not overly supportive against lateral movement. Rear vision is somewhat restricted by the back-seat head restraints but forward vision is nothing short of commanding.The air suspension provides decent ride quality and does a good job of dealing with ruts and bumps while suppressing the age-old nemesis of the Rangie – body roll – to acceptable levels. The Land Rover breed has always offered unsurpassed off-road prowess and the new Range Rover does nothing to dilute that. We'll have to wait for the clever and highly useful Terrain Response system in the Rangie, but the presence of low range, height adjustable suspension and electronic traction aids will see the Range Rover go further than many allegedly serious off-roaders.The only restriction might well be the hip pocket nerve twanging as it graunches and scrapes past trees or over rocks, swallowing deeply from the fuel tank.But if you can deal with all that, you're still driving a machine that won't prompt an inferiority complex rolling up to the valet parking at the Opera House – the reigning off-road monarch remains on the throne.SMALL TORQUERange Rover VoguePrice: $173,900Engine: 4.2-litre supercharged alloy, 32-valve V8Power: 291kW at 5750rpmTorque: 560Nm at 3500rpmTransmission: Six-speed automatic, four-wheel driveAcceleration: Zero to 100km/h 7.5 secondsTop speed: 210km/hWeight: 2570kgBrakes: 360mm front discs with Brembo calipers, 354mm rear discsWheels: 20in alloys

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.

This time the old faithful flagship of the Land Rover empire is designed under BMW stewardship yet, to change all the chairs at the table, is now built (and owned) by Ford.The result is a fine vehicle, albeit an expensive vehicle.But it has ability, style and a road presence that's hard to match in a herd of luxury dirt trackers arriving from Europe.Now some critics continue to trash the notion of rich off-road vehicles unlikely to see a dirt road.Yet, these same types go weak at the knees about $200,000 sports cars that will never see an autobahn or racetrack, let alone a twisting mountain road.At least a Range Rover can carry four or five plus luggage with poise, on or off the tar.This one is a long, long way from the original in luxury and convenience fittings, electronics and mechanicals.But it does retain superb off-road ability, used or not.On the road this new Range Rover is a king of the road, an instant classic.It also has, for now, reclaimed its title as the prince of the off-roaders.On the tar, tearing down a gravel road or quietly parked, the British wagon has an imperious presence, a royal charm with upmarket bearing and a cabin packed with tasteful trim.The big body style, particularly in profile, is most handsome.Inside is plush, British with lots of leather, yet most usable.Controls for most bits and pieces are easy to find and follow although the satellitenavigation/television/audio system may take a few practice runs.The analogue instrumentation is done in classic style, there are infinite seat and steering-wheel adjustments and switching through the transfer box between high and low ratio takes just a fingertip and the ignition key is down on the transmission tunnel.It is both tactile and practical.Underneath this castle lays a mix of German and British engineering that makes the Range Rover a superb machine for cruising or strutting across the rough stuff.Tyre kickers and passsersby can see it is an expensive piece of machinery and understand the marque has a history of foibles but still this new-generation Range Rover, only the third model in 30 years, is immediately recognised and revered.Off the road it is capable and extremely comfortable.Other 4WDs could be as capable, but none brings quite this level of comfort nor lashings of luxury to the bush.There is a wonderful snarl and wail to the German V8, a deep-throated mix of mechanicals and exhaust gases.Off road the Range Rover is better than ever.Flick the switch for low range, flick the switch for extra ground clearance and maybe, on downhill runs, flick the switch for HillDescent Control.Then, with driver sitting high and handsome with a decent view out the front, most of the rest is up to that V8 and traction control.