2018 Landrover Range Rover SUV Review & Ratings

Performance

The 2018 Land Rover Range Rover luxury sport utility vehicle has the options of either a V6 or a V8 engine, and an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive come as standard equipment. The base trim starts with a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 producing 340 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque. The HSE trim has the more powerful tune of the same engine producing 380 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque. The base Td6 and HSE Td6 trims have a diesel-fueled 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 producing 254 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque. The Supercharged and Autobiography trims start with a 5.0-liter supercharged V8 producing 518 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque. The SVAutobiography Dynamic trim has a more powerful tune of the same 5.0-liter engine producing 557 hp and 502 lb-ft of torque. With the diesel-powered engine under the hood of the Range Rover HSE Td6, the power delivery was immediate in propelling all of its weight without a hitch. It reached 60 mph from a standstill in under eight seconds, which was still quick considering its weight. There was a smooth delivery because turbo lag was nonexistent and the transmission worked seamlessly with the engine. The handling did not feel compact and agile at all because of its massive footprint. Body roll was very noticeable when attacking corners and it only tracked accurately within reasonable cornering speeds. The steering was responsive and navigating busy streets was very manageable. The effort required to steer did not feel too light nor too cumbersome. The brakes performed well by stopping the vehicle from 60 mph in 117 feet, which was impressive in its category. Its nose lurched forward under sudden braking but there was no excessive shakiness. The pedal was firm enough and its stroke was long, which was helpful during off-road driving.

Technology

The base trim comes standard with LED headlights, automatic climate control, heated front seats, a hands-free power liftgate, navigation, satellite radio, Bluetooth, USB ports, a Wi-Fi hotspot and an infotainment system with a 10.2-inch touchscreen and a 13-speaker Meridian sound system. Advanced safety and driver aids can be added through several package options. The Entertainment package adds a CD player, several 110V power outlets, and a rear-seat entertainment system with 8-inch displays. The Towing package adds a tow hitch receiver, tow assist system, and a wearable key for unlocking the vehicle. The HSE trim adds power-adjustable front seats, a heated steering wheel, heated rear seats, soft-close doors, and an upgraded 19-speaker Meridian sound system. The Supercharged trim is similarly equipped as the HSE trim and comes standard with the eight-cylinder engine and off-road driving aids. The Autobiography trim adds a locking rear differential, upgraded off-road driving aids, power-adjustable heated and ventilated front seats, heated and ventilated power-folding rear seats, a heads-up display, and an upgraded 29-speaker Meridian sound system. Some options include a refrigerated center console and bigger 10-inch displays for the rear-seat entertainment system. The top-of-the-line SVAutobiography Dynamic trim comes with all the bells and whistles and also has the most powerful engine.

Safety

The 2018 Range Rover was not given an official safety rating yet from the National Highway and Traffic Safety Association and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Advanced safety and driver aids that come as standard with the base trim include front and rear parking sensors, a rearview camera, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking and forward collision warning. Additional features are added through packages and they include driver drowsiness monitoring, traffic sign recognition, a 360-degree camera, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, lane keep assist, rear cross-traffic alert and park assist.

Appearance

The 2018 Range Rover has a length of 196.8 inches, a width of 78.1 inches, a height of 73.3 inches and a wheelbase of 115 inches. The Range Rover retains its iconic silhouette and is slowly refined throughout the year. The front fascia still sports a square jawline and horizontal lines dominate the front. The rear bumper still sports a boxy aesthetic with no curves at all. All trims have the option of 19-inch up to 22-inch wheels in one-inch increments. The panoramic sunroof can be added for all trims as well. Starting with the HSE trim, side panel accents can be customized in three different shades.

Comfort

The ground clearance was lowered by the air suspension and stepping into the cabin was almost effortless. There were no obstructions through the doorway but the lack of grab handles bothered short passengers. Both the first and second row offered a lot of legroom and headroom. The two rows of seats can accommodate up to five people inside. The seats were supportive but the cushioning did not feel as plush as its price would suggest. The range of adjustability allowed for the majority of passengers to fit in the seats and heating and ventilating functions worked as expected. The ride quality was compliant over bumps and cracks but felt slightly jittery on rough surfaces. Impacts were dampened well and did not disrupt the stability. Road and wind noise were muted well from the cabin and resulted to a relaxed atmosphere even when accelerating faster.

Cargo

There is 31.8 cu-ft of space behind the second row of seats. Folding the second row of seats down opens up 68.6 cu-ft of space.