Range Rover LWB Review, First Drive

The big daddy of all Range Rover models gets a mild makeover to ensure that it stays on the top rung of the ladder. 

Real estate prices in Mumbai have gone through the roof. Properties in some of the most upmarket areas will cost you around Rs 1 lakh per square foot. Pricey, right? Now consider this for contrast. The Range Rover LWB is 5.1 metres in length and 2.2 metres wide – that’s roughly about 120 sq. ft. of super built-up area, and it’s priced at Rs 1.87 crore plus taxes. But, of course, this uber-luxurious SUV is for those who already have a palace, and are looking for further indulgence on four wheels. And, in that regard, the 2018 Range Rover is the big daddy of luxury SUVs.

Cool quotient    

As you would expect, this flagship comes with cooled (and heated) seats for the driver as well as passengers. The front seats offer 20-way adjustments, which means that you would have to be chiropractically challenged if you’re unable to find a comfortable seating position. And since this is a car that will primarily be chauffeur driven, the rear seats also recline. Other cool bits of tech include two large touchscreens that dominate the centre console. Both screens are properly high-res and extremely responsive. Essentially, the Touch Pro Duo infotainment system is the same as the one found on the Velar and the Range Rover Sport. The traditional instrument cluster has also been replaced by a screen. So, in total, there are three screens – and if that’s not enough for you, there are two more for the entertainment of passengers at the back. But in the long list of features, a massage function seems to be missing. Sadly, it’s available only on the top-spec SV Autobiography trim. This variant also comes with a foldable ottoman and a fridge in the centre console. So, who really needs a palace if you’ve got a 2018 Range Rover?

The black and tan combination of the interior looks rich and voguish. I’m not a huge fan of the gloss veneer finish in a car, but there’s no denying that it looks elegant. And the quality of materials inside are exquisite. There’s more than enough knee and leg room at the back, which is expected, given that you could fit a Tata Nano within the wheelbase of the Range Rover.

Driving the behemoth

The 2018 Range Rover has been launched with two diesel and two petrol engine options – both of which are vailable in V6 and V8 forms. The variant that we tested was the base diesel, with a 3.0-litre V6 mill. While the initial response of this engine is faintly delayed, it does feel lively when the torque kicks in post 2,000rpm. We experienced this motor in the Range Rover Sport too, in which it feels a little more eager. That said, the 600Nm of torque on offer is enough to keep you hooked. The ZF-sourced, 8-speed automatic unit shifts up quickly but doesn’t drop gears with the same eagerness.

Although the Range Rover shares its engine and gearbox with the Sport, it’s the way it drives that sets it apart from its siblings. With luxury at the heart of the Range Rover, its setup is much softer than the Sport. This essentially endows it with a super supple ride, something that the bigwigs sitting at the back will appreciate. Handling isn’t quite the big Rangie’s forte, but that’s not a big issue, given the nature of the vehicle. Who would want to piss off the kingpin by taking a sharp corner while the boss is cutting a million-dollar deal at the back?

Large and urbane

The exterior remains more or less unchanged. The 2018 Range Rover retains the same silhouette, but introduces some key revisions that give it a modern look. The front grille is all-new, and the bumper has been remoulded too. It now gets the signature Land Rover LED headlights that are also seen on the Velar and the Sport. The taillights, however, continue to be vertically stacked. Although there aren’t any substantial changes to the Range Rover’s design, its appeal still comes from its sheer size. The Range Rover has three variants of the standard wheelbase model on sale, of which the diesel is only available in the base Vogue trim. 

With this facelift, the Range Rover is now up to date in terms of technology and features, but sadly a majority of them are limited to the higher variants. At Rs 1.87 crore (ex-showroom), the Range Rover demands big bucks – especially for the Vogue trim that misses out on some features that you’d expect at that price. But, then, the Range Rover is above petty brochure battles. It’s about making a statement, and that it does very well indeed.