2013 Land Rover Range Rover

On-Sale Date: Now

Price: $83,545 to $99,995

Competitors: Porsche Cayenne,Mercedes-Benz ML-Class, BMW X5, Audi Q7, Lexus LX570, Mercedes-Benz S-Class

Powertrains: 5.0-liter V-8, 375 hp, 375 lb-ft; supercharged 5.0-liter V-8, 510 hp, 461 lb-ft; 8-speed automatic, AWD

EPA Fuel Economy (city/hwy): 14/20, 13/19 (supercharged)

What's New: The all-aluminum reengineered Range Rover shows the secondary effects of the virtuous circle of weight savings. Land Rover shaved a stupendous 700 pounds from the previous generation, eliminating the ponderous feeling that haunted Range Rovers until now. Maybe "nimble" isn't the right word for the 2013 Range Rover, but it is certainly more appropriate than before.

A new ZF-supplied eight-speed automatic transmission helps fuel economy, thanks to its extra ratios. Overall length grows just 1.1 inches, but a 1.7-inch wheelbase stretch contributes to nearly 5 inches of additional rear-seat legroom. And the back seat can now be configured with "business class" bucket seats to help make the Range Rover as appealing to chauffeured Russian oligarchs as to off-roading one-percenters.

Tech Tidbit: The latest all-wheel-drive system from Land Rover, called Terrain Response 2, now has an automatic mode in addition to the previous five settings that range from General to Rock Crawl. Supercharged models get the Dynamic Response active lean control system, which uses electrohydraulic actuators on the antiroll bars to provide flatter, more car-like cornering on pavement, so the Range Rover goes around bends without heeling over like a sailboat. Indeed, the vehicle can stay perfectly flat at up to 0.4 g of lateral acceleration. Off-road, the system releases the roll bars for maximum wheel articulation when climbing over obstacles. But when crossing the side of a hill with a slope of more than 11 degrees, the system helps keep the vehicle upright.

Driving Character: Despite its serious off-road credentials, the Range Rover famously doubles as a large luxury sedan for many owners. The new Range comes with even more refined on-road manners. Engineers focused on reducing cabin noise, achieving a 7 percent reduction in wind noise. They substituted sound-absorbing foam ducts for hard plastic ones to make the HVAC system quieter.

The reduced curb weight has a magic effect on acceleration. Not only does the supercharged Range Rover feel faster, but it should be able to keep up with faster versions of the Porsche Cayenne in a drag race. And going back to those off-road credentials, the Range Rover can cover terrain that most people would hesitate to walk over, all while keeping the occupants cosseted in leather-and-wood opulence.

Favorite Detail: The new eight-speed ZF automatic transmission operates invisibly. Those extra gears can pose a tricky programming challenge to engineers, but Range Rover's team did an excellent job. Some 8-speeds are so aggressive to shift to high gears that a sudden plunge of the accelerator results in hesitation; the Range Rover always feel ready to leap forward. And off-road, the transmission works in concert with the Terrain Response 2 system to correctly choose the right gear for the every situation.

Driver's Grievance: We can offer only the backhanded criticism that the Range Rover is a little isolated from its environment. It can be exhilarating to be out in the wilderness in an open off-roader, and you lose a bit of that feeling in the Range Rover, even with the panoramic sunroof open. The Terrain Response 2 and Dynamic Response systems combine with the various automatically locking differentials and other drivetrain hardware to create an off-road magic carpet that does all the work, which can leave the driver feeling more like an observer of the event than a participant. Otherwise, we can find little to complain about, which is nice considering the astronomical sticker price.

Bottom Line: The Range Rover has always occupied a niche as the ultra-luxury, ultra-capable SUV. With the new lightweight aluminum construction, more spacious back seat, and improved driving dynamics, the Range Rover stretches to a broader appeal. Merely in terms of on-road capability, the Range Rover is now a reasonable alternative to a large luxury sedan. Think of it as a Mercedes-Benz S-Class with extra ground clearance and you won't be too far off.

Source: http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/reviews/drives/2013-land-rover-range-rover-15065399?src=rss

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