Strengths

Off-road prowess; excellent ride quality; lavish interior; acceleration and braking; high-tech safety and convenience features; opportunity for customization

 

Changes

The 2010 Land Rover Range Rover gets a new engine lineup, new active-safety technology, new braking systems and suspension technology, and slightly upgraded interior and exterior styling. It's not quite a complete redesign, but the 2010 Range Rover received some welcomed attention.

 

Value

The Range Rover has long been the king of luxury sport-utility vehicles, and for 2010 it becomes even better focused toward its dual tasks-a prestige luxury feel and off-road prowess. New engines, combined with a revised Terrain Response system, should help provide better performance than most other vehicles in this class on- or off-road, while thanks to a number of interior improvements the Range Rover's cabin now looks and feels contemporary yet exclusive. Prices can easily exceed the $100k mark for the Supercharged models, but there's no other vehicle in this class that so blends top technology and refinement with a uniquely British-or Land Rover-look and feel.

 

Overview

Two all-new direct-injection V8 engines power the Range Rover lineup. HSE and HSE Lux models are powered by a 375-horsepower, 5.0-liter V8, while the SC models get a 510-horsepower, 5.0-liter V8. Both of the new engines are shared with Jaguar but designed for the Land Rover, and are mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission and 4-wheel drive system. They both feature variable camshaft timing and therefore provide better performance, with lower emissions, than the engines they replace without increased fuel consumption. The new HSE can get to 60 mph in just 7.2 seconds, while the SC can make the same dash in 5.9 seconds.

Changes to the exterior of the Range Rover are subtle, but inside the Range Rover gets some substantial improvements. Among the most noteworthy is that the traditional analog gauges are replaced by a 12-inch thin-film display screen with virtual dials and displays. Also, a touch-screen system commands navigation, audio and entertainment functions from the center console. Lighting has been reconfigures, and the cabin is trimmed in satin-black and a range of natural wood veneers.

A new Adaptive Dynamics suspension system assures good ride comfort on the road-also allowing soft or firm damper settings-while the Terrain Response system, which customizes the way the suspension and 4-wheel drive system respond to a particular terrain, has been revised. Big 4-piston ventilated brakes are complemented with anti-lock and brake assist on the standard HSE, while the Supercharged model gets upgraded Brembo brakes.

Terrain Response still allows the driver to dial in the respective type of off-road terrain and have the suspension and 4-wheel drive system change its settings to suit. A new "sand launch control" feature keeps wheels from digging in the sand; an improved rock-crawl mode helps uncontrolled rolling, and Gradient Release Control does a better job of moderating speed downhill.

Safety oriented extras on the 2010 Range Rover include a blind spot monitoring system, Automatic High Beam Assist, adaptive cruise control and a surround camera system.

Standard features, as before, are vast. The Range Rover comes with virtually every feature that's standard or optional in lesser luxury vehicles, including bi-xenon headlamps, a heated windshield, rain-sensing wipers, voice recognition, tri-zone climate control, a heated steering wheel, heated rear seats and a 710-watt Harman/Kardon audio system with 14 speakers. The Range Rover now also includes a Portable Audio interface for USB sticks or iPods, along with HD Radio compatibility. Supercharged models, in addition to the performance upgrades, get adaptive front lighting, LED brake and turn signals, a diamond mesh grille, stainless steel pedals, upgraded leather, and a luggage net, among other items.

Top options on the Range Rover are aimed at spicing up this luxury SUV's appearance even more; highlights include special woods like Ash Burl or Prussian Blue Burr Maple Wood, special paint hues like Mica Pearl, or showy 20-inch polished wheels. An Autobiography Package pulls a host of appearance upgrades together with 4-zone climate control rear-seat entertainment, and adaptive cruise control.