Range Rover review - hugely capable, but can it compete with saloon rivals for luxury? - Prices, specs and rivals
Everything to everybody, everywhere - the Range Rover is unsurpassed.
Prices, Specs and Rivals
That the Range Rover brochure runs to a lengthy 94 pages says everything you need to know about the specifications. At this position in the marketplace buyers expect the opportunity to personalise, and Land Rover certainly doesn’t disappoint. The standard Vogue line-up starts at £74,950, rising rapidly to over double that if you’re after a Holland and Holland special or a long wheelbase Autobiography Black with the 5.0 V8 S/C engine. Those 19.8cm lengthier long wheelbase models cost around £7000 (or £350 a centimetre) over their regular wheelbase relations and deliver even more opportunity to go crazy with expensive, expansive seating options in that more spacious rear passenger compartment. Standard equipment in even the Vogue is comprehensive, with leather, climate control, alloy wheels, Meridian Audio and digital television on the lengthy list.
Those who want a truly special take on the Range Rover can opt for one put together by JLR's Special Vehicle Operations division. Called the Range Rover SVAutobiography, you're looking at a starting price of £156,000 for the 4.4-litre SDV8 diesel, or £164,600 for the top of the line V8 petrol. The SVAutobiography duo tone paint, a unique front grille, unique badging and a bespoke leather and wood interior that rivals Bentleys and Rolls Royces for luxury.
As the Range Rover’s Sport underling takes on rivals from the likes of BMW’s X5, Porsche’s Cayenne, Audi’s Q7, Merc’s GLS-Class and many more the Range Rover is in a lofty, rarefied marketplace of one. Its true direct rivals have yet to materialise.
The Bentley Bentayga is perhaps the biggest challenger the Range Rover has to face and while our first drive review of the car proved it was a bit of a disappointment, there's no doubt that its mix of luxury, size and badging, many will find too tempting to ignore.
Alternatively you could spend Range Rover money on Mercedes-Benz’s mad, ancient G-Class. If you don't want something 4x4, the Range Rover competes against luxury saloons like the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, BMW 7 Series, Jaguar XJ, Bentley’s Flying Spur and Roll-Royce’s Ghost.
