By: Jag Dhatt
For many people deciding on a luxury SUV, the list is quite extensive. There’s BMW, Audi, Mercedes, Range Rover, Lincoln, Cadillac, and Porsche just to name a few. But if you are in the market for one that oozes opulence, shows success and above all, makes you feel like royalty, then the Range Rover is still the one to choose.
“You’re going to buy a Range Rover? Why?” Statements like this were common many years ago. Expensive to repair, expensive to maintain and not very reliable. This was, I would argue, the case with some other luxury brands as well, and not just Range Rover. Luckily, this has changed.
For me, the Range Rover just stands out in the crowd and for 2024, even more-so. It truly is a visual masterpiece, finding the perfect blend of contemporary aesthetics with the classic heritage of the Range Rover. From the beautiful integrated grille and the sloping roofline (complete with floating roof) to the pronounced waistline and vertical taillights in the clamshell liftgate, the Range Rover exudes money. And the LWB (long wheelbase) variant, that adds about 8”, shows off the beauty that much more.
Our test Range Rover Autobiography LWB was finished in Ostuni Pearl White. The optional SV Bespoke 23” forged silver wheels with gloss dark grey contrast completed the look perfectly. No matter which angle you look at the 2024 Range Rover LWB, it looks stunning and sophisticated. And people did look. Yes, there are many Range Rovers on the street and people are used to them. However, the changes made to the 2024 model definitely allow many admirers a double take.
If saying the exterior of this vehicle is a work of art, then the exterior is even better. Words like opulent, refined, aesthetic and of course, luxurious come to mind. Fine leathers adorn the seats, steering wheel and the arm rests. Handcrafted wood veneer inserts finish the interior and make it feel like a serene haven. Combine all this with an uncluttered and clean design, and you’ve got an interior that is truly peaceful.
With a tonne of controls for adjustment, all seats in the RR can be tailored to each preference, making them ultra comfortable. Now, while I do understand that the armrests for the front two seats are classic to the RR, I find them to be unnecessary. The center console provides more than enough support for your arms and elbows. And let’s not forget that the center console also features a cooling box.
With the LWB, rear passengers get generous amounts of legroom and have the creature comforts like those for front passengers. There are rear screens for entertainment, power adjustable seats (with massage option), and climate control. You know, because all passengers have to travel in comfort. Even the third row has ample leg, shoulder and headroom.
Range Rover has opted to go with the no-buttons approach to its multi-media interface, something that which I am not a fan. It works well but at times, still feels a tad sluggish compared to systems in other vehicles.
But enough of the style and comfort. Let’s move right into the drive of this beautiful vehicle. The Range Rover drives even better than what one would expect. Is it a smooth ride? No, it’s ultra smooth. No matter what the road – highway, city, or dirt – this chariot just floats. Passengers can even be holding a cup of hot tea and be going 100 km/h and have no fear of it spilling. There are various driving modes, as you’d expect from a Range Rover, and all of them adjust the vehicle’s performance, suspension and steering. In Dynamic, there is a more aggressive feel but it’s not overbearing. Revs are held higher, steering is stiffer, and suspension tightens up as well. It’s probably most noticeable when tackling winding roads. Although I didn’t have the chance to take the Rover on any rocky or sandy terrain, I can guarantee it will perform. I mean, that’s what it’s really built for, right. Enjoying your cup of tea while rock crawling.
This Range Rover also comes with four-wheel steering, which takes me back to my days with my 1992 Honda Prelude 4WS. That small sports car could turn on a dime. The Range Rover LWB is a heck of a lot bigger than the Prelude, but the 4WS works almost the same. The beauty of the system is really felt when you are parking the vehicle. It turns so quickly and effortlessly that you don’t really appreciate it until you try it. And once you experience it, you’d wish it was on all of your vehicles.
The cabin is quiet when driving on any surface as well. On a trip to the Okanagan, whilst traveling at 120 km/h, my friend and I kept commenting on how quiet the Range Rover was, even when punching it.
Power to the 2024 Range Rover LWB is provided by a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8, paired with a mild hybrid system. This gem puts out 523 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque and is paired to an 8-speed automatic transmission. Stepping on the gas pedal just propels the Range Rover effortlessly to 100 km/h in just 4.8 seconds. For such a heavy vehicle, these numbers are impressive. And I seriously cannot emphasize enough how smooth and powerful acceleration is on the Range Rover LWB V8. You can keep up with sports cars while doing it in ultra luxury.
There’s really not a lot to knock on this Range Rover; however, there was one thing that surprised me. On the way back from the Interior, we were traveling down a long downhill along the Coquihalla Highway, while using cruise control. After a few mins, the brakes began to pulsate because of overheating. While I understand that the brakes were probably on constantly using cruise on a downhill of this distance, I didn’t expect it on a vehicle that is over $200K. This being said, once I disabled cruise control and drove myself, brake feel came back to normal quite quickly.
I’ve always been enamoured with Range Rovers. The driving experience is truly exceptional. It just oozes luxury and sitting tall in those seats overlooking the road, you feel like royalty. And isn’t that what it’s all about – how the vehicle makes you feel, and I for one, like that feeling.
