2020 Land Rover Range Rover Review: Ultimate Offroad Luxury

The Range Rover was originally imagined as a proper SUV and was one of the first of its kind. But it soon proved to be more than just a practical people carrier and hauler, making short work of muddy or otherwise challenging off-road terrain. These days, the Range Rover has evolved into one of the most luxurious vehicles available but has still retained its trademark off-roading prowess, setting it apart from less capable rivals like the BMW X7 and Porsche Cayenne. The luxury SUV is available with a number of engines and a choice of two wheelbases, all of which are connected to a four-wheel-drive system and an eight-speed automatic gearbox. Buyers can choose between a new 3.0-liter twin-charged inline-six with a mild hybrid system with either 355 horsepower and 365 lb-ft of torque or 395 hp and 406 lb-ft; a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 diesel with 254 hp and 443 lb-ft; or a full-fat 5.0-liter supercharged V8 with 518 hp and 461 lb-ft or 557 hp and 516 lb-ft - depending on which trim you opt for.

What's the Price of the 2020 Land Rover Range Rover?

Pricing starts at $90,900 before the $1,295 destination charge. This gets you the base model with a 3.0-liter turbo and mild hybridization. The first of the HSE models features a more powerful version of the base engine and starts from $96,150. The Td6 3.0-liter turbodiesel starts from $91,700, while the P400 HSE - also with the V6 diesel - starts at $96,950. The P525 HSE formerly known as the Supercharged model is fitted with a 5.0-liter supercharged V8 and sells from $105,950. The Autobiography model gets the same engine and more luxury and off-road ability than any models before it, justifying the jump in price to $143,800. The SVAutobiography Dynamic is the sportiest of the range and gets more power from the same engine. This model costs at least $178,500. The top-tier in the range is the SVAutobiography Long WheelBase and starts at a mesmerizing $209,500 before options. We managed to get our version of this vehicle to almost $260,000 with options like deployable side-steps, $4,500 leather, and $23k duo-tone paint.

2020 Range Rover Exterior

Dimensions

2020 Range Rover Performance

Handling and Driving Impressions

Anyone who expects the Range Rover to corner like a Lotus had best look at other more athletic options like the Porsche Cayenne or BMW X7. However, the adaptive air suspension still does a decent job of keeping body roll composed, particularly in the Dynamic model that has sportier suspension tuning. The Range Rover focuses on comfort and a whisper-quiet ride, attempting to instill tranquility no matter the road conditions. Smaller bumps and divots are soaked up with ease, but the ride is not perfect. Larger undulations and sudden elevation changes can make the SUV feel floaty and disconnected, and at highway speeds, the steering doesn't loosen up enough. The benefit to this is precise control when navigating a low-speed off-road trail or muddy back road, but it can feel like you're having to work a little harder than you'd expect from a luxury car when cruising on the freeway.

In the snow, the Range Rover is well-composed, with the standard Terrain Response system managing the responses of the engine, gearbox, differentials, and chassis to allow confident driving. The system has settings for grass, gravel, mud and ruts, sand, and rocks too, and the optional Terrain Response 2 system is even more adept at handling various conditions, proving that this is still a genuine off-roader. Dynamic mode lowers the ride height for better composure in more demanding turns but doesn't truly hide the mass of the vehicle. We're nitpicking here, though, and the Range Rover does an excellent job overall of providing a supremely comfortable ride with more than enough off-roading and dynamic ability for most buyers, many of whom will likely never stray beyond the treacherous path of a country club driveway.

2020 Range Rover Interior

2020 Range Rover Trunk and Cargo Space

Warranty

Verdict: Is the 2020 Land Rover Range Rover A Good SUV?

With almost limitless options, a wide variety of engine choices, and impressive versatility, the 2020 Range Rover delivers on its promises of exceptional luxury and outstanding on- and off-road performance. Dynamically, the big Brit is comprehensively outgunned by German rivals despite adaptive air suspension as standard, and the available 22-inch wheels can cause a crashing ride with comfort mode being a little too floaty. However, the interior oozes class in buckets, and very little out there announces understated elegance like a Range Rover. The interior finishings and available paint options rival those of the very best from Bentley, if not outright exceeding the feel of a Bentayga. In addition, the supercharged 5.0-liter V8 that the majority of buyers will opt for before considering anything else is a bruiser of a powerplant, with a seemingly limitless breadth of torque and power. Fuel economy with this engine is shocking, but when you spend well over $100k on your SUV, that's not a problem. The Range Rover is approved by Her Majesty the Queen herself, and with such a majestic and opulent interior and exquisite craftsmanship, this is clearly a vehicle deserving of the royal blessing.

What Land Rover Range Rover Model Should I Buy?

If you're going to have an SUV that costs over $100,000, you may as well make it a good one. Our pick is the short-wheelbase Autobiography, fitted with a 5.0-liter supercharged V8 with more than enough grunt at 518 hp. You also get upgraded off-road equipment like an active locking rear diff, Terrain Response 2, a 360-degree parking camera, a head-up display, and upgraded leather upholstery. Besides its enhanced off-road ability and added safety features, this model also entitles you to 24-way front seats with massaging, with all seats earning both heating and ventilation. In addition, the magnificent 29-speaker Meridian audio setup is included. We'd avoid opting for bigger wheels and stick with the standard 21s or even go down a size, thus increasing both ride quality and off-roading ability. In standard guise without any additions, this model will cost $143,800, which is a fairly reasonable point in the scale, costing around $100k less than a fully-loaded model while still offering more than enough to satisfy most buyers.

2020 Land Rover Range Rover Comparisons

2020 Land Rover Range Rover vs Toyota Land Cruiser

If you're looking for a supremely capable but still comfortable off-road SUV, the Toyota Land Cruiser is a bargain when you factor in its abilities. A legend in the off-roading community, the Land Cruiser is powered by a 5.7-liter V8 gasoline engine hooked up to an eight-speed auto and a four-wheel-drive system. In addition to its outstanding ability on the trail, it comes with eight seats, meaning that although it's less luxurious than the Range Rover, it's far more practical for everyday use. The $85,000 Land Cruiser is both cheaper and more powerful than the cheapest Range Rover that starts at over 90 grand, producing 381 hp and 401 lb-ft compared to 355 hp and 365 lb-ft. The Land Cruiser also offers far more cargo space, with 81.7 cubic feet with all seats out of the way versus the Range Rover's maximum capacity of 68.6. In addition, you get heated and ventilated front seats and heated rears as standard. Yes, the Toyota will never match the Range Rover for outright luxury, comfort, or on-road driving dynamics, but when most people actually use their off-roaders for more than just attending posh soirees, the Land Cruiser is a far more logical buy.

2020 Land Rover Range Rover vs Land Rover Range Rover Sport

If you like the idea of a Range Rover's luxury and power as well as its off-road prowess, the Range Rover Sport is surprisingly good at covering all the bases with the added benefit of not being completely top-heavy when you encounter anything more than a slight bend. The Sport gets more dynamic styling and a sportier interior, and although you won't get some of the overtly opulent features that the regular Range Rover gets, like an extended wheelbase and mohair carpets, the RR Sport is still a very comfortable vehicle. You can also pick one up for far less than you can a normal Range Rover, as the Sport starts at the bargain price of $69,500. Granted, the excessively overpowered and frankly ridiculous SVR version will embarrass plenty of sports cars and hurt your wallet with its starting price of almost $115,000, but that's not the point. A Range Rover Sport can be had for less than 70 grand and you get leather, navigation, the same towing capacity, brilliant off-roading ability, and the fancy Range Rover badge for a decent price. Unless you absolutely need to be seen as a wannabe celebrity or member of the royal family, the Sport is a great buy.