SECOND-HAND ROVER
Stylish SUV makes some improvements in the reliability department,
Saddled with a big factory and no armaments to build after the Second World War, the Rover Company conjured up a four-wheel-drive utility vehicle to sell to those Brits who still had money: the military and farmers.
The first Land Rover used a simple 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine working through a four-wheel-drive transfer case.
A postwar shortage of steel meant its slab-sided body panels had to be fashioned from aluminum, an enduring feature.
The vastly more urbane Range Rover premiered in 1970. There was nothing else like it in Europe that combined outstanding off-road ability and movie-star good looks. Even the French were smitten; it became the only automobile to grace an exhibit hall at the Louvre.
Configuration Under the direction of corporate owner BMW, the redesigned 2003 Range Rover made use of the supremely stiff unibody of BMW’s X5. Ancient beam axles were replaced with an independent suspension front and rear, along with rack-andpinion steering.
Air bladders, in place of coil springs, adjusted the ride height over a 10centimetre range.
The cabin was a hedonistic lodge filled with soft aromatic leathers, thick carpeting and enough wood to keep a beaver gnawing for days. But the dashboard was overly complex with more than 100 switches and buttons; drivers were left to consult the two owner’s manuals.
By the time Land Rover had been sold off by Ford (which had acquired it from BMW) to India’s Tata Motors in 2008, the Range Rover was due for a remake.
But Tata’s budget only allowed for a freshening.
The 2010 reboot included styling tweaks incorporating LED lights and two new engines pinched from Jaguar: a naturally aspirated 5.0-litre direct-injection V8 making 375 horsepower, and a twin-vortex Eaton supercharged version of the 5.0 that produced 510 horsepower. ZF supplied the six-speed automatic transmission.
Both V8s got a deeper oil pan to avoid starvation, as well as waterproofing for the starter motor, alternator, power-steering pump and air-conditioning compressor. The standard Terrain Response allwheel-drive system combined po- wertrain, suspension, stability and traction settings to handle five distinct off-road conditions, such as snow, sand and rock crawl.
Given the Brits’ penchant for poor electronics (blame Joseph Lucas, the Prince of Darkness), it’s disconcerting that Land Rover jettisoned perfectly good instruments in favour of digital depictions of a speedometer, tach, temperature and fuel gauges on a TFT (thin-film transistor) screen. There would be problems, as owners discovered.
The rest of the interior was above reproach. The leather seating was sumptuous, the trim opulent and the overall environment positively regal.
All that was missing was a crackling hearth. Updates included a new navigation system, adaptive cruise control, brake assist, blind-spot monitoring and 360-degree camera views.
On the road Thanks to the improved Jaguar power plants, the base model scrambled to 97 km/h in 6.4 seconds, while the muscular Supercharged accomplished the deed in 5.1 seconds. Massive brakes and electronic brakeforce distribution scrubbed off speed handily.
Electronically controlled shocks delivered a better semblance of control, but the big Rover still swayed under cornering duress and in windy conditions.
In a straight line, the ride quality was excellent. It tracked true and it was serene with near-absent levels of tire and wind noise.
Fuel consumption is akin to lighting $20 bills.
“I am averaging 11.2 miles/gallon (21 L/100 km) according to the car’s internal meter,” reported one sad owner.
What owners say The Range Rover provides an intoxicating mix of power, all-weather invincibility, Downton Abbey furnishings and crowd-pleasing presence. But know this: Land Rovers perennially rank last in J.D. Power’s dependability studies.
The Landie’s air-spring suspension is notoriously trouble-prone. The electronics can present numerous problems, from failed displays to malfunctioning cameras. Bluetooth integration can be spotty. The heavy truck consumes brakes and tires rapidly and engines can seep oil. Repairs are dear and parts can take weeks to arrive.
“Water pump went out, battery went bad, car died while driving on the Interstate and many small repairs” were made over 52,000 kilometres, reported one owner online.
The 2006-12 Range Rovers were recalled for front brake fluid hoses that can rupture and disable the brakes.
Anecdotally, the 2010 and newer models appear to have demonstrated better reliability than in the past. Has Range Rover turned the corner? Tell us about your ownership experience with these models: Chevrolet Volt and Hyundai Elantra. Email: toljagic@ca.in
ter.net. Freelance writer Mark Toljagic is a frequent contributor to Toronto Star Wheels. To reach Wheels Editor Norris McDonald: nmcdonald@thestar.ca