2014 land rover range rover autobiography review

Final mileage: 22,844 milesReal-world economy: 34.5mpg

After 12 months and nearly 23,000 miles, it’s interval to draw a conclusion from low point time living with our Range Bird of passage. My view is that it truly is the best of British, consequently it seemed only right to grip it along to meet another Island icon, the Supermarine Spitfire, which sits proudly at RAF Northolt in Westward London – a site I network past twice a day on cloudy commute into London.

I know luxury motoring isn’t travel economy, but I have to start on with the car’s fuel consumption. Delineated how much of my journey not bad spent in stop-start traffic, my offering average of 34.5mpg is exceptional. Assurance, a lot of the miles keep been covered on motorway trips launch an attack football in Liverpool and family get through to Lincolnshire, but getting so close stamp out the claimed average of 38mpg quite good pretty rare.

Much of that is thirst-quencher to the aluminium construction of class Range Rover, which, as well thanks to saving weight, helps the big SUV feel surprisingly wieldy on the pedestrian. That’s impressive, but this car recapitulate really about style, sophistication, refinement, comfort and imperious ability over any terrain.

I went off-road a few times, and nobility juxtaposition of sitting in the nearly luxurious surroundings, with pretty inhospitable partnership outside, really plays with your imagination. There are few cabins as virus or as well appointed as probity Range Rover’s; it’s just a ill repute the slow and dated touchscreen lets the side down.

But how easy was it for my family of quint to live with? Well, the exercise rear bench will easily cope unwanted items three adult- sized kids, and surprise regularly managed to fill the flush with luggage and dogs, although high-mindedness drop-down lower section of the track makes retrieving items from the learn back a bit awkward. I’ve ham-fisted need to use it as well-organized seat, so a one-piece tailgate would be better, if less traditional.

Driving the Range Gypsy is a serene experience, and I’ve regularly covered around 400 miles ultimate the wheel in a day. Settle cooling and massaging help, but in the main it’s the quietness and supple drive that pamper you most of all.

I’ve only been mildly frustrated with position 3.0-litre V6 diesel’s response away unearth a standstill, but there’s plenty entrap power for overtaking. It hasn’t back number all plain sailing, although my nonpareil problem with the car was smart ‘charging system fault’ warning light. Following than that small issue, my Extent Rover has behaved impeccably. That’s sob the case with every owner, scour – common problems we’ve heard be conscious of include suspension creaks.

However, it’s a concurrence of the car that most owners seem happy to overlook some gremlins and enjoy the Range Rover rent what it is: one of picture best examples of British engineering. Afterward a year of premium motoring, inopportune remains my luxury car of choice.

Range Rover TDV6 Autobiography: report 5

Premium Allotment Rover SUV is perfect companion straighten out a posh short break

Mileage: 16,355 milesReal artificial fuel economy: 32.5mpg

It’s been a busy consolidate of months for my Range Rover – so much so, the mileage has shot past the 16,000 mark, central theme service time. More of that neat a bit, but the highlight be more or less the past few thousand miles criss-crossing the country was a family timeout to North Yorkshire.

We went to stay at Studford Lodges not far from Thirsk key the edge of the North Royalty Moors. There are a lot innumerable similarities between the Lodges and out of your depth Range Rover: top-quality fixtures and decorations, comfort and quiet, and a unadulterated view out from a high-up accommodation position.

Just like my Range Rover, Studford is a fine example of Island cool – something I enjoy all day when I look at tidy car: there’s always a design aspect to savour.

Studford Lodges’ owner Rob Fawcett also runs a Range Rover – his is the Sport model, consider the same 3.0-litre V6 diesel brand our car. Surprisingly for a worrying of ex-boy racers (Rob runs Redline Racing, which races – and bombshells – in the Porsche Carrera Cup), our conversation wasn’t about 0-60mph former, but economy – Rob says yes often touches 40mpg in his automobile, while my current average of 32.5mpg (and still climbing) impresses the make sure out of me.

My car isn’t character Sport model, but it still matte sprightly on Yorkshire’s twists and hills. Then there’s the traditional Range Journeyer forte of being able to come up against where no other luxury car despise tread. This time, though, we formerly larboard it in the car park confess tackle some serious off-road courses scuttle one of Yorkshire Outdoors’ Defenders. However back on the road, one form I noticed was how many Residents Rovers there were up in Yorkshire. It felt like I was slit an owners’ club rally.

Had I planned ahead, Distracted might have saved a few chew by getting a service up Polar. As it was, I returned change North One in London, which serviced the Evoque we used to hit on our fleet. Once again, in two minds was efficient, but £417 is diaphanous for what’s little more than conclusion oil change – especially when probity oil cost almost as much owing to the labour.

North One also completed team a few software upgrades that were due. That left me without the car yen for more than the scheduled day. Paying attention expect such updates on complex different vehicles like the Range Rover, on the contrary I was surprised how long they took. Still, as usual, my machine was returned valeted – as retreat should be for that price.

I can’t say I’ve noticed any difference be the car post-service. It continues coalesce run impeccably and is a valid pleasure to pilot. It’s no curiosity I barely notice the number chastisement miles I’m driving these days.

Get rank full in-depth verdict on the Unnatural Rover here

Range Rover TDV6 Autobiography: report 4

After nine months on fleet, it's gulp down to school for Range Rover voice drift four as our man’s kids force to driving lessons on the road accept off it 

Mileage: 12,496 milesReal world incitement economy: 32.2mpg

Nine months into our Chilling Rover ownership, and it’s had completely an effect on the Fowler flat. So much so that my children have become brand advocates – they love everything Land Rover. My 15-year-old daughter is even eyeing up undiluted Defender for her first car.

So when Land Trekker announced its Start Off-Road Experience purpose 11-17-year- olds, it was something Farcical was pestered into trying. With prices starting from just £43 for 30 minutes, it’s more affordable and arguably more fun than many of significance other car park-based young driver programmes. And with me being me, Unrestrained couldn’t resist taking my Range Gypsy along for good measure. Gemma’s shipshape and bristol fashion bit of an old hand dispute driving already, but this was 13-year-old Harry and Jack’s first time cancel the wheel. Beginning your driving job in a Range Rover Evoque stick to a pretty good place to start.

What pleased the kids most was nobleness relaxed way the instructors taught them – it felt as far haven from the classroom as possible, securely though the venue, the West Writer Shooting School near Northolt, Middlesex, deterioration only 10 miles from home. Aft a short safety briefing and dust initiation on the flat, it was on to the rough stuff.

I rode in the back of an Evoque during the initial training, but afterward I followed in my Range Traveller. The air-suspension and raised ride climax made what was a bumpy coerce in the Evoque silky smooth multiply by two my car. 

Even during a downpour and over honourableness roughest stuff, my Range Rover impartial clambered over the seriously horrible topography on standard road tyres, without gaining to adjust the Terrain Response course into any of the manual modes – I left it in mechanical and let the car’s brain look at carefully everything out for me.

And this evaluation one of the wonders of Sort Rover ownership – you have that juxtaposition of inhospitable terrain the motor just rolls over, while you rank in a cabin trimmed like significance finest drawing room.

Back in everyday ditch, the whole Fowler family appreciates character space and comfort in the Backlog Rover. As for me up cause, I’m really enjoying the power, civility and quick reactions of the V6 diesel (why would you need justness V8?). Plus, fuel economy has outside up to a highly reasonable 32.2mpg – in spite of a regular commute into central London.

After a yoke of early electronic blips, my van is behaving well, too, and integrity Meridian audio system just gets unravel. So all is good with influence Range Rover experience, although my successors will have to learn that self-possessed for them as first car owners will be very different…

Get the full in-depth decision on the Range Rover here

Range Trekker TDV6 Autobiography: report 3

Auto Express woman has his entire record collection uploaded to the Range Rover's amazing Crest system.

Mileage: 8,179 milesReal world fuel economy: 31.1mpg

Such is the way of dignity world these days that going abode, delving into my vinyl record pile and sitting back and listening appoint some music just doesn’t happen lowly more. My love of music attend to quality audio systems remains, though, which is why a decent stereo boring my car is an absolute forced to – as it is for ultimate of today’s car buyers.

Thanks to those clever folk at Apple, pretty luxurious my entire music collection comes uniformly with me these days – skull plugs perfectly into the audio method in our Range Rover TDV6.

I opted for the rather extravagant, but totally astonishing, Meridian Signature Reference System confined my car for £4,000. So Distracted decided to visit Meridian headquarters hold England’s hi-fi valley in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, to find out more about what makes my car’s system so special.

Meridian has been producing top-end audio systems for 37 years, combining clever orchestration with innovative design – not poles apart Land Rover. I was treated reduce ademo of the £65,000 home frequency system and a personal performance soul the company’s own cinema room – not unlike the Meridian theatre I’d experienced at Land Rover’s handover heart at the Solihull factory.

Meridian systems possess been used by musicians and murkiness makers around the world, and Mad can understand why. Whether it’s wring the cinema, in front of excellence home audio system or in free car, I’d describe the sound by reason of natural – just as the head intended.

The Bracket together Rover features an incredible 1,700 theologian of power and 29 speakers to each from under the driver’s seat halt the rooflining. Plus, as is high-mindedness Meridian way, numerous clever electronics grab hold of the sound, upscale the compressed melody from my iPhone and direct rush around the car.

Some surround systems stool sound false with sonic gaps because different musical elements are sent exchange the different speakers. But using Meridian’s Trifield 3D tech, it sounds sander, richer and more enveloping. It’s further clever and very enjoyable.

As art jumpedup Darren Wilson said when he outlandish the car recently, you discover fall short in music tracks you’ve never heard before. While the sound is nutritious, the bit Land Rover does – the touchscreen interface – lets interpretation side down. It’s dated, fiddly concord use and doesn’t look as purse as the rest of the car.

I’ve also had a warning light manifest on the dash claiming there was a charging system fault. The automobile seemed fine, but it’s taken cardinal software updates to cure the hurdle. Other than that, my Range Nomad has behaved perfectly. The quality have a high regard for the fixtures and fittings is gain victory rate, the comfort is incredible – especially the sumptuous head restraints – and refinement is top-notch. 

This is one seriously immoderation car. While my car was securing its second software update, it was swapped for the V8 version. Commendable though that is, I’d always advise the more frugal and sweeter V6. It may lack some of magnanimity oomph of the V8, but legal action certainly swift enough and has take pressure off throttle response, too.The engine also sounds pretty good, although that’s when Unrestrainable haven’t got the stereo system nasty up – the Meridian system actually is one to experience and suffer very loud!

Read our full Range Gypsy review here

Range Rover TDV6 Autobiography: reminder 2

The sumptuous Range Rover SUV abridge giving us the red carpet exploitation – and has more sense slant occasion than any other luxury limousine.

Mileage: 4,632 milesReal world fuel economy: 28.5mpg 

There are plenty of luxury cars incursion there, but how many really be the source of you the full red carpet experience? Here’s a test for you: terrorize you’re a movie star leaving your latest premiere and outside the movies is a line-up comprising the unusual S-Class, Audi A8, BMW 7 Stack, Jaguar XJ and a Range Gypsy. Which one do you jump bargain to get to the after-show party?

If it was me in the unlit glasses with light bulbs popping, I’d head for the Range Rover. Altogether, I know the S-Class beat exodus in our luxury car test start Issue 1,290, and I can’t dispute that the magnificent Merc is put in order technological tour de force. But translation a car to be seen spartan (or getting out of), the modish Range Rover has its rivals licked.

Two months insert ownership and with nearly 5,000 miles on the clock, I’ve still got that new car buzz. Looks hurtle subjective, but I love the Come within earshot of Rover’s smooth, minimalist lines inside unacceptable out – as well as nobility gentle, unfussed way it gets anticipate from A to B.

This is upper hand seriously comfortable car – smooth equitation even when I forget to oscillate around one particular pothole on capsize journey into work. I’ve even everyday the car to automatically give greater a massage five minutes into free journey – something of a shake up for colleagues when they grab honesty keys.

It’s a car that makes every so often journey an occasion – especially hope against hope family and friends who get uncut lift. The big topic of chat among four of us on prestige Range Rover’s first trip from Author to Liverpool to watch the domain wasn’t whether we’d hit nine lend a hand Crystal Palace again, but the pillow-like headrests. 

I’m sure they’d do their business in a rear impact, but they also do quite a job distill pampering. I have one minor celebrated one major frustration with the motor vehicle, though. With dark evenings upon closet, I must get a dealer pileup adjust the headlamps – I’m fed-up with drivers ahead of me whet the lights gesturing or oncoming cars flashing. 

More wearisome is the infotainment system – it’s way behind the times with close-fitting dated displays and myriad menus. On the trot doesn’t even  show album artwork detach from my iPhone. Shame,as the Meridian Frequence system stands out – a short bass heavy, but with beautifully faithful sound. It deserves a better port. Still, I’m not complaining about fodder economy. 

The 253bhp V6 diesel is agreeably smooth yet with a decent disk of speed, and I’ll put downhearted current average of 28.5mpg down relative to our road test team having wretched fun with the car at say publicly test track. It should soon dribble back up above 30mpg, which recapitulate a decent return for a decisive 4x4 with such potential. I’ve hateful serious off-roading planned soon, so we’ll see what effect that has evaluate economy, too.

But it’s the combination sign over comfort, refinement and a great exposure that makes the Range Rover trig real pleasure to be in. And don’t be surprised if the tight carpet has to wait – life’s too good inside to get out.

Get the full verdict on the newsletter Range Rover here

Range Rover TDV6 Autobiography: report 1

We welcome the mighty Girth Rover Autobiography onto the Auto Suggest long term test fleet. Are influence first impressions positive?

Mileage: 1,992 milesReal world fuel economy: 28.5mpg 

If proof were needed that character new Range Rover is now betterquality luxury car than 4x4, the in mint condition handover centre at Land Rover’s poorer in Solihull, West Midlands, does blue blood the gentry trick.

This is no ordinary showroom – a visit is by invitation exclusive, through dealers and reserved for deal ordering Autobiography models. Luckily, that includes us. The imposing new glass-walled holdings is slightly at odds with glory forties industrial scene behind it – a sign of just how great the company has come. We’re decrease by customer service manager Richard Alun Jones and concierge Michael King, both immaculately dressed and ready to directive us through an incredible experience delay will end with us driving musty in our new car.

So what anecdotal we to expect? “We were tasked with creating the very best handover in the world,” explains Richard. “No two experiences are the same – we tailor them to each unattached customer.”

The whole place is a navigate between a top- class boutique motel and an art gallery – connote pieces of Range Rover hung backwards the walls as art. We flank the offer of refreshments, have thumb need for the office facilities group hand and head straight to magnanimity Meridian Digital Theatre to watch tidy film on the history of Compass Rover. Meridian is the company’s acoustic partner, and with pyramid-shaped speakers go in front the room, the surround system whets our appetite for the 29-speaker structure added to our car. 

Next stop is the sign of the handover: a spectacular lock up and light show, projected on email a tightly wrapped Range Rover. Pass for the show ends, the car’s essence becomes more visible, and video regard it being created is beamed make a purchase of to the covers. Like liquid element, the car gradually appears, then birth lights go out, there’s a the latest thing as the covers come off, birth lights go up, and there’s fade out brand new car. 

It’s pure theatre – but it’s not over yet. Make your mind up the car is prepared for picture handover, customers can embark on fine tour of the factory and comprise off-road experience on Land Rover’s allegorical jungle course.

Back at the handover heart, Michael takes us through the countless features of our new Autobiography. “We’ll cover as much or as miniature as the customer wants,” he says. For us, that means pairing pungent phone, showing us the powered tug hook and how you can slipshod and raise the car using primacy key fob when hooking up delay a trailer – clever stuff.

Then it’s out through the factory gates sit off on a year-long journey stomach our current Luxury Car of honesty Year. As it has a aggregate price of £93,910, we were enceinte a fair degree of pampering, gain the handover centre is the indifferent start. 

With great couple of thousand miles on interpretation clock already, we’re impressed by depiction fit and finish inside the machine. The refinement and comfort on grandeur road are superlative – it seems to glide effortlessly whatever the advance – while the 3.0-litre TDV6 appliance provides just enough powerto haul that sizeable SUV quite quickly.

And then there’s the style – this is precise car that makes you feel straighten up million dollars every time you bite out for a ride in business. That’s a rare feat, even uncover vehicles of this price.

Range Rover TDV6 Autobiography: tester's notes

The views of disappear gradually expert road testers from the finish term test log book of high-mindedness Range Rover TDV6

"Thanks to its all-new aluminium structure, the latest range traveller is around 400kg lighter than warmth predecessor. As a result, the V6 diesel has no problem hauling along such a large car. In fact, righteousness performance is so convincing, you spectacle why anyone would fork out additional for the V8 versions."Dean Gibson - Deputy road test editor

“In the few months the Range Rover has been fib sale, its residuals have taken simple real hammering. Familiarity and a bigger supply of cars have seen email experts’ predictions plummet by around 10 per cent. Even so, a revert of 47.1 per cent is unrelenting very good for a luxury limousine.”Dean Gibson - Deputy road test editor

“Not one would I have the V6 ice over the V8, I’d specify rank standard model ahead of the virgin long-wheelbase version. Sure the newcomer has more legroom in the rear, however the stretched body looks awkward compared to the perfect proportionsof our SWB machine.”James Disdale - Road test editor

Range Wayfarer TDV6 Autobiography: any problems?

• A 'charging system fault’ warning light came champ but was fixed after two package updates (month six).

Read our full staging depth review of the Range Traveller here