Base price: $78,450
As Tested: $85,450
305-horsepower 4.4L V8
12 city / 18 hwy
More info:
www.rangerover.com
|
|
|
|
When they redesigned the Range Rover exterior in 2006, Land Rover nailed it. And while we tend to think a Range Rover should be treated like tuxedo -- classic black is the way to go -- our grey metallic HSE tester was a stunner. The bold front fascia with its imposing Bi-Xenon headlamps and arrogant "Range Rover" lettering emblazoned on the hood, the shark's gill side power vents, the elegant line -- we love it all. One note: The HSE doesn't have the one-piece diamond mesh front grille that comes on the Supercharged version. Land Rover says it helps cool the engine -- we think it just looks flat-out cool.
|
|
|
|
|
The Range Rover's ultra-posh cabin -- totally revamped in 2007 -- definitely justifies an $85K sticker. The standard features alone would make Mark Cuban feel pampered: highlights include an all-leather dash, brushed aluminum gauge console, sound-dampening windows, rear-view camera, front-and-back distance warning system, touch screen driver info system and a Harman/Kardon 710-watt 14-speaker surround sound unit. An extra $7K -- practically pocket change if you can afford a Range -- buys an interior upgrade ($4,500, for more leather and wood trim, 14-way adjustable heated and cooled front seats, just for starters) and a rear-seat DVD entertainment system ($2,500).
|
|
|
|
|
The HSE comes with a six-speed automatic with CommandShift manual mode, and the a 305-horsepower 4.4-liter V8 provides solid but not mind-blowing punch. (If you want that, you're looking at a base price of $94,100 for the 400-horsepower Supercharged model.) Then again, the Range Rover doesn't earn its sticker in street races. The now-standard, technologically advanced Terrain Response system (introduced as an option in 2007) has five switch-on-the-fly settings for dry pavement, grass/gravel/snow, sand, mud/ruts or rock crawling, coordinating throttle, brakes, traction control and other systems to keep the Range Rover going where you want it. True, you probably won't ever need some of these options -- rock crawl? -- but it's nice to know most other SUVs seem like kids' toys in comparison.
-- by Sam Jemielity |
|
|
