EDMUNDS.COM 2004 LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER
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| Editors'' Review |
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 Summary
What Edmunds.com Says
Designed and engineered by BMW, the Range Rover offers an optimum blend of on-road comfort and off-road capability in a stylish and well-trimmed package. If you can afford the price of admission, this is one British SUV that won''t disappoint.
Pros
Pleasant to drive and ride in on pavement, sumptuous interior, class-leading off-road capability.
Cons
High price, poor reputation for build quality, difficult-to-use stereo and navigation system.
What''s New for 2004
For 2004, the Range Rover gets an even more luxurious leather interior; buyers also now have the option of outfitting the vehicle with Contour 14-way electrically adjustable seats. A new limited-edition trim -- the Westminster Edition -- has been added; only 300 of these vehicles are slated for production. Each Westminster Edition Range Rover features pearlescent paint, 20-inch alloy wheels, leather-covered dash and center console areas, rain-sensing windshield wipers, leather Contour seats and an abundance of polished hardwood. This trim level comes in Java Black and Bonatti Grey exteriors.
Overview
Introduction:
When you consider how mediocre Land Rover products have been in recent years, the fact that throngs of people continued to covet them speaks volumes about the power of the company''s image. Until its top-to-bottom overhaul in 2003, the company''s product had been average at best. Last year''s redesign (only the third such makeover in the Range Rover''s 31-year life) resulted in a much improved ''ute -- the current-generation Range Rover is vastly superior to previous models. A short historical background: born of the need to compete with the Jeep, the Land Rover first tromped around its native habitat of Wales in 1947, before being linked with exotic safaris in British colonies. The Range Rover, a more civilized version, came into being in 1970, and was introduced to American shores in 1987. In 1994, BMW thought it would be a good idea to buy Land Rover in order to gain entry into the lucrative high-end sport-utility market, but the acquisition proved to be expensively unfruitful. In order to cut its losses, the company unloaded Land Rover to Ford in 2000. During its short ownership period, however, BMW completed a significant amount of engineering work on this latest Range Rover. For consumers who want to tap into the Range Rover mystique, the key part of this history will be that bit about the BMW design and engineering. If you''re thinking this short-lived relationship with the venerable German automaker will increase your chances of getting a solid product, you are correct. The current-generation Range Rover is very much a BMW, especially from the waist down, where it shares a great many components with the highly popular X5. None of the Range Rover''s legendary boulder-bashing capability was lost in this translation; through a combination of technology and experience, the German-British development team has created a world-class vehicle in this regard. In addition, the Range Rover has one of the most appealing, luxurious interiors of any vehicle, as well as much improved road manners, thanks to unibody construction and a new rack-and-pinion steering system. Add up all of the above and, in short, you''ve got one of the most desirable luxury sport-utility vehicles around.
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For Pricing information, see Edmunds'' Pricing page. |
Body Styles, Trim Levels and Options:
The four-door Range Rover comes in two trims: the HSE and the limited-edition Westminster Edition. The Range Rover HSE is decked with a deep list of standard features that includes 19-inch wheels, high-intensity discharge headlights, three-zone automatic climate control, leather upholstery, wood trim, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a 12-way power-adjustable driver seat, a 10-way power front-passenger seat, a CD-based navigation system, park distance control, and a 570-watt, 16-speaker Harman Kardon stereo with a glovebox-mounted six-disc CD changer. Step up to the Westminster Edition, and you''re rewarded with goodies such as pearlescent paint, 20-inch wheels, rain-sensing windshield wipers and leather Contour seats. Two optional packages are available. The Luxury Interior Package offers amenities such as a 12-way power passenger seat. The Heated Accessories Package offers multilevel heated front and rear seats, and a heated steering wheel.
Powertrains and Performance:
A BMW-engineered 4.4-liter V8 motivates the Range Rover; it makes 282 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque. The only transmission choice is a five-speed automatic with a sequential-shift. Zero-to-60-mph acceleration for this 5,379-pound vehicle takes about 9.0 seconds, and maximum towing capacity is set at 7,000 pounds. A permanent four-wheel-drive system and a height-adjustable suspension are standard features, along with low-range gearing and a maximum of 11.1 inches of ground clearance.
Safety:
Standard safety items include four-wheel antilock brakes, stability control, BrakeAssist, Electronic Brakeforce Distribution, seat-mounted side airbags for front occupants, full-length side curtain airbags and front and rear parking sensors. This vehicle has not been crash tested.
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For more Safety information, see Edmunds'' Safety page. |
Interior Design and Special Features:
Inside, the Range Rover offers one of the most luxurious cabins around, with subtle yet sumptuous materials gracing the dash and seats. Relative to previous generations, this year''s model offers a logical, easy-to-use layout: tri-zone climate controls are managed by three simple knobs, the window switches are located on top of the door panel rather than in the center console and the cruise control is mounted on the steering wheel. Drivers enjoy the benefits of an auto-dimming rearview mirror and three memory settings that adjust the driver seat, steering wheel and exterior mirrors to individually specified positions. Rear-seaters fare well, with their own climate controls and power-adjustable headrests. Don''t expect too much by way of storage space, though. The Range Rover falls short of its competitors in this area, offering a mere 63 cubic feet of cargo room.
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For more Interior Features information, see Edmunds'' Specifications page. |
Driving Impressions:
Built for the bush but bought for bragging rights, Range Rovers are more likely to be found in Beverly Hills than Botswana. Acknowledging that reality, the current Range Rover employs a unibody design and has a self-adjusting air suspension that monitors vehicle loads and road conditions. When driven on pavement, the Range Rover feels downright nimble and comfortable. In terms of boulder-bashing, it still has few equals, thanks to its generous ground clearance and wheel travel. If you''re looking for a luxury SUV that can do it all, the Range Rover is about as good as it gets.
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For more Driving Impressions, Recent Articles and Car Awards from Edmunds'' editors, see Edmunds'' Road Tests page. |
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