Two days of driving the Range Rover over Napa Valley’s undulating, twisting mountain roads and through some arduous off-road terrain showed the vehicle well capable of coping with a variety of driving environments while delivering the refined experience that has defined Range Rovers over the years.
A 523-hp, twin-turbo, 4.4-liter V-8 built for Land Rover by BMW delivered buttery-smooth thrust quietly. Even when the vehicle was obviously straining to ascend a steep dirt mountain road, the interior remained isolated from most engine and suspension noise. A smaller engine, a 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder rated at 395 hp, is also available. Both engines are mated to a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission.
Next year, the Range Rover gets electrified with a plug-in hybrid version that is expected to deliver 48 miles of range on battery power and a top electric speed of 87 mph. A full-electric Range Rover is due the following year.
The base price of the 2022 Range Rover is $105,850, including shipping. Fully equipped models can cost more than $250,000.
The interior is typical Range Rover — that is, premium materials, wood, leather and brushed aluminum trim — and offers a full menu of bespoke colors and trims for ordering and electronic gadgets galore. The appointments show that Range Rover can deliver Bentley and Rolls-Royce levels of luxury and sophistication.
An icon on the screen in the rear of the four-seat version, for example, is used to open the wooden cover for the twin cupholders. They raise slowly so that passengers can easily place their drinks securely.
