Land Rover Range Rover 4.6L HSE

REVIEWS AND ROAD TESTS

Nearing the end of the road

Modesty will never overwhelm the Land Rover team when it starts to sing the praises of the Range! While it has a sure talent for negotiating the obstacles Mother Nature throws its way, a passenger compartment that could almost double as a Victorian living room and a price that makes it exclusive, it has a long way to go before becoming the king of luxury utilities it claims to be. First of all, it needs closer attention to manufacturing quality and, above all, reliability. Remember to read the owner’s manual from cover to cover to understand how the Range’s accessories work. Front seats, power adjustable in all possible directions, take orthopedic care of the back, kidneys and neck rather than subjecting them to overly soft padding. As for the bench seat, it’s even firmer and it has a wider base; the seatback folds down in two (60/40) sections, but it’s unlikely you’ll need more space than the very roomy trunk already provides.When you’re behind the wheel of a Range Rover, it’s hard not to feel superior to the motorists around you. Set high, the Range looks invincible. And it almost is, particularly when weather conditions make road surfaces slippery, in which case it’s unflappable. General comments: the ride is as quiet as can be, may have slightly "military" reactions that reflect road conditions, and cornering unpredictability is due to the fact that the Range offers driving sensations that few have ever experienced. Lastly, the responsive steering system makes up for the horrendous turning radius and phenomenal torque manages to shatter the inertia of this massive vehicle, giving it astonishing acceleration. In this regard, potential buyers should note that the Range Rover has shed the pitiful 4.0-liter V8 (188 horses) last year and now comes solely with a 4.6-liter whose output totals 222 horses. This is a muscle-bound powertrain, yes, but according to owners it suffers from a series of minor flaws that no one should have to put up with on a vehicle sold at this price.

PROS
Off-road capabilities
Astonishing acceleration power
Comfortable and quiet ride

CONS
High fuel consumption
Reliability problems
Model scheduled for withdrawal

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Land Rover Freelander 2.5L

REVIEWS AND ROAD TESTS

Another cute-ute

Six years after its launch in Europe, the Freelander is coming to America this fall. The north-american version will be fully loaded and priced accordingly. Being a Land Rover, it ’ s a small, V6-engined, SUV with full-time all-wheel-drive. But the Freelander is a unitbody, not a body-on-frame as its big brothers. And there is no transfer-case, the off-road ability will be electronically controlled.The 2.5 liter V6 is a Rover product, former Land Rover owner. The 175 HP output will not benchmark the category, but that ’ s a Land Rover trademark.The estimated retail price is near 45 000$, a crowded territory with the RX300, QX4 and Grand Cherokee we know well. Good luck !

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Land Rover Discovery

REVIEWS AND ROAD TESTS

Time to make improvements

With the Discovery series, introduced in 1989, the renowned British sport-utility expert, now part of the Ford fold, enjoyed a great deal of success on the European market.

Updated regularly over the years, the vehicle made its North American debut in 1994 and since then, has been the object of much admiration, among other groups from a well-off clientele group sensitive to the prestige attached to the make, whose Range Rover model is the uncontested aristocrat of its niche.The Discovery has been revamped almost completely, but since in large part its body is still composed of aluminum panelling, it looks so much like the previous model that you’ll have a hard time telling the two apart. It’s too bad the builder didn’t decide to give it bolder and more modern- looking styling, like it did for its Freelander.

Inside the Discovery, the dashboard, although completely redesigned, looks like the old one as well. The same goes for seats, which are very comfortable despite an oversized center console. As for the slightly elevated rear bench seat, it is very comfortable and provides an excellent view of the outside. However, access is somewhat difficult because doors are too short and positioned directly over the wheel wells, which restricts foot room to a minimum.The Series II is longer than before, mainly to increase cargo space and to accommodate the optional third seat, which folds to the sides in a split configuration (the old Discovery had two jump seats that faced the sides). The front and rear tracks have also been widened, resulting in more stability and less sway.

Rear overhang is a bit longer, but the Discovery is still an exceptional off-road vehicle. It features an all-wheel traction control system that makes the ride smoother. Land Rover has added the Hill Descent Control system, which monitors wheel speed and sends power to the appropriate brakes, making even the steepest slopes a piece of cake. The two systems make optimum use of the four-circuit anti-lock system, which is standard on this vehicle, of course. And to minimize sway, Land Rover offers an Active Cornering Enhancement system, a semi-active suspension using hydraulic pistons linked to the anti-roll bar to eliminate roll. The 4.0-liter engine, with an aluminum block and a center camshaft, is coupled with an electronically controlled four- speed automatic transmission. It’s smooth and cooperative and it always sounds good, but its 188-hp output is barely enough under usual driving conditions. When can consumers expect a more modern Ford engine? Soon, let’s hope.

PROS
New-found reliability
Off-road capabilities
Extraordinary visibility

CONS
Difficult access to the inside
Marginal engine power
High fuel consumption

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