Used 2017 Land Rover Range Rover

Is the 2017 Land Rover Range Rover an immensely capable SUV swathed in luxury? Or a luxury SUV that’s amazingly capable? No matter how you prioritize it, there’s no doubt this iconic master of roads paved and rutted will get the job done. It’s the go-to luxury SUV for those who can afford it, whether they’re conquering a New Guinea jungle or just impressing friends at a Connecticut dinner party. And make no mistake, the Range Rover doesn’t just hang with the best, like the Lexus LX570 and Mercedes-Benz G-Class, it leads the way, with three engine choices, an excellent suspension and driveline backed up with the latest in off-road technology, and all of it surrounded by that classic old-world British luxury.

On a trip to our local mountains in a Range Rover, we came away amazed that our test vehicle perfectly justified its $105,000-plus price tag. The diesel engine provided plenty of power and gobs of torque, but returned fuel economy on par with a family sedan; if you want more power there are two supercharged V8 engines to choose from. The suspension floated over bumps with ease, and with a twist of a knob we’d be able to tackle pretty much anything Mother Nature could throw at us. Since it was a clear day, with no streams to ford — the Range Rover can tackle nearly three feet of standing water — we instead let ourselves be seduced by the sumptuous interior and ridiculously smooth ride. Yes, on mountain roads the soft suspension translated to some lean in corners, but the Range Rover isn’t pretending to be a sports sedan.

The 2017 Range Rover interior is where the considerable amount of money you’ll spend on it pays off. There is the finest leather on every surface, stitched to perfection, and surrounded by finely crafted wood and aluminum. The ergonomics is a little weird — why are the window switches atop the doorsill? — but there’s no denying the sumptuousness of your surroundings. Or the comfort, with big soft front seats, a comfortable rear bench or, if you like, an Executive Class Seating package that divides the rear into individual seats with recline and massage functions.

The exterior style of Range Rover vehicles echoes the past, where the trucks were little more than boxes with the edges sanded off. But there’s a road presence that’s undeniable, from the sleek headlights, to the electric-razor grille, to the slab sides and big windows. It’s also surprisingly compact, with even the long-wheelbase model only as long as a Chevy Traverse. Structurally, the aluminum unibody saves roughly 700 pounds. Our favorite detail: The crease linking the headlights and taillights slices through the door handles, and marks the taillights’ top edges and underlines “Range Rover” on the tailgate.

EXTRAORDINARY CAPABILITIES
The Range Rover’s off-road capabilities are like the 200-mph top speed of an exotic sports car: You may never actually use it, but it’s why you own it. Besides, engineering that kind of ability into the Range Rover is what makes it one-of-a-kind even on the road.

ENGINE CHOICES
There are three different engines to choose from, with five different horsepower levels, each with its own character. Whether you want the fuel-efficient 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6, the sensible gasoline-burning 3.0-liter supercharged V6 of either 340 or 380 horsepower, or the 5.0-liter V8 of 510 or 550 horsepower, you don’t lack for choices.

Land Rover’s 2017 base-model Range Rover comes with the 3.0-liter supercharged V6 good for 340 horsepower, 4-wheel drive with a low-range transfer case and Land Rover’s Terrain Response system, and roll-stability control. Inside you’ll find leather seating, a 10.2-inch InControl touch-screen infotainment system, a rearview camera, and a 380-watt Meridian audio system. There are also 3-zone automatic climate control, reclining rear seats, and 10-way-power-adjustable front seats. Out back is a hands-free gesture-controlled power hatch that flips the glass half up first, then lowers the tailgate.

Step up to the HSE model (our choice) and you get the Panoramic Roof, Oxford perforated leather, 14-way-power-adjustable front seats, heated rear seats, 20-inch wheels, a more powerful supercharged V6, and other features. If you want V8 power, the supercharged level adds the 5.0-liter V8, plus Dynamic Response, Terrain Response 2, All-Terrain Progress Control, fog lights, 21-inch wheels and trim items. The new SVAutobiography Dynamic and LWB add a 550-horsepower version of the V8, plus a specially tuned suspension and a Meridian sound system with 1,700 watts (!), 29 speakers and 3D Surround Sound. And that doesn’t even count stand-alone options.

The standard 2017 Range Rover engine is a 3.0-liter supercharged V6 with 340 horsepower; the HSE model gets the same engine with 380 horsepower, and both are available with a 3.0-liter diesel V6 with 443 lb-ft of torque. The supercharged 5.0-liter V8 is available in 510-horsepower and 550-horsepower versions if you need your massive luxury SUV to get moving in a hurry. Every engine comes with an 8-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters on the steering wheel. Note that the diesel however is an excellent choice, offering gobs of low-end torque, but while still getting 22-mpg city and 28-mpg highway. And, with any engine, the towing capacity is an impressive 7,716 pounds, the English equivalent of 3,500 kg.

3.0-liter turbodiesel V6
254 horsepower @ 3,750 rpm
443 lb-ft of torque at 1,750-2,250 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 22/28 mpg

3.0-liter supercharged V6
340 horsepower @ 6,500 rpm
332 lb-ft of torque @ 3,500-5,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 17/23 mpg

3.0-liter supercharged V6
380 horsepower @ 6,500 rpm
332 lb-ft of torque @ 3,500-5,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 17/23 mpg

5.0-liter supercharged V8
510 horsepower @ 6,000-6,500 rpm
461 lb-ft of torque @ 2,500-5,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 14/19 mpg

5.0-liter supercharged V8
550 horsepower @ 6,000-6,500 rpm
502 lb-ft of torque @ 3,500-4,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 14/19 mpg

Note: Due to changes in EPA testing to more effectively reflect real-world conditions, some 2017 models show slightly lower fuel-economy scores than their 2016 versions.