2024 Land Rover Range Rover

Over the generations, the Range Rover has transcended transportation and become a cultural reference as the ride of choice for royalty, celebrities, and anyone else who wants to appear imposing and important and has the money to make it happen. That’s because it can be a status symbol outside the poshest establishments in the city or in the driveways of country mansions, but it also has the talent to cross inhospitable terrains — while keeping its occupants completely unflustered.

This generation of Land Rover’s flagship is just a couple of years old, so all the tech and drivetrains are contemporary. Yet traditional values of comfort, quality materials, and elegant design remain a strong presence.

As if there weren’t enough ways for buyers to personalize their new Range Rover, the SV Bespoke program launches this year, offering hundreds (no exaggeration) of materials, details, and color schemes for the interior and exterior of SV and Autobiography models. Or if you wanted the same red as the soles of, say, Christian Louboutin shoes, the program will make a match from any sample.

Among the drivetrains, the plug-in hybrid sees a boost in power (from 434 horsepower to 542) thanks to a new electric motor, plus electric-only travel of 51 miles. A new V8 for the SV trim makes 606 horsepower.

The infotainment system has been revised so most functions need only a couple of touchscreen taps. Adaptive Off-Road Cruise Control and Country Road Assist features provide even greater help for drivers.

Several rivals are less expensive yet still luxurious and capable. For example, the Mercedes-Benz GLS, BMW X7, and Lexus LX. Or even the Jeep Grand Wagoneer (high 80s), Cadillac Escalade, and Lincoln Navigator (low 80s).

Another form of competition, though, sits in a higher echelon. Like the Mercedes-Benz G-Class (from around $140K), Bentley Bentayga (about $265K) and Rolls-Royce Cullinan (good luck getting change out of $360K).

Before buying a new Range Rover luxury SUV, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should be paying. If it matters, the LX tends to have stronger resale values, but the Range Rover is not far off.

Even the least muscular 2024 Range Rover has a decent 394 horsepower under its hood. Beyond this point, it just gets more stirring right up to and including the SV’s new 606-horsepower V8. Meanwhile, the updated plug-in hybrid drivetrain has plenty of thrust while also being able to run for 51 miles on battery power alone.

Not that many owners will want to go drag racing in their lovely shiny Range Rovers, but the smallest engine can sprint from standstill to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds. The first of the V8s manages 4.4 seconds, with the plug-in hybrid only 0.4 of a second behind, while the new big V8 does it in 4.3 seconds. Considering the size and weight of these machines, all these times are impressive.

A standard air suspension keeps every journey smooth, whether that’s on tarmac, sand, mud, or boulders. The Range Rover treats every bump as if it was an insignificant fruit fly while retaining a hushed serenity in the cabin at all times. We’ve also found that the all-wheel steering is great for tight maneuvers and makes the Range Rover feel even a little agile on open roads.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and researching the current collection of full-size luxury SUVs, including the Range Rover.

No wonder the Range Rover is a favorite among British aristocrats and staggeringly rich people around the globe. Its cabin is the perfect place to luxuriate among buttery leather and classy designs while planning your next corporate takeover or castle purchase.

All three trims come with either the standard wheelbase or a long wheelbase that offers the option of a third seating row. With just two rows, buyers can use that extra space to indulge rear occupants to a greater degree. Generally speaking, though, space is abundant throughout the cabin, even when there’s a third row in place. And all the seats are comfortable, naturally.

Cargo volume is similarly generous. The only time it gets a little tight is behind the available third row, with just 8.7 cubic feet.

The new SV Bespoke program brings more scope for personalization than the already many and varied choices, so every Range Rover can reflect its owner’s particular tastes. There are also things like white or black ceramic controls and folding tray tables.

It looks like Land Rover asked its designers to create a Range Rover from 20 years in the future. It’s still majestic (in our eyes) yet could appear just as alien within a rugged landscape as, well, an alien spacecraft.

Size-wise, the standard-wheelbase version is similar in length to an Audi Q7, with the long-wheelbase model more comparable to a Mercedes-Benz GLS. Buyers have a wide palette of paint colors from which to choose, including an SV Bespoke Icy White with a satin finish — yours for just $12,450.

Infotainment system
We liked this system and its 13.1-inch touchscreen last year. Now it includes sidebars with sliding controls for audio volume and cabin temperatures. Land Rover says about 80 percent of tasks can be carried out with no more than two taps of the screen.

Dynamic Response Pro
The bodies of big, luxury SUVs tend to lean when taking corners, making occupants feel like they’re on a boat. This feature curtails such behavior by keeping the body more composed and flatter without compromising comfort.

Adaptive Off-Road Cruise Control
New this year, it allows the driver to concentrate only on steering while the system does the rest.

Country Road Assist
Another new addition for 2024, this technology is part of the adaptive cruise control function, pairing engine power with the navigation system. It knows when a bend is coming up and/or changes in the speed limit, and slows the vehicle.

Tailgate Event Suite
Thanks to the Range Rover’s tailgate being a 2-piece affair with the lower section able to take the weight of two adults, this optional extra means being able to enjoy something like a polo match or gymkhana while sitting on leather-covered cushions. Be a darling and get a cold drink from the optional chiller cabinet, will you?

Hot stone massage
Not really hot stones, but it feels like it when sitting in the SV’s heated/cooled/24-power-adjustable/massaging front seats. Glorious.

The first of four drivetrains available in the 2024 Range Rover is the catchily-named P400, employing a turbocharged 3.0-liter 6-cylinder engine that develops 394 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque.

After that comes the P530, a turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 making 523 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque. This engine gains a mild hybrid system for 2024, optimizing efficiency and smoothing out the stop/restart function. The P400 has the same kind of thing.

An upgraded plug-in hybrid drivetrain, the P550e, replaces last year’s 440e. A new electric motor pairs with a 3.0-liter 6-cylinder engine to create 542 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque. Land Rover says it’s possible to travel for up to 51 miles using just the battery’s energy. Using a fast charger, the battery can reach 80-percent capacity in under an hour.

A new twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 exclusive to the SV trim generates 606 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque. It’s called P615.

Every 2024 Range Rover has an 8-speed automatic transmission and a sophisticated 4-wheel drive system as standard. Premium gasoline is required throughout. Average fuel economy is likely to be in the high teens or low 20s.

4-Year/50,000-Mile Warranty

Land Rover’s new-vehicle and powertrain warranties last four years or 50,000 miles, whichever happens first. This is typical in the luxury sector. Hybrid batteries are covered for six years or 60,000 miles.