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Range Rover 4.6HSE (on-) Road Test.
As the faithful old (1989) 3.9SE was being checked over by the agent,
they lent us a courtesy vehicle for the day - a new Range
Rover 4.6HSE - with around 2k miles on the clock and loads of
equipment (and gadgets). The first thing we noticed was that the car
was blue. The second thing that dawned was that a new driver
needs a lesson in how to use the key; there are,
after all, 3 buttons on the key fob. One to unlock
the beast, one to lock it - press it again and it
deadlocks the doors, hold it down and it tells the car
to close the windows and sunroof! That's only two buttons but now
the problem comes as to where to find the key itself - that's where
the third button is useful, press it and the key presents itself
rather like a flick knife from the side of the fob.
Once inside, the car looks and feels significantly different to
its predecessor. The instrument panel looks "all of a piece",
rather than having the instruments sitting in a pod.
The face level vents are well positioned and will present air to
the face rather than the kneecap. Major controls are grouped
on stalks and the important ones are
in the same place as on the "Classic".
There is an additional stalk with a couple of buttons and this
controls the trip computer.
The odometer is electronic and the computer allows two
trip recordings as well as providing average fuel consumption
information and calculating the all important maximum range
before the fuel tank is empty.
Despite a tank size in excess of 20 imperial gallons,
the 13.6mpg we averaged during the day makes the computer
calculation of range very comforting!
The centre of the dashboard, between the front seats,
contains an excellent radio cassette unit which also
controls the stacker CD unit in the boot.
The sound is good and the tuning and volume controls can also be
operated from the buttons on the steering wheel.
Below the radio are the controls for the automatic climate control
(very fancy air conditioning). It is possible to put the
system on auto and select a temperature for each side of the car.
The climate control system then maintains that temperature, heating
or cooling as required. It is possible to select other options
and control the system manually - if you must - but the
auto setting was excellent. The power of the air conditioning
was also excellent and much appreciated. The car was borrowed
in one of the UK's hottest summers this century and although
not one of the absolutely hottest days, the temperature gauge on
the climate control registered 86f external - in the shade! Most unusual
for the UK but the air con made the car a welcome place to be,
even though the day was nowhere near the hottest of a most amazing summer.
There was certainly no need for the electric heating in
the front seats! Controls for the electric windows and sunroof
are on the centre cubby box, the lid of
which can be turned to form a "table" with positions for
cups, cans or perhaps champagne glasses!
The vents in the rear of the cubby also provide air (heated
or conditioned) to the rear passengers and again the provision of
air conditioning was much appreciated.
Just below the central face level vents is a
line of buttons for ancillary equipment, including the cruise
control activator. Cruise settings are controlled from buttons on
the steering wheel - just make sure you don't engage it
instead of turning the radio volume down. Above this
line of switches is a large rocker button and "led's" which
indicate the setting of the air suspension system. The
car can be lowered for easy entry and exit - especially for
those with shorter legs (or skirts) and
then it resumes its normal ride height when driven.
If the car travels over about 50mph continuously for half a minute
or so, the suspension lowers the car body by about 25mm
to improve stability whilst the driver can increase ground clearance
at lower speeds by pressing the top of the button. The
suspension will automatically reduce the ride height when the
car travels at road speeds. Anyway, enough of
this dull and boring semi technical stuff, what
you no doubt want to know is which it is like to drive.
Unfortunately, our impressions are from a road test only.
The furthest we managed off road was a grass verge by
the Derwent Dam (where the Dambusters of 617 Squadron practised in 1943).
It's a Range Rover! The visibility is great and the feeling
of security is tremendous. The steering still has a slight
vagueness - but far less than in its predecessor and
the car feels bigger. It is wider and longer than the "Classic"
and the difference is noticeable. We took to the hills of
the Derbyshire Peak District and the windy lanes meant we really were aware
of the width and the effect, during tight turns, of the
longer wheelbase. This increase in size is also noticeable on
the inside. There is plenty of head and leg room, front
and rear, for me at 6ft 2ins. The width across the
car was also greater, especially in the rear, where there was ample
room for a large adult to sit each side of a centrally fitted
(temporary) child seat. The luggage space was also significantly greater.
The brakes, whilst not as instant as the ABS equipment on our
3.9SE "Classic", were very powerful and progressive,
but lacking in feel. The auto gearbox, with a unique
shift gate with only one lever (the left-hand section
of the gate selects low ratio - the central diff'
is of the automatic limited slip variety) was superbly well controlled
by its computer and the 4.6 litre engine
was smooth, quiet and so powerful. The acceleration, for such
a large vehicle, was amazing and the gear changes were virtually unnoticeable.
There were no traction problems on the dry roads we
travelled but the vehicle has a traction control system which operates
the brake on a spinning wheel to slow it and transfer drive
to the wheel(s) with grip. Even the worst conditions that
most owners would come across should pose few problems.
The air suspension is an improvement over the old traditional
(non anti roll bar equipped) SE but we have recently rebuilt
our suspension (well, a local specialist did it for us)
with new bushes and De Carbon gas dampers. The result is
that our old SE now handles a little better than the new
version but the ride is choppier, probably because of the
9 inch shorter wheelbase and the change to air suspension.
I was very unsure of the looks of the new model when it first
came out. I believe that Spen King did a remarkable job with
the "Classic". The design has changed in detail only in 25 years
yet it still looks good and not out of place with cars 25 years old
or straight off a modern production line. The new model is certainly
not as good looking from the rear but by the end of the day
I had grown to appreciate that there is beauty in the new lines,
but it is unlikely to look in keeping with the new cars of 2019.
Our conclusion? The new Range Rover has a lot going for it.
It does deserve the title Range Rover. The handling, space,
versatility and, no doubt, its off road ability make
it by far the best available in its class. If money were no
object we would have one yesterday but who can really stretch to £45,000?
Is it worth £45,000? Perhaps so, when compared to the
low slung pose-mobiles from its Bayern Motor Werken parent company
and I see a good number on the UK's roads.
But, perhaps in another 3 or 4 years, Land Rover devotees could
afford one of the early models but then you have to consider
the reliability of the gadgets (and the cost of repairs).
If only the salesman at our local dealership had bothered to provide us
with the leasing details we requested I may have been able to give
a report based on a longer drive (you never know, they
did say the deal would be VERY competitive).
Thanks to Land Rover for making the new Rangie and Stafford Land Rover
for lending us their example. We had a most enjoyable day
and would love one, when funds allow.
- Richard Clarke © 1995, clarkes@dial.pipex.com
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