Back to Page 1: Introduction and Design

Driving Experience

The launch version in Singapore makes no concessions to any kind of green economy. It’s powered by a 4.4-litre, twin-turbo engine that goes through petrol like it is going out of style, which, in these times of electric vehicles, might actually be true. You do have 530 horsepower and a tank-like amount of torque on tap. 750Nm is nothing to be sniffed at. By comparison, a Porsche 911 Carrera maximum torque output is only 450Nm. 

Fuel economy came in at around 15l/100km in mixed traffic during our drive, however if you crawl along in traffic jams all day the economy drops to a slightly alarming 19l/100km, and 20l/100km isn’t out of the realm of possibility if the car is left crawling along in rush hour traffic all week.

With a kerb weight of 2,626kg it’s a very heavy car, but punches from a standstill to 100km/h in just 4.7 seconds. The turbo V8’s engine note is beautifully old-school in its execution, with a burbly, growling noise that winds upwards as the revs ascend. The car’s mass does camouflage the fact that it accelerates very quickly, and the full-independent suspension system gives it a handling prowess that’s comparable to most top-end luxury sedans.

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There are four distinct ride heights to the suspension. The two highest are offroad modes, and the third one down is the standard cruising height. The lowest is the access height, and works only when the car is moving slowly or stopped. It does give the car a slightly comical stance, as though the Range Rover is squatting down. Start driving quicker and the car will automatically raise itself up to cruising height. 

There are differential locks, and a low-range transmission, all selectable through the centre touchscreen. The actuation is all modern luxury, and very different from the chunky low range transmission gear lever selectors in something like a Jeep Wrangler and Suzuki Jimny.

This wouldn’t be a Range Rover without such great offroad capability, but the other issue is that the fancy 23-inch wheels with low profile tyres that come fitted on this car wouldn’t be what you would want to go mud-plugging in. For Singapore however, we don’t foresee anyone actually wanting to crawl through a rainforest in one of these anyway. 

It’s a very quiet car up to 100km/h, where wind noise starts to creep up. It’s only noticeable because before that the car is so silent at lower speeds. You’ll hear the engine burbling along in the background, but tyre and road noise is really kept at bay.    

Just like how a Rolls-Royce is so blindingly quick but we marvel more over its design and luxury fittings than its ability as a pseudo-sports car, the Range Rover handles magnificently for a car the size of a small house. It may not turn through corners faster than a Volkswagen Golf GTI, but with more than twice the power output, the Range Rover can accelerate out of corners with serious authority and beat smaller cars to the next corner. It will be interesting to see how it drives on a closed racetrack.

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Conclusion and Competition

In the form reviewed here, the Range Rover clocks in at S$803,999 with COE. The massage seats all round, premium Meridian Signature audio system featuring 35 individual speakers, panoramic sunroof, front centre console refrigerated compartment, cabin air purifying system   all conspire to raise the base sticker price. A bare bones Range Rover, without the inclusion of COE, is S$592,999.

For a tougher piece of luxury the Land Rover Defender 110 is similarly well-built but has a build to withstand more rough use. Other large SUVs in this category include the Porsche Cayenne, BMW X7 and Maserati Levante, yet for a properly regal, commanding drive the Range Rover is still the car that delivers.

The no-hybrid, no-green credentials of the Range Rover is making it look quite politically incorrect in this day and age, but a plug-in hybrid version of the Range Rover is rumoured to be arriving eventually, and a lower-spec mild hybrid with a 48-volt start-generator and 395 horsepower is also already available. Meanwhile, here’s what’s possibly the last hurrah for the twin-turbo V8 petrol Range Rover. 

Range Rover 4.4 Autobiography

Drivetrain type	Petrol engine
Engine	4395cc, V8, twin-turbocharged
Power	530hp at 5500-6000rpm
Torque	750Nm at 1800-4600rpm
Gearbox	8-speed automatic
0-100km/h	4.7 seconds
Top Speed	250km/h
Fuel Efficiency	11.9L/100km
VES Band / modifier	C2 / +S$25,000
Agent	Wearnes Automotive
Price	S$592,999 without COE and options
Availability	Now
Verdict	Still a proper luxury SUV that others continue to nick ideas from

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