It’s hard to utter the words ‘Range Rover’ without feeling a little smug.
The iconic nameplate conjures images of wealthy country folk and Hollywood celebrities. In saying that, ownership isn’t as exclusive as you might think: the L322 generation featured here is arguably the bargain of the century.
Travel back to the late 1990s and you’ll find Land Rover under BMW ownership and this third-generation Range Rover in development. The posh high-rider was revealed in 2001 featuring a 281bhp 4.4-litre V8 petrol and a 174bhp 3.0-litre diesel made by BMW, despite the British brand having been bought by Ford that very year. It retained those two engines until 2005 – a year after its BMW 5 Series electronics had been ditched for Jaguar ones.
Speaking of Jaguar, its 296bhp 4.4-litre V8 replaced the BMW unit, while the 4.2-litre V8 from the XK8 joined the line-up. With 385bhp, this supercharged lump is quite the powerhouse, allowing the two-and-a-half-tonne land yacht to rocket from 0-60mph in 7.2sec
You want even more performance? For that, turn to the supercharged 5.0-litre, introduced in 2009. Thanks to 502bhp, it has a 0-60mph time of 6.0sec and a top speed of 140mph. This V8 sounds like a bat out of hell under harsh acceleration, too.
Other engines include a naturally aspirated 5.0-litre V8 with 375bhp, as well as a pair of Ford-built diesel V8s – a 268bhp 3.6-litre and a 309bhp 4.4-litre. For the best blend of performance and (semi-reasonable) fuel efficiency, these latter two units are your ideal options. That said, perhaps you should buy a Toyota Prius if economy is your top priority.
The more alluring aspects of an L322 lie elsewhere. For instance, there’s a reason you see this SUV wafting around London, tackling muddy tracks and coping with the school run. It’s because they’re so extremely versatile yet such a joy to drive or be a passenger in.
Drive it on the road and you’ll swoon over the plush leather and comfortable, limousine-like ride, and the car’s tall but straight sides make it remarkably easy to place despite its width. You feel like royalty, with a high driving position and cool, calm and collected driving dynamics. What’s more, when the road disappears, the incredible four-wheel drive system and its talents will astonish: Land Rover has always taken its go-anywhere reputation very seriously, and that’s overtly evident here in the Range Rover’s expert off-road ability.
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