As trite as it sounds, the 2010 Range Rover is the ideal to which all SUV manufacturers aspire — or should, anyway.
Of course there are plenty of high-tech luxury sport utility vehicle wonders rolling down the highways and over the rocky terrain of all 50 states, but few — actually I can’t think of any — present as perfect a package as this Range Rover.
The exterior — just large enough, just boxy enough, just classic enough, just splashy enough — sets the tone for the entire SUV and certainly for its ride.
If you follow Land Rover you know that the exterior of the 2010 Range Rover was lightly tweaked to make it just a tad more contemporary. The headlamps are just a bit bolder, the grille has just a touch wider smile, and although no one has officially said it, the whole exterior seems to be just a dab more rounded than perhaps it was in the past. Of course the exterior still screams its brand name — there’s no denying the Range Rover’s bloodline — but it seems just a bit more modern for 2010.
» Engine: 5.0L 375-hp Alloy V8 with 375 pounds torque
» Transmission: Six-speed electronically controlled automatic with CommandShift
» Fuel consumption: 12 mpg/city, 18 mpg highway
» MSRP: From $79,275
The real change from the already luxurious interior of Range Rovers of yesteryear is — surprise — in the interior.
Slide into the front seat and you’ll undoubtedly notice the new instrument cluster right away. While the dials are quite contemporary, they do take a bit of getting used to just because the physical instruments are replaced by a 12-inch thin-film transistor screen, which presents all driver information in what Land Rover calls “virtual” dials and graphical displays. Basically they are so thin and slim, they look almost like the dials in a toy car.
That’s not to say they are inexpensive looking — far from it. It just may take a driver some time to get used to the new display, which allows the driver to receive myriad displays in all driving conditions.
I didn’t give the car a full workout by any means, but I can say that the LR-V8 engine — developed in-house by the Jaguar Land Rover power train team — was one of the more powerful yet refined engines I’ve felt in a car. While the force of the engine was undeniable, it also was very responsive to various traffic conditions, never making me feel as if I was out of control. Braking and handling were also extremely steady and responsive.
Although this SUV won’t win any awards for fuel economy — it gets 12 mpg city and 18 mpg highway — the customers who buy these SUVs are more interested in luxury than nickel-and-dime savings.
The 2010 Range Rover is beautiful, tough and responsive. It’s difficult to imagine it not topping any serious luxury SUV shopper’s wish list.
