Had a drive a few days ago

very good, definately still the best 4x4 in the world, but would say a little hyped about the luxury levels being greater than the old model.

Definately better in the back with much improved leg room & reclining rears angle much better with the base moving too. The base of the front seats also moves in & out to solve short / long leg variances
However, the front seat controls are a nightmare to get to. You need tiny hands & really have to angle your hand down past the door panel to them. They are bad enough on the old version, but this is one thing that has not improved

Headrests are much softer - more like a cushion to put your head on. Seats felt like they hold you in place a little more. Looks like the same leather & style as the old, but perhaps need bedding in for a year to feel the same as my current one !

Door pillars seem thicker & protrude into the cabin more - the part in between front & back doors. A couple of times this caught our elbows depending on how the seat was positioned. Just seemed like it was in the way. I checked when I got back to my RR and they are thinner on the old version, so don't stick into the car so much.
They are fine with the seat forward enough so the back is in line with the pillar, but move it back more & it'll give you a clunk if you put your arm back.

Had a go in a AB SC - oh my god it's a real beast; very, very quick. A toy I fear would get me in trouble If it had wings it really would take off.

The AB 4.4 TD was on the off road part, felt about the same as the old model. Had a quick blast on the road on the way back which wasn't very long but to be honest doesn't feel any more power or acceleration than my current 4.4TD.

Definately more agile on cornering on the road - slightly lighter on the brakes - all things you'd expect with the weight loss. Overall just feels a little bit more sporty, but not quite so laid back which is what I like about my current model.

Styling is nice in the flesh and very modern.

Overall I really do like it, but I don't think i'll be changing just yet. With all the hype I really was expecting much more luxury, but I personally couldn't see anything better; in fact I would argue some of the switches are more plasticy.

One big put off was the whistle from the front window when you reached 35 / 40 mph. There was also some axle knocking like you get on the sport I don't have any of that on my current version. The one I drove had about 3000 miles on the clock, so even if everyone who's driven it gave it abuse, I doubt it's caused those issues. Do I really want to get wind noise on a window for £100 K
I hope that was just this one I had & not a common thing, but I would say build quality remains the same.

Inevitably I'll end up with one, but whilst I was going to change sooner I think I will definately wait until mine is at least 3 years old and see what the reviews have to say over the next couple of years.

Anyone else driven who noticed any wind whistling ?

Interesting, wind noise was one of the things they claimed was greatly reduced - I suppose when you're comparing it with an already pretty quiet car, you need a big difference to notice subjectively. About 200kg lighter vs the previous TDV8 is the about the difference between one and four people in the car, again maybe not hugely noticeable subjectively. Re the pillars - the actual window openings at the back are like portholes, presume it's due to the aluminium construction.

What do you mean by "axle knocking" (and has my invite for a drive been lost in the post)?

Hi Trommel,

I noticed a few times on the road some metallic knocking when going over bumps. Quite a clunk in places - something I know would annoy me if it was a permanent feature. Felt like the whole front axle was moving a bit causing the knock. might simply be a bush gone already if they've been hammered off road.

I suspect these have taken some beating already though. Not sure how many times this invite day has been running for, but the alloys were scratched to hell already from the off roading.

I'm still going to wait until the dealers have them to test drive another. The wind noise was only on the drivers side, so definately a fault somewhere on the rubber that side. Not noisy, but a very faint whistle - was driving the wife mad !

Overall, I wouldn't say it was any quieter than the old version. Engines sounded about the same, quiet on the SC, a nice burbly grumble from the 4.4TD.
Shame I didn't get to drive a 3.0 Diesel, but hey ho I'm not complaining

I forgot to mention the massaging seats - didn't really rate that & unless they are in the price as standard I wouldn't bother adding them.

One thing that was ridiculous was the "ambient lighting" about 20 or so different colours that just show in the door pockets & around the bottom trim of the centre console. The purple made it look like a pimps handbag

Also, the centre console uprights are right where your knee rests & that was painful if you hit it. At the moment I find the side of my lower leg/ shin rests on the softer bulge of the console / leg part. but the new one doesn;t have that & so your knee goes over & clonks the wood trim or silvery bit (the silver bit is in the video above this posting)

I guess it's what you get used to, but I just felt these little bits were a bit of a let down.

ps. the cruise control is on the other side of the steering wheel now too

The purple made it look like a pimps handbag


JJ

 All my spelling errorz are belong to me!

2023 FFRR L460
2020 Range Rover Velar

Mmmmm I wonder how quickly they will turn up in porn movies then, roomy, lots of light and pimp coloured interior lighting.......... Not that I ever watch any porn of course  MY 2010 5.0 SC Galway green and sand interior!!
Have the Faultmate MSV2 Extreme to be tinkering with the settings etc. !!

interesting review

Nice review.

Concerned how much the B post intrudes into the car.
As I am 6'3" I have the seat back so my shoulder is level with the B post on the L322.
I used to find even on gentle corners my shoulder would tap the post, which is uncomfortable.

Must be a LR design feature as it's taking a cue from the Defender!

I hope there is more shoulder space overall on this one compared to the old one.

Rolo wrote:

Also, the centre console uprights are right where your knee rests & that was painful if you hit it. At the moment I find the side of my lower leg/ shin rests on the softer bulge of the console / leg part. but the new one doesn;t have that & so your knee goes over & clonks the wood trim or silvery bit (the silver bit is in the video above this posting)

I guess it's what you get used to, but I just felt these little bits were a bit of a let down.

ps. the cruise control is on the other side of the steering wheel now too

That is EXACTLY what i found and detested in the sport. I think we know how LR are poising the RR for a certain kind of customer who will buy one straight away without asking for discount and can afford the SC fuel bills dont we... the 3.0 sdv6 was likely an after thought to help bring the average emission down and make some normal buyers a little happier..

TBH i dont see why they couldn't canvass owners on here. A day where they invite you to poke and prod things as a group would have been much better money spent for their new flagship than asking plonks in god knows where what they want.. Err its good just make it better....  FFRR MY06 facelift With TDV8 Alloys Zeros/ATR's
Mantec Sump Guard, Rigid Load liner, MY10 BT upgrade.

kingpleb wrote:

I think we know how LR are poising the RR for a certain kind of customer who will buy one straight away without asking for discount and can afford the SC fuel bills dont we... the 3.0 sdv6 was likely an after thought to help bring the average emission down and make some normal buyers a little happier..

TBH i dont see why they couldn't canvass owners on here. A day where they invite you to poke and prod things as a group would have been much better money spent for their new flagship than asking plonks in god knows where what they want.. Err its good just make it better....

True but they aren't then canvassing a full spread of owners are they. Knowing what actual owners further down the line think would help as it does tarnish or garnish a reputation when things getter older if they get sh@ter as well... Alfa Romeo anyone.... and they are still shaking that off to this day! FFRR MY06 facelift With TDV8 Alloys Zeros/ATR's
Mantec Sump Guard, Rigid Load liner, MY10 BT upgrade.

Have to agree with Trommel this really is not the place to try and sell new Range Rovers.

Tight fisted bunch of.....

Fox wrote:

I hope there is more shoulder space overall on this one compared to the old one.

I thought it actually felt like less space in the cabin. I think that's because the centre console / gear knob is higher than previously.
It's definately more sport like than older vogue.

I just want to know why everyone is saying there are much higher levels of luxury; I want to know why I missed them ?? I must being going blind.

It's less fussy inside for sure, but for me left it feeling a little bland.

I'm sure I'll warm to it; maybe I'm just enjoying the one I have too much. Love to hear what others who have driven really think of it though.