Are Range Rovers Capable Off-Road?

Several models wear the Range Rover name, but do you know what the difference between a Range Rover and a Land Rover is?

In simplest terms, all Range Rovers are Land Rovers, but not all Land Rovers are Range Rovers. Now that we’ve cleared that up as clearly as mud, we can venture into the conversation about whether or not you’ll have capable off-road features when you look at one of these vehicles.

Most of the time, you see models that wear the Range Rover name tooling around on the roads. These vehicles are in the luxury class and have become popular for running errands, meeting for coffee, taking kids to activities, bringing home the groceries, and commuting to work. None of those activities answer the question we’re asking, which leaves us a little frustrated by what we see and how these SUVs are being used.

Looking at the Land Rover Range Rover

We could choose another model that wears this name to give you the review, but why not just pick the one that has the name and nothing but trim levels after it? This SUV is a luxurious vehicle, and it brings you the best that the brand has to offer. You’ll find a standard and a long-wheelbase model of the Rover, both of which seat five people comfortably. If nothing else, you’ll admire the status, styling, and speed offered in this impressive vehicle.

We Have to Do More Than Look at It

We’ll put this question to rest, and then we can focus on the product review. Every model of the Range Rover is an impressive off-road vehicle. You expect that with the Land Rover name, but you might not have understood this fact. This SUV comes with an amazing Terrain Response System that has settings for Snow, Sand, Mud, and Rocks to set the transmission, throttle, and suspension for the terrain you’re driving on.

What Can You Expect to Find in this Land Rover Product?

Range Rover (base trim)

• Leather upholstery
• 14-way power front seats
• Tri-zone automatic climate controls
• Sliding panoramic moonroof
• Terrain Response System
• Power tailgate
• 19-inch alloy wheels

Range Rover HSE

• 20-inch alloy wheels
• Perforated Windsor leather upholstery
• 20-way power heated front seats
• Heated power-recline rear seats
• Driver Condition Monitor
• Meridian sound system
• Adaptive cruise control
• 360-degree parking monitor
• Rear cross-traffic monitor

Range Rover Westminster Edition

• 20-way heated and cooled front seats
• 21-inch alloy wheels
• Heated leather-covered steering wheel
• Quad-zone climate controls
• Soft-close doors
• Front-console refrigerator

Range Rover Autobiography

• Active locking rear differential
• All-Terrain Progress Control
• Perforated semi-aniline leather upholstery
• 24-way power, heated, cooled, massaging front seats
• Executive Class rear seating
• Power-deployable center console
• Head-up display

Range Rover Autobiography Fifty Edition

• Black exterior accents
• Black 22-inch alloy wheels
• Premium LED headlights
• Leather headliner
• Heated steering wheel
• 10-inch rear entertainment system (LWB only)
• Lighted aluminum treadplates
• Lane-Keep Assist
• Solar-attenuating windscreen

Range Rover SVAutobiography Dynamic (SWB only)

• Quilted and perforated semi-aniline leather upholstery
• 24-way “hot stone” massaging front seats
• SVAutobiography Dynamic Suspension tuning
• Executive-class power-reclining rear seats
• Deployable rear-seat tables
• Perforated leather headliner
• Mohair floormats

Range Rover SVAutobiography Ultimate

• Green satin-finish exterior paint
• Ebony interior
• Heated, cooled, massaging rear seats (LWB)
• Clock and refrigerator in center console (LWB)
• Active Roll Control
• Carbon-fiber trim
• Anodized red shift paddle
• Optional 22-inch wheels

With so many trims and incredible luxury features, you might not think this Land Rover would need any options, but there are a few that can be added.

Options Not Included in the Packages

The Range Rover can be upgraded in many ways, but some of the items you could choose to come on their own and not as part of a package. Enjoy the addition of leather tailgate event seating, a center console cooler/heated, and personalized illuminated treadplates. These items give your vehicle a little more luxury that you can show off to your friends and family.

You’re Not Done Making Decisions with the Range Rover

There are six different power options offered to you when you shop for this vehicle at your local Land Rover dealer. Thankfully, every engine setup is served by an eight-speed automatic transmission to give you the shifting you need.
The power choices you have for this vehicle are:

• 3.0-liter turbocharged diesel V6 engine – Base, HSE – 254 horsepower, 443 lb.-ft. of torque – 22 city/28 hwy mpg

• 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder engine – Base – 355 horsepower, 365 lb.-ft. of torque – 19 city/25 hwy mpg

• 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder engine – HSE, Westminster – 395 horsepower, 406 lb.-ft. of torque – 19 city/25 hwy mpg

• 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine plus 105-kW electric motor – HSE, Autobiography – 398 horsepower, 472 lb.-ft. of torque – 42 MPGe

• 5.0-liter supercharged V8 – HSE, Autobiography, Westminster – 518 horsepower, 461 lb.-ft. of torque – 16 city/21 hwy mpg

• 5.0-liter supercharged V8 – SVAutobiography, Westminster – 557 horsepower, 502 lb.-ft. of torque – 14 city/19 hwy mpg SWB, 13 city/19 hwy mpg LWB

A Look You’ll Admire

The Land Rover Range Rover gives you a design that has changed somewhat over the generations but has maintained much of what you expect from this brand. That expectation is a vehicle that’s made to handle the toughest, most rugged, and hardest to cross terrain in the world. That means you’ve got an SUV that sits up high off the ground, has the rugged and rough appearance you want, and is equipped to handle the challenges of the wilderness. As you might expect, higher trims look more luxurious and give you specialized looks that you’re going to want to show off.

Why Don’t We See More of These SUVs on the Trails?

The Range Rover is a highly capable off-road name, and that hasn’t changed in recent years. Why then do we not see more of these SUVs out on the trails? The reasons vary from the fact that no one wants an expensive SUV to get hit by a rock or dinged by a tree to the fact that many of these SUVs are purchased by owners that just aren’t interested in wilderness adventures. If you’re looking for a great SUV to drive, visit your nearby Land Rover dealer and decide whether or not you’re going to take your Ranger Rover where the lane lines end.