2006 Land Rover Range Rover Sport Utility Vehicle Reviews & Ratings

The Range Rover features a spacious, well-appointed interior. Compared with the previous-generation, pre-2003 Range Rovers, the interiors of the current models feature austere, straight lines carried over from the '05. The interior is not gratuitously ornate, but chiseled and architectural. Still, the atmosphere is light and airy, with styling cues coming from ocean-going yachts and first-class jetliner seating, as well as fine furniture and jewelry. Four standard interior color schemes are offered: Aspen/Ivory, Jet/Charcoal, Navy/Parchment, and Jet/Sand. All include contrasting piping on the seats, and a choice of traditional walnut burl trim or avant-garde cherry. The Supercharged offers two additional, exclusive interiors, Ivory/Ivory and Jet/Jet, and an exclusive Grand Black Lacquer wood trim. The rich wood and leather combinations make for lovely interiors.

The DVD-based navigation system is state of the art, with a 7-inch, touch-screen, dash-mounted VGA display. It is voice-activated, with a single disc mapping the entire continental United States. There is an off-road mode with elevation contours that can guide to a destination, and also track where you have been, to make it easy to return to your start point.

In addition to the usual trip computer functions such as fuel consumption, range, speed and the like, the Range Rover's instrument panel has an interface that shows what the wheels and suspension are doing and direction of travel. Drivers can see front wheel position when slogging through muddy ruts without getting out of the car.

The premium Harman/Kardon surround-sound system boasts 710 watts and 14 speakers. It can be controlled by voice command, steering wheel controls, or the touch screen. The telephone system integrates the owner's mobile phone with the car, allowing hands-free operation and voice commands, either by placing it in a cradle or using wireless Bluetooth technology.

The optional entertainment system includes a wireless remote and pair of headphones. Auxiliary input jacks in the base of the back end of the front center console allow two rear-seat passengers their individual choice of diversion, whether it's watching different videos or listening to separate CDs, while the front seat occupants enjoy their audio selection from the stereo.

Head- and legroom are unchanged from the '05. Seats are big and comfortable, firm and supportive, with adequate side bolstering and lumbar support. New for '06 are articulated front seatbacks with the upper half power-adjustable independent of the lower half. Headrests are comfortable. Rear seats are also very comfortable and supportive with lots of room. The large, front-seat head restraints block much of the forward vision for passengers in the outboard rear seats, however, which might be of concern to people inclined to motion sickness. Four cupholders are adjustable and accommodate many different sizes of bottles and cans.

Carrying a lot of gear is no problem. The Range Rover's tailgate is divided horizontally with a shorter-than-traditional bottom half to ease loading and unloading. That bench-like lower half was designed to support the weight of two adults, making this a perfect vehicle for tailgate parties, or for pulling on a set of waders, or for a quick picnic lunch, or any of those other times you might want a tailgate, often good, memorable times. The '06's cargo area is roomier than the '05's by almost 13 cubic feet. The rear seats are split 60/40 for versatility when moving cargo and people. Luggage hooks on the floor of the cargo area are designed to keep items secure. The full-size spare tire is stored in a well under the cargo floor.

The 2006 Range Rover upholds its legendary off-road capability, but with equally civilized road handling. There's little lean in corners. A jaunt of a couple hundred miles through the Northern California wine country and along the state's northern coast was a delightful and comfortable way to spend a warm, sunny day. Bay Area freeways, and traffic, were conquered with ease and smoothness. As boxy and upright as the Range Rover is, the '06 is remarkably quiet, its beefed up sound deadening and new laminated side window glass blocking all but the most pronounced road and wind noise.

The Range Rover's superb balance of ride and handling is the result of a highly refined and interconnected air suspension that allows softer spring rates for enhanced on-road comfort and an adjustable ride height over a range of some two inches. This system allows both serious off-roading and the courteous lowering of the ride height to make it easier for passengers to get in and out, a nice feature for shorter, older passengers and for social outings around town. An Access setting can be pre-selected so the body lowers to the desired height as the Range Rover rolls to a stop, avoiding having passengers wait while it "kneels."

The new Jaguar 4.4-liter V8 in the HSE is more powerful, less thirsty and quicker than the BMW engine it replaces. Horsepower has been increased by 23 to 305 horsepower at 5750 rpm. Torque remains at 325 pound-feet but it now peaks at 4100 rpm. It accelerates the HSE from 0 to 60 mph in just over 9 seconds, almost a full second quicker than last year's model. The HSE's top speed is electronically limited to 124 mph. The Jaguar engine is cleaner and gets better fuel efficiency with an EPA-estimated 14/18 mpg City/Highway.

The supercharged 4.2-liter V8, also from Jaguar, bumps the power still higher, at 400 horsepower some 35 percent above last year's V8, with torque up more than 25 percent, to 420 pound-feet. Even so, fuel economy improves to 13/18 mpg over the '05's 12/16, as does the 0 to 60 mph time, dropping almost to 7 seconds, with top speed governed at 130 mph. Oddly enough, the seat-of-the-pants gauge didn't register as much of a difference between the two engines as the numbers suggest. Maybe it's the Range Rover's heft, but when we drove off in the Supercharged after our time in the HSE, there just wasn't the neck-snapping surge off the line that we expected. Then again, maybe stately is more the Range Rover way.

Both V8s are mated to a the latest-generation, ZF six-speed automatic transmission featuring CommandShift, one of the more flexible manual override systems in the luxury market. In the Range Rover, CommandShift can operate in both the high and low ranges of the transfer case for use on or off road. It will upshift when in manual mode but not until engine redline, and in deference to off-roaders' occasional need for low, borderline-lugging engine speed, it delays downshifting until just before the engine's stall point. When in automatic Sport mode, the transmission employs slightly higher shift points and downshifts more readily. Even while just in Drive, we felt it drop down a gear halfway through corners looking for a sweeter spot in the engine's power curve.

Speaking of tracking through corners, the air suspension in the Supercharged model is somewhat tauter and more firmly calibrated than in the HSE, including a switch to solid stabilizer bars over the HSE's hollow, pipe-like bars. The Supercharged is no sports car, but it's sporty enough to invite comparisons to its Mercedes-Benz and BMW counterparts.

Four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes are backed by Emergency Brake Assist, which applies full braking force in a panic stop even if the driver mistakenly relaxes brake pedal pressure, and electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), which helps reduce stopping distances by balancing braking forces front to rear.

The Range Rover is also equipped with Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), which helps drivers stay on their intended course by preventing a skid. This electronic stability control system helps maintain vehicle stability at the limits of tire adhesion via a combination of yaw rate sensors, the antilock brake system, and the traction control system. When required, the system applies the brakes at one or more wheels to correct excessive yaw. For example, if the rear tires lose grip in a corner, a situation called oversteer can occur that can ultimately lead to spinning off the road; the system senses this happening and applies the brake on the outside front wheel to rotate the vehicle back onto the desired path. The driver need only steer where he or she wants to go.

The Range Rover's off-road prowess continues to set the standard for the class. It easily slogs up steep, muddy tracks most drivers would never attempt. Even more impressive is its ability to creep down steep, muddy terrain or gravelly tracks that would leave lesser vehicles parked against a tree or teetering on the lip of a cliff, thanks in no small part to Hill Descent Control, a technology Land Rover pioneered that automatically balances engine and brake application to maintain a stable, controllable rate of descent. Its suspension articulation and impressive technology make navigating rugged terrain easy, smooth and comfortable with little of the head toss you get in most off-road vehicles. It's pretty clear that the Range Rover can go anywhere.

The Range Rover boasts the slowest low-range crawl speed in the industry: just 2.4 mph at 1000 rpm, good for traversing the world's worst terrain. Its gearing is the lowest in its class.

The transfer case can be switched between low and high range on the fly, at speeds up to 30 mph, eliminating the need to stop in the middle of a mud bog to change gearing. Additionally, advanced electronics provide for a dual-range throttle with on- and off-road calibrations. That makes for quicker throttle response on the road, while allowing precise throttle adjustments in extreme off-road situations.

Trails can be negotiated with more confidence thanks to an undercarriage protection system that includes a plastic skid shield and Kevlar engine protection. Off-road traction control allows drivers to tread lightly by minimizing wheel spin, and therefore trail damage, while off the beaten path.

The 2006 Range Rover comes in two trim levels, the HSE ($74,950) and Supercharged ($89,950). The HSE is powered by a 305-horsepower, 4.4-liter V8 engine. The Supercharged gets a 400-horsepower, 4.2-liter V8. Both engines are mated to the new-for-2006 six-speed automatic transmission. Both feature permanent four-wheel-drive with a two-speed transfer case and electronic Torsen center differential, all-terrain traction and stability control, Hill Descent Control and four-wheel disc brakes with ABS.

Standard amenities on the Range Rover HSE include three-zone climate control, a 12-way power driver's seat with three memory settings for seat, tilt-and-telescope steering wheel and outside mirrors; 10-way power front passenger's seat; rain-sensing automatic windshield wipers; and voice-control, DVD-based GPS navigation and Harman/Kardon digital surround-sound system with six-disc CD changer and 14 speakers. Nine exterior colors and six interior pallets are available to choose from.

Options are limited. The Heated Accessories Package ($1300) includes dual-level heated front and rear seats; a heated, multi-function, leather-wrapped steering wheel; and an integrated ski bag. The Luxury Interior Package ($5,000) includes everything in the Heated Accessories Package, plus Contour seats with 16-way adjustment, auto-dimming outside mirrors and adaptive front lighting. The package also includes upgraded leather on the seats, dashboard door pulls, upper dashboard and cubby box, and luggage net. The Rear Seat Entertainment Package ($2500) installs a 6.5-inch, LCD screen in the backside of each front seat head restraint and a six-disc DVD changer behind the interior panel on the left side of the cargo area. A receiver for Sirius satellite radio is also offered ($400). Seven-spoke, 20-inch alloy wheels with a full-size spare are available ($4000).

The Supercharged comes with everything in the Luxury Interior Package, plus 20-inch bright-finish aluminum wheels. Brakes are upgraded with Brembo calipers in front and vented discs all 'round, in place of the HSE's vented/solid setup. In addition to the HSE's paint and interior choices, two monochromatic interior pallets and a Grand Black Lacquer wood trim exclusive to the Supercharged are offered, as are the entertainment package and Sirius radio receiver. Brake and accelerator pedals are stainless steel with rubberized inserts.

Safety equipment on all Range Rovers is comprehensive. Eight airbags come standard: front, side, and head airbags for driver and front-seat passenger, as well as head and seat-mounted side airbags for rear outboard passengers. Security is also a high priority, which means deadlocks and an ultrasonic alarm system. A panic button activates locks for extra security against attacks. New safety features that come standard for 2006 include front and rear park distance control and a rearview color television camera, both extremely helpful when backing up, and tire pressure monitors.