A month with a Range Rover

Living with the car. We decided to see what would be like to live with a Range Rover for a whole month. We’re going to break down our experiences with a Range Rover and should you consider buying one or leasing one. The Range Rover we picked was very lightly optioned. It had basic interior protection package with 16-way heated front seats, navigation system and a black headlining. It was the closest to the MSRP we could find. It didn’t even have fancy alloy wheels, which further cheapened the look of the Range Rover. You could just look at it and immediately know we had the entry-level model. However, it does have curb appeal as we gotten quite a few stares just doing regular errands and driving around town. Heated front seats on a cold brisk morning does become your best friend. More than you’ll ever know. You can option for a diesel engine, and it does make the most sense if you are planning to do tons of highway driving or plan on going off-roading. The extra torque does come in handy. However, that commands a hefty $7,000 premium over the already competent 3-liter turbocharged/supercharged six-cylinder petrol engine ours came fitted with. It’s such a joy to drive. The engine spools smoothly and there’s little to if no turbo lag just driving around town and cruising along on the highway. Land Rover says that with this engine you can get from 0-60mph in about 7.5 seconds. We honestly believe that is the case here. It does feel quick on its feet and we didn’t feel like we wanted more. Besides, the whole purpose of driving a Range Rover is to drive it in a luxury fashion so everyone can see you in it. We’ve encountered our first ever snowstorm which rocked our Midwest area. It dumped a foot of snow onto the ground and made everything challenging for street parking and well driving around since it froze over and then more snow was dumped on top of that. The Range Rover wasn’t a struggle bus. It managed to help me get through the blizzard with little to no drama. I felt very confident driving through the worse of the snowstorm, even if I were only doing a mere 7mph from my job all the way home. The optional heated windscreen does wonders when it’s snowing and of course the Range Rover comfort factors made the traffic jam less stressful. We absolutely love the headlights at night. They are crisp and stunning. You don’t need high beams or fog lights. What we like: The Range Rover is a great vehicle to drive around as a daily commuter car. The throne-like seating position makes it quite easy to see out of and the overall driving experience is laidback. It may not be as agile as an X5 however this isn’t trying to be an X5. It’s a 4x4 that can handle its own well when the weather gets nitty and gritty. The engine is smooth and flexible, the interior is first-class amazing. It’s also quite roomy as a five-seat with plenty of boot space. What we don’t like: The infotainment screens take some getting used to. It does get a little annoying at times when you want to do simple adjustments for the climate control or change the radio station. It does get a little distracting, however once you’ve mastered it. You’ll get along with it just fine. The automatic high beams often are confused with lightly shaded areas and overpasses. The engine stop/start technology has failed on us twice. We still can’t get over the fact that our Range Rover has a price near $100,000 and only comes with 19-inch alloy wheel as standard. Overall: Lease a Range Rover and get rid of it. We love Land Rover products. They are stunning to look at and amazing to drive. However, they are very unreliable in quality and once the warranty expires. The fun really does begin. Likes: The engine is silky smooth in operation. It’s a Range Rover. It’s recognized everywhere you park it or drive it. It’s comfortable to drive around town and on the motorway. Dislikes: Reliability woes. 19-inch alloy wheels on a car that costs almost $100,000.