Pathological test drives a land yacht (used)

The Land Rover Range Rover is like expensive wine. It only tastes good if you exploit it for what it is really meant to be used for.

Most expensive wines come with several flavors to choose from and so does the Range Rover. Standard 3-liter supercharged six-cylinder pumps out 340hp and really isn’t anything to brag about, but it is flexible and doesn’t feel short on puff. The optional 380hp form makes more sense. The 3-liter turbocharged six-cylinder diesel has the lowest output of the range at 254hp but makes up for that with 443lb-ft torque. The diesel engine in this makes no sense whatsoever. Most considering the Range Rover won’t care about running costs because let’s face it you’d consider every other option that’s cheaper. Top of the range 5-liter supercharged eight-cylinder pumps out 510hp and 550hp and both are the best of the best here. Acceleration is so fast that you’d immediately forget that you were in a heavy 4x4 unless you try to turn a corner fast and oh dear you’ll be brought back to reality real quick.

It’s not designed for heavy corners most would say. Tell that to BMW and the X5/X6, Porsche Cayenne. Both seem to defy logic of any SUV with fantastic handling. However, we aren’t talking about BMW or Porsche. We’re talking about Land Rover the almost fully capable land yacht if you wanted to call it one.

The closes to off-road we could do in this beast was maybe more of the light mud and grassy stuff. Yeah, we ourselves thought it was pretty lame but these are the cards we were dealt and well we were going to make the most of it! Our tester car came equipped with the eight-cylinder engine and well it was the most expensive on the lot too. It’s no wonder the Range Rover Sport exists. This 4x4 isn’t cheap and neither is the equipment for the four-wheel-drive. There were so many off-road selections and several ways to get out of sticky situations that it would leave your head spinning. It was indeed a joy to drive around in just the mild stuff and yes it climbed on top of all that was thrown at it. (Of course the light stuff.)

Honestly most buyers won’t even tackle the off-road trails or go anywhere near them. So we decided the best thing to do is to drive it like how 99% of most buyers will and that’s around suburbia and in heavy traffic jams. I can honestly see where the diesel would be more appealing because a 5-liter eight-cylinder in stop/start traffic is like driving a Bugatti Veyron at speeds below 20mph. It’s meant to be driven fast and to its full potential and you can’t achieve that with grandma in the fast lane doing 15 below the speed limit and the mom on her cell phone yelling at the kids in the backseat to quiet down. You’ll be annoyed but the seats are superb and the overall visibility is outstanding despite it being so tall and wide. It does often feel top heavy but let’s face it, even we have limits and trying to push this heavy thing to its limits is well not something we are interested in embarking.

The stop/start technology isn’t all that refined and it does leave a lot to be desired. Most will just immediately shut it off every time they turn on their vehicles, but it does save gas though!

Steering feedback is pretty good for a 4x4 and handling is more secure and borderline athletic. It’s not BMW or Porsche but it’s decent.

The interior is what matters the most to us because you spend all most all of your time there. Yes this 4x4 has the most luxurious interior you can possibly ask for. The materials used feel soft and luxurious and it doesn’t disappoint one bit. There’s decent space for everyone to get comfortable and I don’t really see how anyone couldn’t love British Luxury, it’s so understated sort of like Scandinavian Luxury (ala Volvo). We did however run into a lot of electrical issues and many of them were just plain annoying. The infotainment screen decided to basically reboot itself while we were using the navigation to find our destination. It took about 15 minutes to restart and when it finally did the navigation system suddenly couldn’t find our destination after the reboot. The auto high beam headlights often got confused by everything from street lights, the reflectors on the road and lightly shaded areas the high beams insisted that they need to be activated. The parking sensors completely failed after a rain storm. These issues were addressed with Land Rover and they did fix the problems after we returned the vehicle.

The base Range Rover comes with Autonomous Emergency Braking, 19-inch alloy wheels and a 13-speaker 380watt sound system. HSE comes with sliding panoramic sunroof with power blind, 14-way power front seats with memory setting, heated rear seats and auto-dimming exterior mirrors with power-fold feature. Supercharged trim adds 21-inch alloy wheels, front fog lights and All-Terrain Progress Control.

The Range Rover is one of those 4x4s you’ll either love or loathe. Most will loathe it because the reliability issues and of course the high starting price. But for those who can make it rain of course won’t mind the high starting price and the steep running costs, it’s the luxury that matters the most and yes the Range Rover can and will deliver.

Likes: The Range Rover is excellent on-road and off-road, a feat that’s just plain impossible to achieve. It has a presence that is hard to ignore. British Luxury is so much better than the Germans. Eight-cylinder engines are so quick you’ll forget that this beast is a heavy one.

Dislikes: Electrical issues cause worry in reliability long-term. Running costs aren’t cheap.

Devon’s pick: The 3-liter turbo-diesel should make the most sense but it doesn't. If you have the money to buy and run a Range Rover chances are you don't care about running costs and the 5-liter supercharged eight-cylinders are the way to go, and you won't regret it! 

Pathological is swayed by the new Disco

We loved the Land Rover LR4 because not only was it a workhorse but it was also a seven-seat crossover that could ferry the family around in comfort and style. Those days are long gone and the new Disco is here to reclaim the crown that the LR4 held dearly in our hearts.

You can choose between two engines. The entry 3-liter supercharged six-cylinder pumps out 340hp and offers decent flexibility while the 3-liter turbo-diesel seems like the better choice for those who do tons of highway driving and also will be using the seven seats and carry luggage aboard. We personally didn’t get the chance to test the turbo-diesel engine as it wasn’t available, but the 3-liter supercharged unit felt up for the job. Our tester car didn’t come with any fancy bells and whistles. It was the HSE trim which we found to be all you need with the Disco in terms of standard kit.

Driving the Disco around town doesn’t feel like much of a chore as the size suggests. It really is easy to squeeze around tight parking spaces thanks to communicative steering which is enough for this vehicle. Parking aids also help take the sting out of it as well. The engine doesn’t lack in flexibility or refinement as it is silky smooth. We took it on the highway and found ourselves doing 80mph and not even feeling like it. Wind and road noise are so well suppressed that (dare we say) is better than a Mercedes S-class.

The driving position is spot on good with excellent comfort and refinement. The infotainment system is a little fussy to use at first but once you’ve gotten used to it, everything just falls into place. We love the simplicity of the interior although some may say that it is a bit plain. The second row seats offer good headroom and legroom, although those in the third row won’t really want to stay back there for too long. It isn’t as versatile as the XC90 which does the three rows of passenger comfort well. Boot space with the seats in place is about class average, but when you fold that third row seat down space opens up considerably. Fold the second row seat down also and you’ve got yourself a cargo van. The electrically folding seats do take a while to fold and unfold.

SE trim gets 19-inch alloys, rain sensing windshield wipers, automatic headlights and rear parking aid with visual display. You’ll have to step up to the HSE to get 20-inch alloys, LED headlights, powered inner tailgate and a 380watt Meridian Sound System. HSE Luxury adds a twin-speed transfer box, electronic air suspension, panoramic sunroof, heated seven seats and three-zone climate control. First Edition gets all terrain progress control, 21-inch alloys, surround view camera, intelligent seat fold and activity key.

You’ll have a hard time disliking the Disco because it really does offer more refinement than the LR4 and while we didn’t get the chance to take it off-road. We know that this will be as capable as the LR4 is. Our only concern is that Land Rover reliability record is still iffy.

Likes: Tough off-road and luxurious on-road, both engines are more than capable for the job. We love the way this thing looks.

Dislikes: Halogen headlights on entry-level SE.

Our pick: HSE Trim adds all the bits that you’d want with your Disco without pushing the price outside of the means of reason or logic. Those willing to dish out the cash should jump right for the First Edition.

Devon tests drives a Subaru XV (Used)

If there were ever a vehicle that blended go-anywhere all-wheel-drive, a roomy interior and fuel economy that is almost similiar to a small family car. You'd say we were crazy, but what if that vehicle existed? It would be the Subaru XV.

Performance: There is only one engine choice for the XV and that's a 2-liter boxer four-cylinder producing 148hp. Acceleration around town is decent and highway passing power is okay. The XV only weights 3,100lbs so this is actually quite enough. In some situations however, the engine leaves us wishing there were a more powerful output to choose from.

Ride & Handling: The XV comes standard with all-wheel-drive which provides oodles of grip and traction when you need it the most. The ride comfort however isn't the greatest. On some surfaces the ride quality feels a little bit of a let down, especially on the highway. You'll feel an unrelenting tremor which is too bad because it handles very well.

Refinement: The engine doesn't really have to be worked hard if you aren't in a rush, but if you are you'll hear it. Wind and road noise are well supressed most of the time. You'll hear the suspension struggling to soak up the bumps at low speeds. On the highway road noise will be a unwelcome visitor.

Behind the wheel: The driving position is good thanks to an elevated height, which means an overall good view of the road. The steering adjusts for reach and for height and the seats offer plenty of support. All the controls are within easy reach of the driver's hand.

Space & Practicality: The XV offers oodles of leg and headroom for rear passengers, even if the exterior shows a differ story. The boot offers plenty of space for luggage. Roof rails are standard on both trims which adds to the versatility of the vehicle.

Equipment: The XV comes well equipped even in the base trim. You get all-wheel-drive, stability control, Bluetooth hands free connectivity for your mobile phone. Top of the range trim adds leather trimmed upholstery, automatic climate control, six-speaker sound system and standard automatic transmission.

Buying & Owning: The XV has an attractive starting price of only $21,995, while the top of the range is only $24,495. There are options to choose from and can push the price a bit dearer than you'd like. The biggest complaint we have is that even though the engine is up for the job, we'd want a more powerful engine or a diesel possibly. Running costs should be average thanks to decent fuel economy. Resale value should be strong too.

Quality & Reliability: The interior may not have the classy materials used in some of its possible keen rivals, but there is a sturdy quality and feel. Subaru has enjoyed strong reliability record and its reputation for that is spotless.

Safety: The XV has performed well in crash tests and even scored a full five-star rating. Stability control is standard across the range which will help you avoid accidents.

The XV is a great alternate to a much larger and less efficient 4x4 and other crosovers that may costs more. If you desire a go anywhere vehicle, with decent running costs at a decent price. The XV clicks all the right buttons. If you can ignore that lack of power and the somewhat disappointing highway ride quality. The XV is a good car and worth the consideration.

Devon's Pick: 2.0i Premium is the pick of the XV range. It's the cheapest and will fit most needs really well. In my opinion you don't want to pay any more for the top of the range trim.

Likes: Standard all-wheel-drive with decent fuel economy. Stylish exterior looks with great off-road manners. Raised driving height gives good view of the road.

Dislikes: Low speed ride comfort, road noise at highway speeds. A more powerful engine or diesel engine would be nice.  

Devon M

(Look-back review) Devon goes lux in a Land Rover

The Land Rover LR4 is one of those vehicles that can fit up to seven passengers and still offer plenty of luxury that you’d expect from a Land Rover. It can be used as a workhorse and has legendary off-road capability. So does this mean that this Land Rover is a real jack of all trade?

Performance:  The only engine on hand with the LR4 is a 5-liter eight-cylinder producing 375hp. Acceleration is smooth and brisk on the highway and even around town it doesn’t feel overpowered. This is highly due to the fact that the LR4 weighs 5,600lbs. It won’t feel like a sports car but it at the same time it will never feel underpowered once up to speed.

Ride & Handling: The LR4 won’t defy the laws of physics as well as a BMW X5 would, but it does a good enough job of staying composed and taut feeling through bends. Highway driving is where the LR4 shines. The air suspension does an amazing job of ironing out bumps and road imperfections providing a smooth supple ride all will enjoy. The Land Rover isn’t aerodynamic but it does filter out wind noise quite well. There is however some wind noise that can be heard from the chunky side mirrors. This can be drained out by the radio.

Behind the wheel:  The LR4 has a very good view of the road ahead.  The driver’s seat has tons of adjustments and there are plenty of storage compartments too. The controls and dials on the dashboard are easy to navigate but a tad fiddly to operate. The LR4 can seat up to seven, however it can’t do the seven passengers and their luggage trick as well as a Mercedes GL. There’s plenty of room when you fold down the third row seat. The tailgate opens in split that can serve as a seat or viewing platform.

Equipment: All LR4s come well equipped including air-con, four electric windows, Bluetooth and keyless entry. You’ll have to pay extra for Xenon headlamps and satellite navigation system. Our pick would be the mid-range HSE which comes well equipped and is still offered at a decent price. Top of the range adds more features but is harder to justify the higher price tag.

Buying & owning: The LR4 isn’t a cheap car to buy or run. Your fuel bills will be high due to the thirsty eight-cylinder engine. We think that a diesel engine option would really help cut some of the sting out of the running costs, as well as make the LR4 even more desirable. Resale value should be pretty strong when it comes to selling too.

Quality & Safety: The materials used in the cabin show that much detail were given. It feels classy and solid but the biggest question still remains is the reliability record. Our tester car suffered its fair share of electrical issues. The Satellite navigation system completely shut off and took nearly five minutes to restart and car failed to start after a brief stop fuel stop. Stability control and hill decent control all come standard to help aid in on-road and off-road. Thieves won’t bother with the LR4 as it comes standard with an alarm, immobilizer and deadlocks.

The LR4 is a classy well rounded sport utility vehicle that seats up to seven. There’s plenty of comfort in on-road and off-road capabilities with a luxurious cabin that can lives up the Land Rover standards. However with all this comfort and refinement reliability has been a bit of an issue. Our tester car suffered a few glitches on the test drive. If you can ignore these bits the LR4 is a rewarding vehicle to own and a fantastic car to have if you need seven seats or just want the Land Rover badge. However, there are better alternates out there that are much better in terms of quality and running costs.

Likes: Luxurious ride on road and off-road with commanding view of the road ahead. Can seat up to seven yet doesn’t feel its size when you’re on the road.

Dislikes: Running costs will be high. Electrical issues questions long term reliability. No diesel engine option.

Devon's Quick Summary.

Performance: Eight-cylinder pulls well but is very thirsty.
Ride & handling: Isn't as sharp as an X5 but does a good job.
Behind the wheel: Excellent visibility with superb driving position.
Equipment: Well equipped but lacking a few items that should be standard.
Buying & owning: Isn't cheap to buy nor cheap to run.
Quality & Safety: Reliability is very questionable.

 Devon M