On this tester, the optional 22-way power adjustable seats with heating, ventilation, and massage functions are easy to adjust through the lower touchscreen. The touch points feel weighty and of good quality. The wood inlays are beautiful, and I wish there were more of them. Once they do, though, they make an impression. I’ve already covered my opinion on the exterior appearance, though it’s worth pointing out that the optional black pack, 22-inch gloss black wheels, and black contrast roof on this test unit help to modernize the look.Īnd upon lowering into the driver’s seat, the first thing your eyes meet is a large expanse of black leather dashboard, so it takes a moment for the subtleties of the design, features, and materials to set in. If you really want one of these because you want the looks and the luxury but you don’t actually intend to get it dirty, you may want to consider one of the more efficient powertrain options. Given that premium fuel is indicated, this adds up quickly. My week with it, which was mostly city driving, ended on an average of 14.1 L/100 km. And it’s worth noting that you’ll pay for this in fuel: Natural Resources Canada says you can expect to use 14.4 L/100 km in city driving, 11.2 on the highway, and 12.9 combined. Of course, for any of this to matter, you have to actually intend to use your $140,000 SUV for the entirety of its capability. And when it’s just going in a straight line on the highway, it’s a complete contrast: smooth, comfortable, and quiet. This all contributes to the 34.7-degree maximum off-road approach angle, 29.6-degree departure angle, and 900 mm wading depth. There’s a standard twin-speed transfer box as well, and this test unit also has an optional active-locking rear differential. There’s the standard electronic air suspension, which raises and lowers the ride height manually via a switch or automatically through the drive modes for various terrain, which also adjust the firmness to match the conditions. It’s fast, it’s powerful, and it moves around this Range Rover’s 3,160 kg – yes, that’s 6,966 pounds – with such fierceness that you almost need to be ginger with the throttle at times in everyday driving.Īs for that weight? To make the Range Rover the off-roading beast that it is, you have to pile on a few things. If you plan to use your Range Rover for any of the things it’s designed to do – and if you’ve ever been to the Land Rover Experience in Montebello, Quebec, then you’ve seen it do a whole lot – this is probably the engine you’ll want. In the standard wheelbase HSE model, there are four engine options: a 3.0-litre six-cylinder with a mild hybrid system, a diesel V6, a plug-in hybrid, and the one that’s equipped in this test unit, a 5.0-litre supercharged V8 making 518 hp and 461 lb-ft from 2,500 to 5,500 rpm. And if there’s one thing this Range Rover definitely doesn’t represent, it’s the concept of boring. Two: Thinking this is the epitome of automotive beauty? I don’t get it.īut hey, if we didn’t have different needs and wants, we could just crank out one compact SUV per household and call it a day, right? Life would get boring pretty fast. It’s one of the things that keeps me doing what I do for a living. Maybe I’m fortunate to surround myself with the right people, but anecdotally, that hasn’t been my experience at all. Pundits say young people don’t care about cars. One: good on my neighbour’s daughter for having such strong automotive convictions. When I offered to take her around the block in it, she just about fainted. My neighbour, on the other hand, made a point to let me know that her teenage daughter literally screamed when she saw this parked in my driveway because she thinks it’s most beautiful thing on four wheels. But I have to confess that when walking up to it on the street, I just don’t get very excited by it. There’s no question that what you’re looking at here, the 2020 Range Rover, is one of the most luxurious and capable mass-production SUVs you can buy. Beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder.

2020 range rover hse