AS A LUXURIOUS OFF-ROADER
For well over half a century the Range Rover has offered buyers a unique combination of luxurious comfort and off-road capability in serving as Land Rover’s flagship SUV.
Only the Mercedes-Benz G-Series really can match it when it comes to more challenging off-pavement excursions like rock-crawling and fording small streams, but the Range Rover gets higher grades with its on-road manners. The Range Rover’s styling is more mainstream as well.
Despite its age, the Range Rover, which debuted as a 1970 model, moved into just its fourth generation in 2022. The first generation was extended to 1994 as early Range Rover were more basic, utilitarian vehicles than present day plush vehicles.
Land Rover included a plugin Range Rover for 2019 and a fully electric version will debut later this year as a 2027 model. My review of the plugin can be found by clicking on January 2026 in the directory on the right.
This review is based on the seven-seat 2026 Range Rover SE LWB with a 3.0-liter turbocharged 6-cylinder gas engine rated at 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. It actually serves as the entry-level model and is followed by the turbo V8Autobiography, and SV trims. The Range Rover also is available in short wheelbase form.
The gas engine in my test 2026 Range Rover SE was supplemented by an electric supercharger that operates at low speeds in a mild-hybrid setup that results in a zero-to-60 mph clocking of under 6 second and fuel economy numbers of 19 miles-per-gallon city, 24 highway, and 21 combined using premium grade fuel.
The interior of the 2026 Range Rover is most assuredly high class and packed with many tech features as you would expect for a vehicle in this segment.
Standard comfort and convenience features include rain-sensing windshield wipers, a rear wiper, rear privacy glass, 4-zone climate control, power heated and ventilated front seats, power recline heated and ventilated second-row seats, heated third-row seats, a Meridian premium sound system, wireless charging device, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto with Amazon Alex integration.
LED headlights, soft-closing doors, power liftgate, a sliding panoramic roof with power sunshield, and rear power side sunblinds also are standard.
Safety features include emergency collision notification, emergency brake assist, a 3/D surround view monitor, blind-spot assist, adaptive cruise control, hgh-speed emergency braking, and rear traffic monitor.
Higher Autobiography and SV trims run from $161,350 to $241,040 for the special SV Black model.
What I liked about the 2025 Range Rover SE LWB: The premium interior is roomy and packed with lots of tech features. The ride is quiet and smooth. Off-roading ability is unsurpassed.
What I didn’t like about the 2025 Range Rover SE LWB: The Range Rover’s overall bulk requires careful maneuvering in mall parking lots. Third row room is surprisingly cramped. The learning curve for all those infotainment features is pretty steep and response from the touchscreen is sometimes erratic. Often you have to take your eyes off the road to get to the proper menu.
Would I buy the 2025 Range Rover SE LWB? As with the plugin Range Rover I reviewed at the start of the year, the infotainment system is a real turnoff for me and I likely would look elsewhere if I were shopping in the large luxury SUV segment. But if you are comfortable with that system, the Range Rover should be on your shopping list.
