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By KBB.com Editorial Staff
For 2009, the flagship Range Rover shines as the height of Land Rover engineering and luxury. It combines unparalleled off-road prowess with a winning combination of power, performance and, quite possibly, one of the most handsome interiors ever to grace an SUV. Adhering to a long tradition, the Range Rover retains its boxy styling and tall doors, augmented by a modern front fascia, large wheels and flush side glass. Furthermore, unlike many luxury competitors, the Range Rover is not derived from lesser siblings; it is a true original designed from the ground up to be the best premium SUV possible. Although fuel economy is definitely not a strong point, we doubt many buyers in this price range even notice the price at the pump when filling up.
f you have the income to afford the finer things in life, then perhaps your mode of transportation should reflect your hard-earned social standing. Range Rover was the original luxury SUV, pioneering the segment long before SUVs were ubiquitous. Its technical sophistication and blend of on-road comfort and manners with off-road prowess and capabilities have simply grown through the years.
Though it can easily out-perform most sport utility vehicles when traveling far from the pavement, the Range Rover's gorgeous exterior and high price tag will discourage many owners from ever experiencing its off-road abilities.
The base HSE trim receives new 19-inch wheels, while a new Autobiography Package adds a more luxurious interior with more standard equipment.
Driving Impressions Though not many people are going to take a $70,000 – let alone $90,000-plus – vehicle for a romp in the mud, it's nice to know that, if you must...
diverge from the civilized road, the 2009 Land Rover Range Rover is equipped with one of the finest off-road systems ever designed. Its permanent four-wheel-drive system and complex array of electronic monitoring devices permit the Range Rover to ascend hills that might have a mountain goat think twice. The air-spring suspension allows you to choose the ride height of the vehicle, raising it higher when more ground clearance is required and lowering it when conditions allow a lower center of gravity. For a big SUV, the Range Rover handles itself surprisingly well, devoid of that top-heavy feel you sometimes experience in softly-sprung SUVs.Instrument Panel
The Range Rover's lovely dash is a work of automotive art.
Seat Design
Colored piping on the seats is a subtle but effective accent.
Interior
The Range Rover's dash is a complete original, and the fit and finish of the interior might easily lead one to believe it was handcrafted. The Range Rover has excellent room for four passengers, though it is designed to hold five. You can choose from five beautiful interior leather seat and piping combinations, all of which complement the standard Burl Walnut wood trim.
Exterior
For decades, the Range Rover was defined by its boxy, upright greenhouse and short front and rear overhangs. The 2009 Range Rover continues this theme but with a polish never before seen on a Land Rover product. From its flush multi-beam projector headlamps to the elegant side-fender louvers, every inch of this SUV looks as though it was assembled to be a one-of-a-kind vehicle.
The 2009 Ranger Rover HSE features a 305-horsepower V8 engine, six-speed ZF automatic transmission with CommandShift, Terrain Response all-wheel drive, tri-zone automatic air conditioning, xenon headlamps, Hill Descent Control, dual-heated power auto-dimming power mirrors with tilt-down feature, rearview camera, front side-impact airbags, front and rear side-curtain airbags, power glass sunroof, navigation, 710-watt 14-speaker harman/kardon LOGIC 7 surround sound audio system, heated leather front seats, cruise control, stability control, automatic load-leveling suspension, heated windshield wipers, alloy wheels and a memory feature for the driver's seat, outside mirrors and steering wheel.
Options for the Range Rover include a 400-horsepower Supercharged V8, heated and cooled seats, heated steering wheel, 14-way power driver's and passenger's seats, adaptive headlamps and a rear-seat DVD entertainment system. The Autobiography Package adds Diamond Turn 20-inch wheels, semi-aniline leather seating, unique wood trim, four-zone air conditioning and a rear seat DVD entertainment system.
The 305-horsepower 4.4-liter V8 engine of the Range Rover HSE rates high in the areas of horsepower, torque and fuel economy. The supercharged 4.2-liter engine provides superior off-the-line acceleration as well as passing power, but the additional $15,000-asking price is steep. We think most people will be perfectly happy with the HSE.
4.4-liter V8
305 horsepower @ 5750 rpm
325 lb.-ft. of torque @ 4000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 12/18
4.2-liter V8 Supercharged
400 horsepower @ 5750 rpm
420 lb.-ft. of torque @ 3500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 12/18
Based on 185 Ratings for the 2003 - 2012 Land Rover Range Rover models.
Review this carBy NJShore (NJ) on Saturday, January 07, 2012
I own this car - My approximate mileage is 149,000
overall rating 4 of 5rating detailsPros: "great car to drive"
Cons: "service cost on older models"
Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 9
"I luv the vehicle, great ride, long distance no problem, Impressive vehicle in and out But when dealing with an older model out of warranty beware, service cost could lead you to the poor house, I have yet to walk out of the dealership with a Bill under 1K and some as high as 3K easily Even if you can find an independent repair guy, all he /she can do is save you on the labor; parts still come from land rover at full price at least in the USA"
6 people out of 6 found this review helpful
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By Mike C. (CA) on Wednesday, December 28, 2011
I own this car - My approximate mileage is 162,000
overall rating 4 of 5rating detailsPros: "Great engine (BMW engine), drive-abilty"
Cons: "Expensive to repair when it brakes"
Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 9
"I have owned a lot of vehicles, this is one of my favorite. When this ones dies, I will be keeping it for parts and get another."
3 people out of 3 found this review helpful
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