How do you sum up a driving experience that essentially leave you smiling from ear to ear, until you remember how there is a price-tag just under R4 Million attached to it? There are a few reason why I would tell someone not to consider a Range Rover First Edition, and all of them are rather around NEED more than anything while the other are around the price – unless you have the budget for it. Outside of that, it is very hard to fault this “beautiful monster” as it has earned its stripes over the years in now becoming the symbol that luxury SUV’s should attain.
I feel like we need not question the other Range Rovers in the class, but rather focus on the one that left the biggest impression on my face – The Range Rover First Edition, the 3.0L Twin Turbo diesel variant that is capable of 285kW @ 700Nm of power. One would think that a car that weighs close to 3 tons would be sluggish but Land Rover did it well by pairing with an engine that can take the car from 0-100km in 6.1 seconds and also delivers a beyond impressive comfortable drive, as we experienced through the backroads we took this unit through(we can’t even call those roads as the tar was hanging on by a thread – story for another day) during our test week.
The Inside
Luxury car’s defining point is usually split into 2; a classy exterior coupled with a striking yet subtle inside cabin. The Range Rover First Edition nails the interior quiet well. Starting with the seats that are wrapped in semi-anilime leather, that sits well and hugs the body quiet well – especially if you are faced with taking a corner a tad too fast. The seats also feature both heating and cooling for driver, front & rear passengers with the front seats also having the added benefit of lumbar massage functionality that offer multiple options. The multifunctional steering wheel controls the key features of the car, with the cluster having 3 display functions.
The key features for us were the infotainment system – a 13.1” touchscreen that is very responsive paired together with a 15-speaker Meridian Signature Sound System that includes a tweeter, midrange and subwoofer system. The audio system honestly made the insulation even better as it delivers quality sound right through the vehicle without sounding like the midrange was struggling.
The sound also extends to the to the rear of the car in that it also delivers a 3D surround sound through a unique tailgate experience, that also offer high quality sound into the vehicle, or for those sports days when using the rear for comfort seating.
The cabin layout is pretty much clean, with the electronic seat adjustment for both the driver and passenger not only placed well on the door but also through the infotainment system – and the seating adjusts automatically through both systems and offer the option of saving the arrangement. The front of the cabin, however, sacrifices the usual center storage space and makes space for a mini fridge that sits well and covered by a natural black Birch veneer with inlay and First Edition script finish around the interior.
The rear seats have the option of also controlling the seats through the center touch console or through the side of each door should they decide to fold up the middle to make space for a third seating at the rear. The middle console also offers the option to roll-up the rear seat blinders, 2 additional USB-C ports and HDMI connections for the 11.4” screens at the rear of the driver and front-passenger seats.
How Does It Look And Drive?
It is no lie that the new Range Rover has significant changes compared to its predecessor where the looks of the vehicle are concerned – outside of the interior updates that have been made. The fifth generation has seen some key changes:
- The front of the vehicle is somewhat like the predecessor but slightly slimmer and cleaned out, apart from the radars that have been hidden quiet well through the grill.
- The gills on the side of the car remains the same as the predecessor though the doors have been cleaned out and the door handles flushed out and the addition of the assistive ramp that extends out when the doors have been opened.
- The rear has seen a significant “clean-up” with the LED lights that flush out within the smoked housing. The badge has also been removed so you can’t really tell which model you are driving – prompting one to take a closer look when wanting to compare such details.
- Also, there was a full spare wheel fitted to the car hidden in the boot along with controls that adjusts the rear height through the air suspension and the control on the electronic tow bar(that is fitted at no additional cost by the way)
The drive was rather comfortable – and this is me being honest considering that our intended road trip took us through some very “patchy” side of the country that had us dodging potholes in a bid to staying alive. The roads did give us a chance to test the 6-cylinder twin turbo diesel engine and, BY GOSH, what an impressive engine it is. It is not sluggish on acceleration; it handles well through the sharp turns (for a 3 ton car at that) and it handles any sudden change in terrain as the drive train can adjust automatically depending on the drive environment – through I still wouldn’t take it off-road without proper protection on the paint work. The driver visibility is equally great for a car that rides high; you will get over the anxiety of driving in that ‘high’ position with the first week without a doubt.
Final Verdict
It’s no surprise but sitting at just under R4 million (R 3,537,000 to be exact), the Range Rover First Edition definitely has its market(and class of its own) in that the owners club know exactly what they are signing up for. Along with the price range, Land Rover gives owners peace of mind with a 100 000km warranty and 5 Year Service Interval Plan/Maintenance Care Plan. Whilst the vehicle is covered under Care Plan – the customer will have the benefit of:
- 24-hour roadside assistance through Europe Assist.
- The choice of having your vehicle serviced at any of the Land Rover Dealerships throughout South Africa, Namibia or Botswana.
But big question, would you consider this over, say, a BMW X7, Mercedes-Maybach GLS or even a Bentley Bentaga? That question is yet to be answered by you. Personally, I would take the First Edition Range Rover – and I hope I can get to answer why.
