Used 2019 Land Rover Range Rover Base SUV Review

It's not an exaggeration to say that the 2019 Land Rover Range Rover is one of the most versatile vehicles on sale today. With standard four-wheel drive, configurable traction settings and an air suspension, the Range Rover is capable of tackling muddy trails and wading through water nearly 3 feet deep. Yet it's equally able to tackle the worst of the urban jungle thanks to its cosseting cabin and high-end luxury features. It's similar to the Range Rover Sport, but the bigger Range Rover offers increased passenger room, a nicer interior, and a road presence that the Sport just can't match.

While the Range Rover has always been the pinnacle of the Land Rover lineup — receiving high-end luxury features first before they trickle down to less expensive models — it hasn't always kept up to date when it comes to tech. That changes for 2019. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are now available, and while they aren't technically included on every model, they are no-cost options and we expect most dealers will carry equipped vehicles. A pair of new safety items are also available: a camera that gives a bird's-eye view of the vehicle to aid in parking maneuvers and a lane-centering feature that helps reduce driver fatigue on long trips.

The 2019 Land Rover Range Rover comes in five main versions: base, HSE, Supercharged, Autobiography and SVAutobiography Dynamic. While the base Range Rover comes well-equipped, the HSE gives you more standard features. The Supercharged is similarly equipped but has a supercharged V8. Next, the Autobiography adds more luxury options and driver assist systems, and the SVAutobiography Dynamic adds more power and sportier suspension tuning. The long-wheelbase versions of the Supercharged, Autobiography and SVAutobiography Dynamic add more than 7 inches of rear legroom.

The Range Rover's base version comes with your choice of a supercharged 3.0-liter V6 (340 horsepower, 332 lb-ft of torque) or a turbocharged, diesel-powered 3.0-liter V6 (254 hp, 443 lb-ft). The diesel is known as the Td6. An eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive are standard.

Standard features on this model include 19-inch alloy wheels, LED lighting (headlights, taillights and daytime running lights), rear foglights, a self-leveling air suspension with automatic height adjustment for loading and unloading, adaptive suspension dampers, automatic wipers, auto-dimming and heated exterior mirrors, a hands-free liftgate, a panoramic sunroof with a gesture-operated sun blind, keyless entry and ignition, tri-zone climate control, a power-adjustable steering wheel, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, 16-way heated front seats with memory settings, a 60/40-split rear seat and leather upholstery.

Tech features include a digital instrument panel, a Wi-Fi hotspot, navigation, satellite and HD radio, a 13-speaker Meridian sound system, and Land Rover's InControl Touch Pro Duo infotainment system with dual 10-inch touchscreen displays. A rearview camera, front and rear parking sensors, low-speed forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, and lane departure warning are also standard. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto aren't technically standard, but they are included with the Smartphone Integration package, which is a no-cost option.

Next up is the Range Rover HSE that includes a few more standard features such as 20-inch wheels, soft-close doors, upgraded 20-way power-adjustable front seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, as well as access to a greater catalog of options. It also includes the Drive (blind-spot monitor and traffic sign recognition) and Park (rear cross-traffic alert) packages, which are available on the base Range Rover. The HSE comes with your choice of two powertrains: the Td6 diesel V6 or a powered-up version of the turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 (380 hp, 339 lb-ft).

Next is the Range Rover Supercharged, which simply adds a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 (518 hp, 461 lb-ft) to the V6-powered HSE, plus 21-inch wheels.

The next rung up is the Range Rover Autobiography. The Autobiography packs the same supercharged V8 as the Supercharged, but it features significantly more content, such as the Terrain Response 2 and All-Terrain Progress Control systems, automatic high-beam control, front foglights, a 360-degree parking camera, a head-up display, four-zone climate control, 24-way power-adjustable heated and ventilated front seats with massage, heated and ventilated rear seats with remote power-folding, upgraded leather upholstery, additional leather trim, and a 29-speaker Meridian sound system. It also adds several packages that are available on other models, such as Drive Pro (enhanced blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control and lane departure mitigation) and Park Pro (automated parallel and perpendicular parking). The long-wheelbase version also comes with a rear entertainment system.

If you want the sportiest Range Rover, go with the Range Rover SVAutobiography Dynamic. It uses an uprated version of the 5.0-liter supercharged V8 gasoline engine and produces 557 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque. It also features a lowered ride height, a more aggressive on-road suspension calibration, quilted leather upholstery, leather headliner, heated massage elements for the front seats, and additional rear-seat adjustments.

The long-wheelbase models all share the same extended chassis. The Range Rover's wheelbase is lengthened by 7.9 inches, and rear-seat legroom grows by 7.3 inches. As the top dog, the SVAutobiography LWB comes with a front cooler under the center armrest, along with an even more luxurious rear-seat environment, which includes upgraded class seats, deployable tables, a center console cooler with glasses, power sunshade blinds, power-closing doors and a rear-seat entertainment system.

Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the Land Rover Range Rover HSE Td6 (turbo 3.0L V6 diesel | 8-speed automatic | AWD).

NOTE: Since this test was conducted in 2016, the current Range Rover has received some revisions, including a revised InControl Touch Pro Duo navigation and entertainment system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto availability, and the new Terrain Response 2, an automated driving mode system. Our findings remain broadly applicable to this year's Range Rover.