There is something about a Range Rover that exudes wealth, power and class. Images of hunting rifles, tweed jackets and bloodhounds are hard to shake and even the grey haired lady who still drives a pale yellow ‘80s version oozes a nose in the air quality.
Besides being the recreational vehicle of choice for the royal family, I have never been able to figure out why Range Rover has this rep. For this reason I was keen to get behind the wheel of their latest offering, the TdV8.
Not only does it hold a grand stature but also it is physically big and stands head and shoulders above the rest of the parking lot. It carries over the traditional slab-sided, slab-fronted aesthetic of its predecessor and delivers a go anywhere image.
Internally the Range Rover has all the goodies, like electronically adjustable seats, seat warmers, climate control, heated steering wheel, heated windscreen, electric windows, ride height controls, TV screens and even jacks for a Playstation.
Our favourite gadget had to be the Venture cam, which by pushing the correct touch button on the dash screen broadcast a live picture from the handheld unit. If you stick it out the window it does help to give the driver get a better view when off-roading.
TdV8 is a viable off-roading monster. A flick of a switch changes the air suspension height while you select one of five different Terrain Responses, which depending on mode, automatically adjusts gearbox, brake control systems, air suspension, traction control and electronic centre and rear differentials to meet the requirements.
These self-correcting techniques work wonders when negotiating an off-road section but for belting the Range Rover round a tar road are useless. Any traction loss sees the traction control instantly retard the engine revs which results in a sudden weight transfer that unsettles.
This might work wonders at slow off-roading speed but entering a corner on tar enthusiastically can become a little tricky as it removes any driver input. A car shod with Brembo callipers, 20-inch low profile tyres, costs R998 000, goes as quickly as it does and has these creature comforts is not only an off-roader. It is meant to be driven on the road and has a passion for going off-road.
Range Rover TdV8 is the pinnacle of comfort. Not only does the mix of wood and leather interior couple to make you feel this but the air suspension ride is sublime. The road noise is kept down and even the diesel motor is a quiet note in the background.
While it may be a refined diesel motor it did not impress with performance. I am not talking about the 0-100km/h, rather the delay between putting your foot down and the monster moving off. It is shocking, even dangerous. It crawls forward at a few km/h for a few seconds and then as the revs increase it manages to get the heavy machine moving. Even while cruising you have to calculate delay into overtaking manoeuvres. Range Rover needs to sort this problem out.
Range Rover have brought out a vehicle that covers all the bases, packs plenty of cigar credentials, is versatile and has all the extra bits but the problem for the TdV8 is that for less money you can pick up a petrol Range Rover or even a Sport.
Fast Impressions
make
Range Rover TdV8 HSE Diesel
engine
V8 DOHC 32V
capacity
3628cc
power
200kW@4000rpm
torque
640Nm@4000rpm
specific power
55kW/litre
specific torque
176Nm/litre
power to weight
74kW/tonne
torque to weight
236Nm/tonne
drive/transmission
AWD/6-speed auto
0-100km/h (c)
9.2 seconds
0-100km/h (g)
11 seconds
quarter mile (g)
18.1 secs @ 133.4km/h
80-120km/h 4th gear (g)
6.3 seconds
120-160km/h(4th)(g)
12.3 seconds
maximum speed
200km/h
price
R998 000
fuel use overall
11.3l/100km
fuel capacity
84 litres
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