Range Rover 2006

The Range Rover 2006 is Land Rover's flagship high-performance luxury SUV.
Undeniably a Range Rover, the 2006 version features the classic tall, powerful design, taut contours and elegant angles.

All models have a redesigned front grille and bumpers, with the Supercharged given a diamond cut mesh design grille and side power vents, giving it a more powerful look to go with what's under the bonnet.

Driving

Getting out of our tight parking spot was no problem, thanks to the rear-view camera which automatically switches on when reversing. The windscreen and side window construction gives the driver almost panoramic front and side vision. If you like leather seats in your car, these luxurious numbers will make you feel like you're still back lounging at the club.

But with 400 horses dragging the car from a standing start to 100 km/h in 7.5 seconds, perhaps it's more like first class in a jetliner. A not too heavy pump on the pedal announces a lightning but smooth transmission from strolling to flying, and the engine throughout is incredibly quiet.

The engine is tied to a fully electronic 6-speed automatic transmission with manual selection available through the Commandshift system. Speed sensitive power steering gives excellent response at lower speeds, which gradually tightens up at higher speeds but without the driver losing synergy with the car.

Gone is the rocking and rolling of ancient models. The corners much like a smaller and lighter vehicle. Driving fatigue is also minimised by the 16-way electronic adjustment that holds the body in a comfortable yet strong position. The steering wheel also moves in/out and up/down with the touch of a button. A memory function is useful when you are not the only driver.


The ride is aided by interlinked electronic air suspension, giving the option of different height settings, and a Dynamic Stability Control system that monitors individual wheel speeds. New Bi-xenon adaptive headlights give improved vision when negotiating corners and streets with dim lighting.

As expected, other cars on the highway showed due deference to the traditional leader in the luxury class, with even the ubiquitous blacked-out-windowed Land Cruiser moving aside as we approached from behind.

Off-road

But the Range Rover is not just for posing on the highways. It's manufactured to go virtually anywhere anytime, incredible for a vehicle with such a smooth on-road drive.

We ran it through a wide range of conditions including dunes, soft roads and mud.

Recent rains had firmed the dunes somewhat, giving us confidence that even with full tyre pressure there would be no terrain the Range Rover couldn't manage. And we were right. With the extra power under the bonnet, superior clearance, and gearing ratio, the car knew what to do as we climbed and descended some pretty hefty hills without so much as a concerned glance from my passenger. In more remote areas where our roadmap failed us, the Vogue's satellite navigation, on an easy-to-reach colour touch screen, was invaluable.

Rides over gravel were a breeze, and a drive through mud was only noticeable when we got out at the end of the day and surveyed the state of the exterior.

While not a sedan, it would be surprising if Range Rover was not able to coax potential buyers away from the likes of the BMW 7 Series and S Class Mercedes-Benz. Everything you want in a luxury SUV: a superior ride on the open road and toughness to deal with any conditions off.