Range Rover Autobiography (2023) - Terrific Large SUV!

Thanks: Motto Automotive 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Starting at $ Highs Elegant exterior styling, sumptuously outfitted cabin, range of powerful and polished powertrains. Lows Six-figure starting price, plug-in hybrid only offered on base trim, snug third-row headroom. Verdict Suave, sophisticated, and sybaritic, the 2023 Range Rover is everything a flagship luxury SUV should be. Overview What attracts global elites to the Range Rover isn’t the SUV’s legendary off-road capability, but rather its effortlessly elegant styling, its opulent cabin, and the A-list status that it’s developed over the years. The 2023 model represents the most luxurious Range Rover yet. A trio of powertrain options—including a hybrid—deliver ample power; the brand’s largest SUV comports itself through traffic regally, with a smooth ride and a hushed interior. Venturing off-road is certainly an option for Range Rover owners; all-wheel drive is standard and the air suspension can be raised to provide extra ground clearance—although we know that few will actually dare to subject this rolling art piece to such indignity. The Range Rover starts at over $100,000, which means it’s more expensive than rivals such as the Cadillac Escalade, the Jeep Grand Wagoneer, and the Mercedes-Benz GLS-class. So be it. The Range’s reputation, presence, and royal endorsement all help justify its premium price tag. What’s New for 2023? The revamped Range Rover technically debuted for the 2022 model year, but it was confusingly sold alongside the previous generation model, and not all of its variants were available. For 2023, the older model is no more. For 2023 the plug-in hybrid P440e powertrain joins the lineup, and Land Rover says this setup will provide up to 48 miles of electric-only driving range. It’s available exclusively on the short-wheelbase SE trim. Pricing and Which One to Buy SE: $105,975 SE PHEV: $106,250 Autobiography: $159,075 First Edition: $165,475 SV: $194,575 We’d recommend opting for the mid-range Autobiography model, which adds several sought-after items that luxury buyers will appreciate. For example, the Autobiography comes standard with a 1600-watt Meridian stereo system featuring headrest-mounted speakers and active noise cancellation. The Range Rover will be offered in both short- and long-wheelbase body styles, and we suggest going for the latter since it creates room for a third row of seats and provides a more generous cargo area. Engine, Transmission, and Performance The Range Rover is available with a trio of powertrains, starting with a turbocharged inline-six with a 48-volt hybrid system dubbed P400 that develops 395 horsepower. During our initial test drive, it proved to be silky-smooth and provided adequate pep to tug the large Range Rover around. A 523-hp twin-turbo V-8 engine—Land Rover calls it P530—is even perkier and cranks up the Range Rover’s towing capacity to 8200 pounds. At our test track, the P530 hustled the Range Rover to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds; the P400 did it in 5.5 seconds. A 434-hp plug-in hybrid option—called P440e—is also available but only on the short wheelbase SE trim. Our long-wheelbase P400 test vehicle managed to hit 60 mph in a fairly brisk 5.5 seconds while the short-wheelbase P530 we tested did it in just 4.3 seconds. The Range Rover’s ride is suitably plush and, with its adjustable air suspension set to Comfort mode, it virtually floats down the road. Turning the dial to Dynamic mode firms things up some, but the big Rover still aims for a comfort-first mission. When we get a chance to take the Range Rover on our test track, we’ll update this story with test results. Range, Charging, and Battery Life The EPA hasn’t released official range estimates for the plug-in hybrid P440e, but Land Rover says the system’s battery pack should provide around 48 miles of electric-only driving range. The P440e is capable of DC fast charging or can be charged at a home-based charger. Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG The most fuel-efficient Range Rover will likely be the plug-in hybrid P440e, but the EPA hasn’t estimated fuel economy numbers for that model yet. The entry-level P360 and mid-range P400 are both rated for 18 mpg city and 26 mpg highway while the V-8­–powered P530 has earned 16 mpg city and 21 mpg highway estimates. On our 75-mph highway fuel economy route both the P400 and the P530 delivered the same 23 mpg result. For more information about the Range Rover’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website. Read More 📌 Instagram ▶ 📌 Facebook ▶