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2005 Land Rover Range Rover Full Review
Date Published: 2/20/08
2005 Land Rover Range Rover Review
For 2005, Land Rover's flagship stands pat as the company introduces a new premium midsize SUV called the LR3. The current Range Rover was developed by BMW, which sold Land Rover to Ford in 2000. It uses a modified version of the V8 found in BMW's X5 and a 5-speed automatic transmission with separate gate for manual shifting. An antiskid/traction-control system is standard, as is hill descent control designed to limit speed on steep descents in forward or reverse. ABS and height-adjustable air-spring suspension are standard, as are front torso side airbags and front and rear head-protecting tubular side airbags. The tailgate is a 2-piece clamshell design. Range Rover comes in HSE and Westminster trim. Westminsters come with exclusive pearlescent black paint and ebony wood interior trim, and include as standard heated front and rear seats, heated steering wheel, black leather upholstery, and rear cargo net. Westminsters come with 20-inch alloy wheels in place of the HSE's 19s. Added for '05 are a voice-activated navigation system and sound system with wireless cell-phone-link capability. All Range Rovers come with front and rear obstacle detection.
Competition
Consumer Guide® Automotive places each vehicle into one of 17 classes based on size, price, and market position. Based on mainstream Large SUVs, Premium Large SUVs are really super-sized luxury liners. All are powerful, pricey, and extremely thirsty at the pump.

Our Best Buys is the Toyota Land Cruiser. Our Recommended pick is the Cadillac Escalade.
News
Expect Land Rover to replace the BMW V8 in the Range Rover with the 4.4-liter V8 from the new Land Rover LR3 next year. The new engine should have more horsepower but less torque than the current engine.
2005 Land Rover Range Rover Road Test
Pros Cons
Ride Fuel economy
Passenger and cargo room
Build quality
Interior materials
Consumer Guide® Road Test Ratings
Acceleration

HSE Class Average
6 5.1

Acceleration supports Land Rover's 9-sec 0-60-mph claim, though midrange response can feel a bit labored in this heavyweight SUV, despite a smooth, quick-acting transmission.
Fuel Economy

HSE Class Average
2 2

Test models averaged 12.0-13.6 mpg in mixed city/highway driving. Range Rover requires 91-octane or higher fuel.
Ride Quality

HSE Class Average
7 5.8

Taut, but almost luxury sedan composed on smooth surfaces, with little tire thump on expansion joints. Air suspension can't quite keep up with some pavement undulations, however, resulting in minor but annoying vertical jitters or side-to-side rocking.
Steering/Handling/Braking

HSE Class Average
5 3.4

A mountain goat off-road and carlike on-road. Impressive grip, but tall build can overwhelm the suspension to allow marked cornering lean. Steering light but slow at low speeds, with numb on-center feel at high speeds. Relatively compact turning circle a parking lot convenience. Brake performance good for a big SUV, though some testers complained of touchy pedal feel. Automated settings take guesswork out of off-road driving.
Quietness

HSE Class Average
7 6

Rivaled only by Lexus LX 470 for overall refinement in an SUV. Engine smooth and hushed. Tire noise generally low, but noticeable wind rush sets in from as little as 60 mph, a penalty of the tall, blocky build.
Controls

HSE Class Average
5 5.6

Most controls handy, though not all are clearly marked, and each takes time to learn. CD changer deep in glovebox. Silken switchgear movement, top-grade leather, and tasteful wood reflect BMW's high-end design influence--though test models suffered some minor interior rattles and buzzes. Instrument panel features graphic display of front-wheel angle--handy when off-road.
Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front)

HSE Class Average
9 8.1

Tall driving position. View aft and to sides blocked by thick headrests and roof pillars, making standard obstacle detection helpful. Step-in a little steep for shorter people. Seats comfortably supportive, but allow occupants to slide around in fast cornering or at steep off-road angles. Generous head and leg room.
Room/Comfort (rear)

HSE Class Average
7 6.7

Theater seating means only adequate 6-footer head room. Ample leg space, but cushion a bit short for best leg support. Narrow thresholds combine with tall ride height for awkward entry/exit.
Cargo Room

HSE Class Average
7 7.8

Maximum volume among lowest of premium SUVs, but ample room for most needs behind rear seat. Load deck is relatively high, and accordion-fold hard cargo cover is awkward to remove or install. Small glovebox, but adequate small-items storage elsewhere. Fold-out front cupholders--one in dashboard, one in console--are afterthoughts with limited usefulness.
Value within Class

HSE Class Average
4 4.6

Range Rover stands out among premium SUVs for its balance of on-road manners, off-road ability, and high-class accommodations. There are less-expensive alternatives that match it in one or two of these areas, but for Range Rover's well-heeled buyers, little else will do.
Total Score

HSE Class Average
59 55.1
Scores for all Premium Large Sport-utility Vehicles

Low Score
23
Average Score
55
High Score
64
2005 Land Rover Range Rover Prices & Equipment
Model Prices
Prices Updated: 11/29/2004
Trim Name Retail Price Dealer Invoice Destination Charge
HSE 4-door wagon $73,085 $66,507 $665
Westminster 4-door wagon $85,335 $ $665
Pricing Key: Retail prices listed with each report are set by the vehicle's manufacturer. These figures appear on each car's federally mandated window sticker. Most price lists also include dealer-invoice prices. Dealer-invoice prices are what the dealer pays the manufacturer for the car and its factory-installed options. The destination charge is not included in the suggested-retail or dealer-invoice price and must be added to the cost of the vehicle. Car companies change prices frequently throughout the year. If the prices published do not match those on the vehicle's window sticker, the manufacturer has probably altered the price recently.
NA = price note available, NC = no charge.
Rebates and Incentives
There are no rebates or incentives at this time.
Consumer Guide®'s Rebates and Incentives represent a summary of national manufacturer programs available. Regional restrictions may apply, and offerings may vary by model. For a complete list of Rebate & Incentive programs click here.
Standard Equipment
HSE
Powertrain
4.4-liter V8 engine, 5-speed automatic transmission w/manual-shift capability, all-wheel drive, 2-speed transfer case, limited-slip differential center differential, front and rear traction control.
Safety
Dual front airbags, front side airbags, front and rear side head-protection airbags, antilock 4-wheel disc brakes, brake assist, hill descent control, antiskid system, tire-pressure monitor, front- and rear-obstacle-detection system.
Comfort and Convenience Features
Air conditioning w/tri-zone automatic climate controls (including rear controls), interior air filter, power steering, power tilt/telescope leather-wrapped steering wheel w/radio and climate controls, cruise control, memory system (driver seat, mirrors, steering wheel), leather upholstery, front bucket seats w/lumbar adjustment, 12-way power driver seat, 10-way power passenger seat, center console, cupholders, split folding rear seat, wood interior trim, heated power mirrors w/passenger-side tilt-down back-up aid, power windows, power door locks, remote keyless entry, power sunroof, Harman/Kardon AM/FM/cassette, 6-disc CD changer, analog clock, tachometer, navigation system w/voice activation, hands-free cellular telephone link, trip computer, outside-temperature indicator, automatic day/night rearview mirror, universal garage-door opener, heated front windshield, rain-sensing variable-intermittent wipers, illuminated visor mirrors, map lights, cargo cover, rear defogger, variable-intermittent rear wiper/washer, automatic headlights.
Appearance and Miscellaneous
Theft-deterrent system, rear privacy glass, front and rear fog lights, bi-xenon headlights w/wiper and washers.
Special Purpose, Wheels and Tires
Class III trailer hitch and wiring harness, height-adjustable and load-leveling suspension, full-size spare tire, 255/55HR19 tires, alloy wheels.
Westminster adds to HSE:
Comfort and Convenience Features
Heated steering wheel, heated front and rear seats, 16-way power front seats, ski sack, upgraded interior trim.
Special Purpose, Wheels and Tires
255/50HR20 all-terrain tires.
Optional Equipment
Major Packages
Retail Price
Invoice Price
Heated Accessories Pkg.
HSE
$1,300
$1,183
Heated front and rear seats, heated steering wheel, ski sack.
Luxury Interior Pkg.
HSE
$5,000
$4,550
Heated Accessories Pkg. plus 16-way power contour front seats, upgraded interior trim, automatic day/night outside mirrors, cargo net. Std. Westminster.
Special Purpose, Wheels and Tires
255/50HR20 all-terrain tires
HSE
$4,000
$3,640
2005 Land Rover Range Rover Specs & Safety
Vehicle Dimensions
Specification Land Rover Range Rover 4-door wagon
Wheelbase, in. 113.4
Overall Length, in. 195.0
Overall Width, in. 75.7
Overall Height, in. 73.3
Curb Weight, lbs. 5379
Cargo Volume, cu. ft. 62.0
Standard Payload, lbs. --
Fuel Capacity, gals. 26.4
Seating Capacity 5
Front Head Room, in. 40.2
Max. Front Leg Room, in. 38.9
Rear Head Room, in. 38.3
Max. Rear Leg Room, in. 35.5
Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist.
Engines
  dohc V8
Size, liters/cu. in. 4.4 /268
Horsepower @ rpm. 282 @ 5400
Torque (lb-ft) @ rpm. 325 @ 3600
Availability Standard
EPA City / highway mpg
 
5-speed automatic 12/16
Engine Key: l/cu in. = liters/cubic inches; ohv = overhead valve; ohc = overhead camshaft; dohc = dual overhead camshaft; I = inline cylinders; H = horizonally opposed cylinders; V = cylinders in a V configuration; W = cylinders in a W configuration; rpm = revolutions per minute; CVT = continuously variable (automatic) transmission; NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist.
Safety Features
Antilock Brakes
Traction Control
Antiskid System
Front Side Airbags
Curtain Side Airbags
Rear Side Airbags
NHTSA Crash-Test Results
Test Land Rover Range Rover 4-door wagon
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tests a vehicle's worthiness in front- and side-impact collisions and rates its resistance to rollovers. Front-impact crash-test numbers indicate the chance of serious injury: 5 = 10% or less; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-35%; 2 = 35-45%; 1 = More than 45%. Side-impact crash-test numbers indicate: 5 = 5% or less; 4 = 6-10%; 3 = 11-20%; 2 = 21-25%; 1 = More than 26%. Rollover resistance numbers indicate the chance for rollover when the vehicle leaves the roadway: 5 = Less than 10%; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-30%; 2 = 30-40%; 1 = More than 40%.
Manufacturer's Warranty
Class Years/Miles Comments
Powertrain None/-- --
Bumper-to-bumper 4/50,000 --
Corrosion 6/unlimited --
Free roadside assistance 4/50,000 --
Free scheduled maintenance 4/50,000 LR3 and Range Rover only.
Manufacturers may periodically offer additional coverage as a purchase incentive. There offers are not reflected on this chart. The federal government requires two other warranties. The Exhaust Emission Warranty covers corrosion-related parts for 2 years/24,000 miles, plus 8 years/80,000 miles on the catalytic converter and any on-board diagnostic device. The Passenger Restraint Warranty covers seat belts and airbags for 5 years/50,000 miles.
Built in: England
Drivewheels: all-wheel drive
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