So after the day out trip with the new SC and 4.4 off road, thought I'd best go check out the 3 litres as well.

Not too bad at all. Takes a bit of getting used to the Eco button where the engine cuts out when you stop, but very quick response to re-start.
Acceleration is by all means adequate & torque is pretty good. Overall if I had never driven a 4.4, I would have been happy with it's performance from such a huge vehicle. I wouldn't be dissapointed driving it, although of course not as torquey as the V8.

I'm sad that I am still dissapointed with the interior. Seats are no where near as comfy as my current model. Dash is bland & boring and gives no hand made feel to it.
Ride is more bumpy too. It doesn't seem to waft over English roads any more & you get a definate bump.

I also drove the 4.4 again to compare. It is virtually the same as mine in performance, but so much louder - imho not good. The road noise & acceleration noise was louder than my current one and also so blasted bumpy. WTF have they done ? How is this supposed to be more luxurious ? OK so you can have massage seats & fancy lighting, but overall the inside has lost something, it doesn't look like a craftsman has made the leather dash or put the wood in place. It's all too moulded in look and just not as comfortable.
I really was disspointed with the amount of road noise & I wasn't the only one to notice without saying anything.

We keep getting told that this is by far the most luxurious range rover ever, but I just don't get it, After a long time driving, I got back in mine & it is definately quieter & more comfy. I'm sorry, but i really think if I had been blindfolded & taken in both vehicles I would have sworn mine was the newer improved version.

I was also under the impression you can spec what you want, but you can't. The silver side strip has to stay & is not able to be body coloured, not unless I want to take it to a spray shop myself. You can only have certain headlining colours with certain leather colours, which may not be your choice. Just makes no sense, silly little options that would make no difference during build as they are available, but they won't do it.

I really want to say I want one, but I'm left feeling a bit empty. So if I don't change now, how am I going to get an improved range rover from what I already have in a year or so ?

I'm desperately trying to reason with these facts. Do I perhaps have an unsually good L322 ? Maybe mine is super quiet for some unknown reason, but I thought that's what the brand was all about - being luxurious, so why do I feel the new one isn't anywhere near as good ?

Do you want an improved range rover?? I love the fattie the way it is.....  Previously..
Vogue SE TD6
Defender 90 2.4
Defender 110 TD5
Vogue 3.5 EFI

well yes, surely the next model should be some improvement ?
better leather, seats, functions, peace & quiet inside, more power, better economy & emissions.

I would have rather they did all those improvements than the big style change outside.

I've driven 4 now, but none have wowed me I'm afraid apart from the acceleration on the SC. I was really hoping a more sumptious feel & certainly the same level of peacefulness inside, not less

I don't dislike the modern look, but for me it is not as good, smooth or quiet to drive.

But they seem to be selling well, so hats off the LR. I wonder what my next car may be unless I keep this one forever

Regarding the ride comfort, what size wheels are on yours, and what size were on the L405 ? My plan was idiot-proof ...




Until someone designed a better idiot

mines on 20", the V6 was also on 20", the V8 on 21".

The V8 was the harshest, so wheels could be the problem, but the V6 is the same as mine & still not as smooth ????? Just odd.

It wouldn't surprise me if they'd stiffened the suspension on the new FF, as such minimal off-roading happens with them. That would make the ride not as compliant.
I'm personally not a fan of big wheels anyway, having run BMWs for a few years before returning to the FF fold - anything BMW 'M-sport' has horrible, twitchy ride due to big wheels, low sidewalls and stiffened suspension
Must admit, I'd love to see the L405 on something like 18 or 19 wheels (brakes permitting). Then again, why on earth does such a vehicle need such enormous brakes - they aren't supposed to be driven like a sports car ! My plan was idiot-proof ...




Until someone designed a better idiot

the wheel sizes are quite silly on the new car: I'm not a rapper so no thanks!
The interior has too few buttons and loses the coherence of design of L322, it just looks like an evoque with some wood splashed on.
The touchscreen is not adequately quick to respond, which is fatal considering that so many functions are accessed by it.
Surprised about seats though: they looked butter soft and loved the winged headrests? Maybe safety legislation causing problems here.
Your car is at the absolute peak of L322 development, so it almost stands to reason that its a good one...

I've drove both the 3.0 and the 4.4 and both on 21"s, the 4.4 felt way stiffer/harsher to drive!

JJ

@ JJ, glad to hear it's not just me then I so wanted to love this new version

@ robjp, that could be it re the suspension, it does corner a little better, but as you say it's not a sports car, I'd rather slow down round a sharp bend than loose the smooth comfortable ride !

@ campaj1, yes agree some of the wheels are stupid size & butt ugly, but 20" on the old model & this look fine, so really should give at least the same level of comfort.

Neither of these had the winged headrests which I had presumed came as standard on the SE, but they are a £400 option The SE leather was pretty much the same as the old version - the standard vogue was very stiff & a bit slippery to feel though which adds to the discomfort.

Regretfully for me the overall drive feels like a backward step & more towards other marques of car feel.

I just recall when I was looking at buying RR again 2 years ago, as soon as I sat in the SE, the seats & drive were just perfection. I wanted to get that same feel, where you just feel at home, but alas no.

I've always known I'm odd , so I guess it's personal taste, the next generation of RR owners will probably be completely different types of characters

Have to agree with Rolo, as much as I would like to love it....It's just a nice car and that's it I warmed up to it but I guess it's not enough Not the same emotion like the L322! Anyway I'm waiting...mine that was ordered is ready to pick up in two weeks but I'm not going for it. Going to see what MY 2014 will bring
Honestly, wouldn't know what to drive after the L322 as for now...

JJ

Yeah... would have worked if next gen Q7, but a RR... not so much

as for 4.4 problems; must be something to do with anti roll bars

"Going to see what MY 2014 will bring" : I guess not much different than current MY2013 model.

robjp wrote:

Then again, why on earth does such a vehicle need such enormous brakes - they aren't supposed to be driven like a sports car !

I'm with 5.0 on this. My L322 (2011) is a great car but the infotainment is worse than my colleagues entry level A4 and it is a bit of a rolly-poly on an A road when compared to Q7,X5 etc. I don't want a sports car (got one in the garage) but its not much fun for passengers to be holding onto the grab handles at every roundabout or corner.

I initially thought that the SDV8 was louder when pushing on but realised that the car is so much quiter on cruise that it just seems that way.

I agree that it isn't a quantum leap but then the L322 is already an exceptional car so it maybe isn't such a surprise. 2019 D5 HSE Lux SDV6 Indus
55 D3 SE
98 MX5 1.8 RS
gone 17 older variants of FFRR

CSK wrote:

"Going to see what MY 2014 will bring" : I guess not much different than current MY2013 model.

That's what I thought when I bought my new L322 and 7 month later the 4.4 was introduced....

JJ