The fifth generation of Land Rover’s flagship SUV, the 2022 Range Rover, is bigger, badder, and an absolute behemoth. Priced from Rs 2.38-3.43 crore, ex-showroom, India, there’s two powertrain options, four trims, two wheelbase lengths, and five- and seven-seater configurations to choose from. Until we drive it and find out exactly what this new Range Rover is capable of, here’s everything we know about it.
Traditional, Yet New
At first glance, the new Range Rover looks a lot like the previous model, but Land Rover’s ‘Reductionism’ design language has been incorporated in subtle, yet noticeable ways. The sleek headlamps get Range Rover’s signature LED DRL design, the grille is also sleeker than before, and the air vent at the bottom features two thick slats that house the fog lamps.
While the silhouette is unmistakably Range Rover, the ‘gill’ motifs are now more pronounced and Land Rover has opted for flush-fitting door handles for a sleeker look. The SUV that was on display for our walkaround was the long-wheelbase version with the five-seat configuration, and it looked like a royal barge. Those massive 22-inch rims also give off an extremely stately vibe.
There’s no doubt that the rear of the new Rangie is its most eye-catching bit, which is saying a lot as this SUV looks majestic in general. Those gorgeous tail-lamps, which have been merged with the gloss black panel that sports Range Rover badges, are said to have the most powerful LEDs ever used. When not glowing, they become ‘invisible’, giving the tailgate an inverted ‘U’-shape gloss black panel.
Tech Savvy
A major highlight of the interior is the 13.1-inch floating touchscreen infotainment system that runs on the latest generation of Land Rover’s Pivi Pro operating system. While there are still physical dials for the climate control system (they can be pushed and pulled to access seat ventilation/heating and fan speed, respectively), other climate control functions are accessed through touch-sensitive buttons that feature haptic feedback. There’s also a large 13.7-inch digital instrument cluster that can be customised.
Rear passengers also get 11.4-inch touchscreens mounted at the back of the front seats. You can connect any device using the HDMI port found in the centre armrest, and power the device (if needed) using the socket placed between the front seats. There’s also an 8-inch touchscreen controller that adjusts the rear seats, puts the front passenger seat in chauffeur mode, and opens and closes the sunroof.
And that’s not all. The new Range Rover has a 35-speaker, 1,600 W Meridian audio system that features active noise cancellation. Passengers won’t be able to hear wheel vibrations, tyre noise or the gruffer bits of the engine thanks to a counter sound-cancelling system.
Space Case
To say that the 2022 Rangie is plush and luxurious is an understatement, and it feels much more premium and roomier than the previous generation model. In fact, this is the first time the full-fat Range Rover comes in a seven-seat configuration. However, the seven-seat Rangie is only available with the long-wheelbase version. Land Rover claims that the third row can seat two six-foot-tall adults in comfort, though that’s something we’ll have to see in-person. Since the new model is longer than the one before, there is a significant improvement in terms of second-row legroom.
Torque of the Town
While there are three engines on offer, an 8-speed auto, all-wheel drive, as well as rear-wheel steering, are standard across the range. The two ‘base’ engines are 3-litre six-cylinder units from JLR’s Ingenium family — the petrol one produces 395 bhp and 56.1 kgm of torque, while the diesel engine makes 345 bhp and 71.38 kgm of peak torque. The range-topping engine is a 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 petrol engine that churns out 523 bhp and 76.48 kgm.
Notably, the six-cylinder Ingenium engines also feature 48V mild-hybrid technology, which will help eke out a little more mileage. The new Range Rover also gets Land Rover’s Terrain Response 2 system, with six driving modes for optimising the driving characteristics depending on the terrain.
We’ll be getting our hands on the new Rangie quite soon, so stay tuned to know if this grandiose SUV is worth that equally massive price tag.
