Land Rover Range Rover (1970 – 1996) Review

Land Rover Range Rover (1970 – 1996) At A Glance

5/5

+Classless styling, a design icon, excellent on-road, unstoppable off-road, V8 engine and transmission a known quantity, practical, brilliant parts and technical support

-Some early parts of unobtainable, the fashionista has taken the Range Rover to its collective bosom so values are sky-rocketing - bad if you're hoping to buy one

The Range Rover might not have been the first luxury off-roader - that honour probably went to the Jeep Wagoneer - but in Europe, it soon became the most recognisable of the lot. And for many, that means it's still the instigator of the luxury SUV as a breed. But what makes the Range Rover so special is that it has remained an utterly classless conveyance, despite the negative public image of many newer rivals.

It was powered by Rover’s ex-Buick V8 and using chassis technology similar to the Land Rover's, its off-road ability was beyond reproach, while the hose-clean interior proved just the ticket for those with an active lifestyle. Styling was so lean that the Range Rover was at home in the politest places. It became ever-more luxurious and its appeal remained undimmed during a 25-year run. Exceptional cars, such as the earliest examples, or tidy CSK special editions, can name ther price, and are rising in values.

Ask Honest John

Are Range Rovers now uninsurable in London?

"I was speaking to a friend who lives near me in North London and wanted to change his car from a BMW to a Land or Range Rover and was quoted £8000 for insurance. He decided to buy an Audi Q5 instead. My question is what are Jaguar Land Rover doing to address this issue if their cars are still so easy to steal? On my local social media network not a week goes by without a report of the theft of a Range Rover though Jaguar thefts don't seem to come up very often. Hasn't this already damaged the reputation of the manufacturer to the point where they won't sell any cars? "
The proliferation of high-value vehicles such as Range Rovers in London and the fact that thieves are exploiting particular security workarounds means that they are considered a high risk, and therefore attracting high insurance premiums. Manufacturers are constantly working on improving security systems, but it is effectively a game of cat and mouse as criminals are always working to defeat the latest updates.
Answered by David Ross

I bought a 2003 Range Rover that's not fit for purpose. Why is my only option to go to court?

"Three weeks back, I purchased a 2003 Range Rover with a new MoT. Advisories were a slight leak on transfer box and mileage unreadable through failing pixels. The dealer 200 miles away refused to communicate by telephone or emails. I sent him a recorded letter supplying all faults and a not fit for purpose complaint. Citizens Advice and Trading Standards can only recommend I refer the case to the Small Claims Court - which means I must present the case in legal jargon plus a £400 upfront fee. Does the public have no recourse to these overwhelming numbers of dodgy car dealers?"
Rejecting a car for a full refund should be a last resort as it's s a time-consuming, stressful, expensive process - and the dealer is unlikely to want to do this so stay civil with them if you can. If they won't respond to you, or they do but still can't fix it, it'll make a stronger case in the long run if you do go via a legal route to get your money back. Onto the rejection, if the dealer refuses to accept your rejection of the car, then consider contacting the Motor Ombudsman or the Financial Ombudsman. If you've already contacted Citizen's Advice and Trading Standards then, unfortunately, the final route is court - but it can be very costly and there's no guarantee you will win even with a solicitor. But if all else fails, that's the option you're left with. You also have to bear in mind the car you bought is 17 years old, so it will also depend on whether you bought the car knowing that it had these advisories.
Answered by Georgia Petrie

What is an upmarket replacement for my Honda CR-V?

"I've owned a Honda CR-V 2.2 EX for 4 years now and it's been great. I'd like to replace it with something the same size, certainly no smaller, but with a better quality, more upmarket interior. I like the Jaguar F-Pace but don't want a diesel and I'm waiting to try the Inegnium 2.0 petrol when it comes out. Anything else on your radar you could recommend? I don't really need the added complication of 4WD, but it would be nice as I live in the country and go off-road occasionally with dogs and for fishing. Must be petrol, automatic and full 5 seats. Many thanks Bill Kent "
JLR is so late with the Ingenium petrol engine that I think they are finding it's no better than the tough old 2.0 litre chain cam Ford Duratec EcoBoost engine that they fit to the XE. You can get a Range Rover Evoque with that engine, but that's the only JLR SUV with it. Otherwise you're up to 3.0 supercharged V6s in the F-Pace, RR Sport and RR. When switchable, 4WDs are best run in 2WD unless you need auto AWD for wet or otherwise difficult conditions, then you don't run the risk of running the centre diff against a disparity in tyres. I wasn't convinced by the Lexus NX hybrid, which has the same drivetrain as the RAV-4 hybrid. RX better, but very dramatic looking. Best SUV to drive is the Porsche Macan.
Answered by Honest John

Classic car insurance - market value vs agreed value

"I have agreed insurance value of £25,000 for my Range Rover CSK, plus I retain my car in the event of a total loss. Would I be better having ordinary "market value" insurance and accept fluctuating values and abandon the "agreed value" element of my car insurance? "
No. What you need to do is to negotiate an increase in the 'agreed value' of your car with the insurer. If you switched to ordinary insurance then the 'market value' might actually be deemed to be less than your current agreed value.
Answered by Honest John
More Questions

What does a Land Rover Range Rover (1970 – 1996) cost?