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Used Land Rover Range Rover Review
15 Nov 2023
The fourth generation of the Land Rover Range Rover, available from 2013 to the present, is a truly iconic luxury SUV that has become a worldwide success thanks to its smart styling, high-class interior and just how extraordinarily comfortable it is to drive. However, that peerless on-road luxury and the sense of occasion with every drive comes with a hefty price tag.
The good news, though, is as the Mk4 continues to age, older used Range Rovers become increasingly affordable. But is a preowned Range Rover worth the upfront, fuel and insurance costs? What are the best engines and trim levels? And how much is a good second-hand Range Rover likely to cost?
How does it look?
As the roads become more crowded with SUVs, the Range Rover still stands proudly apart from the rest. It’s not that the Range Rover keeps reinventing itself, far from it. It remains true to the original ground-breaking model but keeps getting better, both in terms of the styling, the wonderful interior and just how good it is to drive.
The smart styling of the Mk4 features some unmistakable details, such as the trademark squared-off design, the bold side detailing picked out in contrasting metal and the split tailgate at the rear. On the inside, it’s wonderfully made and the definition of what a luxury car should be. The materials are upmarket and classy and there are all the creature comforts you need.
But there’s no compromise on practicality for all this poshness. There’s plenty of space up front and more than enough headroom and legroom in the rear for three adult occupants. There’s also bags of space in the boot, with more than enough room for a hefty baby’s buggy and a couple of good-size suitcases.
What’s it like to drive?
One of the main criticisms of older Range Rovers was that they drove poorly on the road, but that’s no longer true of the Mk4. It feels precise enough so you can accurately place it on the road and it carries you along with all the comfort and refinement you’d expect from a class-leading luxury SUV. Yes, it still feels huge when you’re driving through town but it’s half a tonne lighter than its predecessor, which makes it feel more agile than you expect and gives you better fuel economy, too.
Off-road is where the Range Rover has always left its rivals for dust, and there’s no change here. It’s still incredible, with the Terrain Response 2 system helping you to navigate gravel, ice and mud with ease. There’s even off-road cruise control and Hill Descent Control to confidently take you places you thought were possible in a car.
Is a used Range Rover reliable?
If you’re happy to shoulder the running costs, doubts about reliability are the only other reason you might think twice about buying a preowned Range Rover. The reliability and build quality have been a cause for concern in the past, and that’s not what you expect from a luxury car at this price point. Common complaints have been the battery and major components such as the suspension and gearbox.
That said, there are signs that the reliability and build quality of the Mk4 Range Rover have improved considerably when compared to previous iterations. In a recent reliability survey, the Range Rover finished sixth out of nine cars in the luxury SUV class, so while it’s not the best, it’s certainly not the worst, either.
Which is the best preowned Range Rover to buy?
If you’re on the lookout for a used Range Rover for sale, there are plenty of good engines to choose from. The Mk4 was released in 2013 with a choice of two diesel engines, a 254bhp 3.0-litre TDV6 and a 334bhp 4.4 SDV8, or a supercharged 5.0-litre V8 petrol engine. Of those, the 3.0-litre diesel delivers strong performance and reasonable economy. Although the 4.4-litre V8 diesel ups things in the performance stakes, it comes with heftier fuel bills, and cost-wise, the 5.0-litre V8 could be crippling.
In 2013, a diesel-electric hybrid was introduced along with a meatier 302bhp 3-0-litre SDV6. In 2016, a supercharged 335bhp petrol V6 arrived, and in 2017, there was a 2.0-litre petrol hybrid known as the P400e. Of these, the P400e is the cheapest to run but it’s rare and expensive to buy. As the diesel-electric hybrid is not a plug-in, we’d probably opt for the regular TDV6 or SDV6 diesel.
Spec-wise, Vogue is the starting point and it brings plenty of standard kit, such as 20-inch alloy wheels, a heated windscreen, twin-screen infotainment set-up, leather seats and cruise control. The Vogue SE adds more driver assistance tech, heated and cooled seats, bigger wheels and an 825W surround-sound system. Luxury is the name of the game for the Autobiography, with more lavish materials, massaging front seats and a panoramic roof. While the SVAutobiography brings quilted leather seats, a rear seat refrigerator, mohair mats and a 1700W Meridian audio system.
Of these, we like the Vogue SE. It adds a view handy features, such as a dual-view infotainment screen which allows the front passenger to view different content than the driver, and more adjustability to the driver’s seat.
How much is a used Range Rover?
It’s a great car but it’ll cost you. You’ll see used Mk4 Range Rovers starting at between £25,000 to £30,000 for an average mileage model from 2013 or 2014. Up your budget to £30,000 for a 2014 model with a full service history. £35,000 will get you something from 2015 and expect to pay £40,000 to £45,000 for a 2016 or 2017 car. £45,000 and upwards will get you a good 2018 model or an early 2019 car, and you’ll need at least £50,000 for a Range Rover from 2020 or newer.