The Range Rover - how good is it?

There is no doubt; the Range Rover is an imposing vehicle. As a 4x4 it is Impressive in size and body lines with a choice of colour available from an extensive palate; interiors are plush and leather upholstery is not usual. Able to seat 5 comfortably and with lots of space for luggage the Range Rover is ideal for anyone who wants to drive a large car.

The elevated driving position in a Range Rover gives a commanding view of the road ahead and providing everything is running as it should, owners report a great drive. These vehicles are robust and boast serious off-road capabilities. There has always been an aura of luxury attached to them; a must have car for the country set.



How reliable are Range Rovers?

In terms of reliability however, the Range Rover doesn’t fare well. In 2012, What Car Magazine, working with Warranty Direct, examined claims from 50,000 extended warranties. Range Rover came out as the least reliable car with three-quarters of used vehicles breaking down at least once a year with an average repair cost of £419.

Reliability ratings from J.D. Power relating to the period 2007-2016, score Range Rover 2.5 out of 5 for eight years with an overall best score of 3. J.D. Power also looked at the frequency with which used cars break down. Out of 100 cars the average was 133 breakdowns. When the figures were applied solely to Range Rover, the figure was 179 out of 100.

Auto Express conducted a survey which showed that 91.25% of Range Rovers had a break down each year. However, when individual results were analysed, there was a clear correlation showing that older vehicles (pre 2000) appeared to be more reliable.



Common Problems

The reliability of older vehicles underpins one of the principal problems: the electronics on modern Range Rovers are complex and the more complex a thing is, the greater the potential for problems developing. Pre-2000 Range Rovers did not have this level of complexity.

Air suspension is reported as a frequent problem with failure occurring between six and ten years. The result causes the vehicle to lilt to one side. Many owners, rather than replace the air suspension, choose instead to convert to coiled springs.

Oil leaks seem to develop quite easily and sometimes in the early life of the vehicle. 60,000 miles is the trigger point reported by drivers.

Rear suspension hoods are prone to perish. Signs of this are noise from the rear, particularly when driving over bumps.

Full size Range Rovers wear through brake discs and pads approximately every 30,000 miles so owners should expect and budget for their replacement.


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