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Today, luxury SUVs are practically everywhere, but the 2008 Land Rover Range Rover maintains the iconic brand's original formula of off-road superiority while also benefiting from all the usual refinements of a modern luxury vehicle. Officially, this SUV may be called the Land Rover Range Rover, but nobody really says that -- it simply is the one and only Range Rover.
When the current model was being designed, Land Rover was owned byBMW, and this Range Rover retains its Bavarian-engineered roots. That translates into a vehicle that handles and rides far better than one would expect from a top-heavy SUV. It's certainly not focused on sporting dynamics like a Porsche Cayenne, but its on-road capabilities are pretty impressive, considering it can crawl down a flight of stairs or caravan to Outer Mongolia.
For such extreme excursions, every Range Rover comes equipped with an air suspension, and with it the vehicle's ride height can be raised and lowered either automatically or via a console-mounted switch. Furthermore, Land Rover's automatically sets powertrain, suspension and electronic systems to optimize traction based on five different settings: general, grass/gravel/snow, mud/ruts, sand and rock crawl.
If you're looking for a premium SUV with excellent off-road credentials and a legendary pedigree, buying a 2008 Range Rover is a no-brainer. However, all its sophisticated hardware may be overkill if the wildest place you intend to venture is a nightclub valet stand. As such, the Cayenne, BMW X5, Mercedes-Benz GL550 or Lexus LX 570 are more appropriate for the majority of buyers in this segment. Not only do they typically cost less, they also provide considerably superior reliability.
The Range Rover HSE gets a 4.4-liter V8 with 305 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque, while the Supercharged accordingly gets a supercharged 4.2-liter mill that boasts 400 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque. The only transmission is a six-speed automatic that features a sequential-shift manual mode. Maximum towing capacity stands at 7,700 pounds. A permanent four-wheel-drive system is standard, along with low-range gearing and a maximum of nearly 11 inches of ground clearance for serious off-roading. Range Rovers also come with a that allows the driver to customize powertrain, suspension and electronic systems to best handle various off-road conditions. Both engines have a 2008 EPA fuel economy estimate of 12 mpg city/18 mpg highway.
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