IN AN ERA OF EXAGGERATED PROPORTIONS, THE ALL-NEW RANGE ROVER, WITH ITS REFRESHINGLY REFINED GOOD LOOKS, ONCE AGAIN SETS THE BAR FOR THE SEGMENT IT HELPED CREATE

BY AMANDA MCCOY

FOR THE FIRST TIME, the Range Rover will offer seating for up to seven passengers. The long wheelbase ensures the same level of luxury for its backseat riders with semiani line heated leather seats, USB-C ports, and task lighting. A super-premium four-passenger option adds Executive Class Rear Seating with an 8-inch Rear Seat Touchscreen Controller mounted in the center armrest to control the seating position, rear climate, massage seats, and more.

Few machines have solidified their position as a status symbol quite like the prodigal Range Rover. First released in 1970 (to cloak its identity, each of the 26 prototypes leading to its launch bore the moniker Velar, derived from the Italian word velare, meaning to veil or cover), the dominating, mountain-shredding 4×4 was equally at home on and off the trail, one of only two vehicles at the time that prioritized capability and comfort in equal measure (the other being the Jeep Super Wagoneer, first released in 1966). Land Rover’s flagship garnered near-immediate cult-like notoriety, eventually becoming the brand-of-choice of the British royal family and Hollywood elites. It would be decades before any other European maker would challenge the mighty Rover, but even amid the tsunami of competition and massively crowded segment of today, the Range Rover remains the best-selling SUV with a price tag over $100,000.

Crafting the fourth generation Range Rover demanded a delicate dance from designers and engineers. A decade had passed since the 2012 third-gen land yacht debuted to widespread critical acclaim, and it was still sweeping industry awards years later (at the prestigious U.K. What Car? Car of the Year Awards in 2020, the Range Rover Evoque nabbed Best Family SUV and the Range Rover Velar took Best Coupe SUV). But with the 2018 release of the BMW X7 and major redesigns of Caddy’s chrome-clad Escalade and Mercedes’ GLS-class in the last two years, competition was mounting. On October 26, Land Rover unveiled the next era of the OG luxury high-rider, and it was clear they were up to the challenge.
The 2022 Range Rover almost resembles a concept car in its styling smooth, sleek, and uncluttered, free of any bulging fenders or monster-mouth grilles. The reshaped silhouette still retains several of its signature cues, nameplate mainstays like a falling roofline, strong waistline, and rising sill. JLR’s chief creative officer, Gerry McGovern, dubbed it a “masterclass in restraint.” The interior opens up to a spa-like sanctuary, featuring new hot stone massage seats, four-zone climate control, a hyper-advanced air purification system, and next-gen noise cancellation via headrest speakers to remove all cacophony from the outside world.

Expect a smoother ride thanks to Integrated Chassis Control with Dynamic Response Pro, which uses the standard electronic air suspension to minimize unwanted body roll by reading the road ahead and preemptively making adjustments. Standard All-Wheel Steering delivers exceptional maneuverability both at low and high speeds. At low speeds, the rear wheels turn opposite the front, tightening the turning radius to only 36 feet, the tightest of any Land Rover SUV. But on the highway, the rear wheels turn in sync with the front wheels, meaning that during lane changes, both the front and rear tires aid in steering. And like all the Rovers that came before it, the 2022 RR hasn’t lost its appetite for the trail less traveled. A locking rear differential is standard, and Land Rover’s Terrain Response System 2 features six modes to tackle anything from sand dunes to boulders.

The Range Rover is expected to reach showrooms in spring 2022 with a starting MSRP of $104,000.

Land Rover Monmouth
105 NJ-36, Eatontown / 732.481.2890 / landrovermonmouth.com