Highs Elegant exterior styling, sumptuously-outfitted cabin, range of powerful and polished powertrains.
Lows Six-figure starting price, plug-in hybrid only offered on base trim, snug third-row headroom.
Verdict Suave, sophisticated, and sybaritic, the 2023 Range Rover is everything a flagship luxury SUV should be.
Overview
What attracts global elites to the Range Rover isn't the SUV's legendary off-road capability, but rather its effortlessly elegant styling, its opulent cabin, and the A-list status that it’s developed over the years. The list of Range Rover owners even includes Her Majesty the Queen. One couldn't ask for a better brand ambassador. The 2023 model represents the most luxurious Range Rover yet. A trio of powertrain options—including a hybrid—deliver ample power; the brand's largest SUV comports itself through traffic regally, with a smooth ride and a hushed interior. Venturing off-road is certainly an option for Range Rover owners; all-wheel drive is standard and the air suspension can be raised to provide extra ground clearance—although we know that few will actually dare to subject this rolling art piece to such indignity. The Range Rover starts at over $100,000, which means it's more expensive than rivals such as the Cadillac Escalade, the Jeep Grand Wagoneer, and the Mercedes-Benz GLS-class. So be it. The Range’s reputation, presence, and royal endorsement all help justify its premium price tag.
What's New for 2023?
The revamped Range Rover technically debuted for the 2022 model year, but it was confusingly sold alongside the previous generation model, and not all of its variants were available. For 2023, the older model is no more. For 2023 the plug-in hybrid P440e powertrain joins the lineup, and Land Rover says this setup will provide up to 48 miles of electric-only driving range. It's available exclusively on the short-wheelbase SE trim.
We'd recommend opting for the mid-range Autobiography model, which adds several sought-after items that luxury buyers will appreciate. For example, the Autobiography comes standard with a 1600-watt Meridian stereo system featuring headrest-mounted speakers and active noise cancellation. The Range Rover will be offered in both a short- and long-wheelbase body styles; and we suggest going for the latter since it creates room for a third row of seats and provides a more generous cargo area.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
The Range Rover is available with a trio of powertrains, starting with a turbocharged inline-six with a 48-volt hybrid system dubbed P400 that develops 395 horsepower. During our initial test drive it proved to be silky-smooth and provided adequate pep to tug the large Range Rover around. A 523-hp twin-turbo 4.4-liter V-8 engine—Land Rover calls it P530—is even perkier and cranks up the Range Rover's towing capacity to 8200 pounds. A 434-hp plug-in hybrid option—called P440e—is also available but only on the short wheelbase SE trim. ...
