10 Things You Need To Know About The 2014 Land Rover Range Rover

After last year's redesign, the 2014 Land Rover Range Rover turned a lot of heads.  The makers of this full-size luxury SUV didn't rest on their laurels, however, introducing a number of changes for the 2014 model year that make the Land Rover Range Rover an even more versatile offering than it already is.  There are very few sport-utility vehicles that can touch the Range Rover's blend of luxury and capability either on or off the road, giving it a unique status in the world of high end SUVs.

Let's take a look at 10 things you need to know about the 2014 Land Rover Range Rover.

01. The 2014 Land Rover Range Rover Is Lighter Than Ever

The big news for the 2013 redesign of the Land Rover Range Rover was the extreme diet that the brand's engineers put the big truck on in order to reduce its curb weight.  That same reduction in mass remains a cornerstone of the 2014 Land Rover Range Rover Sport's personality.  At up to 900 lbs lighter than the previous platform, depending on which version of the vehicle is ordered - and less hefty than several of its rivals - the Range Rover is able to corner with more confidence, leap off of the line with greater zest, and deliver better fuel mileage.  The secret of Land Rover's success is the amount of aluminum used in the chassis of the Range Rover, replacing much of the heavier steel that was previously present in its undercarriage and structure.

02. The 2014 Land Rover Range Rover Offers Classic Styling

The 2014 Land Rover Range Rover maintains the classic styling cues that have long defined this full-size SUV.  That doesn't mean that the Land Rover Range Rover could be considered a throwback - far from it.  With enough of a modern influence to win over even the most nouveau of riche, especially with regards to its headlight and tail light detail and its swept greenhouse, the Range Rover manages to streamline its traditionally upright appearance without trading in too many of its right angles for aerodynamic righteousness.  Add in the requisite enormous wheels (with rims of up to 22-inches available), and the Range Rover looks at home in almost any driveway.

03. The 2014 Land Rover Range Rover Still Seats Five

The 2014 Land Rover Range Rover is a very large sport-utility vehicle, and with its rear row of accommodations folded forward it can haul up to 71.7 cubic feet of cargo.  Despite its bulk, with the back seat in place the Land Rover Range Rover tops out at five passengers, avoiding the temptation to squeeze a third row into its generous cabin and push that number up to seven.  The end result isn’t just better leg room for everyone who might happen to be riding along, but also a very usable 32.1 cubic feet of cargo space between the final seatback and the hatch.

04. The 2014 Land Rover Range Rover Now Comes In A Long-Wheelbase model

Making that lack of a third row seat even more interesting - and decadent - is the decision to introduce a long-wheelbase version of the Land Rover Range Rover for the 2014 model year.  What do you get when ordering a Land Rover Range Rover with an 'L' badge?  For starters second row passengers gain an impressive five inches of leg room, and of course, the ability to swap the back bench for a pair of captain's chairs paired with a center console.  The long-wheelbase version of the Range Rover echoes the original LWB models that disappeared from the scene two decades ago, and it will be sold exclusively in North America when it debuts early next year.

05. The 2014 Land Rover Range Rover Introduces A New Base Motor

The 2014 Land Rover Range Rover starts out with a fresh 3.0-liter, supercharged V-6 engine as its new base engine.  Borrowed from corporate sibling Jaguar, this unit has been tuned to provide 340 horsepower and a respectable 332 lb-ft of torque, while delivering a significant boost in fuel mileage compared to last year's entry-level V-8.  The supercharged six checks in with 17-mpg in city driving and 23-mpg on the highway, and its 19-mpg combined rating is three miles per gallon better than the naturally-aspirated V-8 found under its hood in 2013.  An eight-speed automatic transmission handles the shifting duties for the V-6.

06. The 2014 Land Rover Range Rover Continues To Provide V-8 Power

The 2014 Land Rover Range Rover maintains the availability of its supercharged V-8 engine, albeit with a few tweaks to improve its efficiency.  The 5.0-liter mill generates 510 horsepower and 461 lb-ft of torque - enough to rocket the SUV to 60-mph from a standing start in a brief 4.7 seconds - and is equipped with the same eight-speed autobox found with the base model.  A new automatic engine start/stop system is installed for 2014, and this helps the V-8 Range Rover achieve a fuel mileage rating of 13-mpg in stop and go driving and 19-mpg on the highway. 

07. The 2014 Land Rover Range Rover Is Remarkably Capable Off-Road

Underpinning each and every version of the 2014 Land Rover Range Rover is a full-time four-wheel drive system that is as effective at planting the SUV's prodigious power to the pavement as it is traversing the meanest of off-road obstacles.  Unlike 99 percent of its rivals, the Land Rover Range Rover doesn't shirk all-terrain duty, boasting the Terrain Response 2 system which automatically tailor's the vehicle's throttle, transmission, and electronic nannies to best handle the current driving situation based on five different driver-selectable settings.  It's a winning combination when working together with the Range Rover's excellent ground clearance and rugged construction.

08. The 2014 Land Rover Range Rover Features Two Trim Levels

The 2014 Land Rover Range Rover base model is loaded with comfort features, including parking assistance, LED lighting, heated side mirrors with power folding capability, three zones of automatic climate control, reclining rear seats, heated leather seats up front with power adjustment, a heated steering wheel, a navigation system, HID headlights, keyless entry and ignition, 19-inch rims, and Bluetooth connectivity.  The Supercharged edition of the Land Rover Range Rover is even more generous, providing 21-inch wheels and tires, heated rear seats with nicer leather, a panoramic sunroof, and fog lights.

09. The 2014 Land Rover Range Rover Offers Plenty Of Options

Need more than what the 2014 Land Rover Range Rover's two trim levels can deliver?  Fear not - there are options and packages aplenty for the luxury SUV.  The HSE package adds most of the Supercharged trim's items to the base model Land Rover Range Rover, while the Autobiography package imbues the Range Rover Supercharged with almost every single option available with the vehicle, including special rims, 18-way adjustable seats, extended leather trim, three-dimensional surround sound, four zones of automatic climate control, ventilated and massaging front seats, cooled rear seats, and the availability of black wood throughout the interior.

10. The 2014 Land Rover Range Rover Competes Against The Very Best SUVs

The 2014 Land Rover Range Rover starts at an MSRP of $83,545, and can climb all the way up to $135,995 for the Autobiography model.  What this means is that the Land Rover Range Rover faces off against vehicles like the Porsche Cayenne Turbo, the Mercedes-Benz G-Class, and the BMW X5M in its quest to pull in the well-heeled SUV crowd.  With the speed of the Porsche and the off-road capability of the G-Class, the Range Rover is unique in its class, as few other vehicles combine those two characteristics with the sumptuous luxury that is inherent in Land Rover's DNA.