Land Rover

Land Rovers’ most important model. Defends an iconic reptation with formidable ability.

New Defender is one of the most capable monocoque SUVs you can buy. With a brilliant interior architecture that is comfortable, luxurious, tech-integrated, but also has lots of clever non-slip storage spaces.

The 90s look amazing, although accessing the rear seats is a nightmare for anyone with hip issues or limited flexibility. The 130 looks a bit awkward with its huge rear overhang, but it offers more cargo space than a Land Cruiser 300. Defender 130 is targeted at adventurous luxury SUV buyers who like spending a month exploring Botswana or Namibia on their own.

Ride quality is fantastic on the optional air suspension, but it’s also very good on the standard steel coil springs.

Lots of accessories and trims to choose from – and none of them come cheap. The Trophy Edition 110s looks terrific and comes with all-terrain tyres and all the exploration accessories you need, bundled into a single package.

Hybrid Defenders aren’t really worth the price, and the P400 V8s are way too heavy on fuel and come with silly 22-inch wheels and vulnerable low-profile tyres.

Don’t be fooled by the D250 smaller nomenclature: it's the best engine. A 3-litre in-line six turbodiesel, good for 183kW and 570Nm, delivering an outstanding balance of performance and economy. If you have the budget, the D350 takes that engine to 257kW and 700Nm, and it's all the luxury all-terrain SUV you’d ever need.

New money version of the Range Rover. With sharper styling, but less cabin and luggage space.

The Rangey Sport has more presence and design impact than German rivals, which all look over-styled in comparison.

Excellent chassis and air-suspension make it an amazingly comfortable, confident high-speed SUV on any road surface. But the optional 23-inch wheels decay ride quality and are awful on gravel roads.

Cabin blends legacy British luxury feel and craftsmanship with advanced digital UX elements. Driver and passenger comfort is superior to German luxury SUVs. But the Range Rover Sport’s luggage space is less than BMW’s X5 and Mercedes-Benz’s GLE.

The SV version has epic performance with its BMW 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 and a characterful soundtrack.

Best buy is the D350 Autobiography version. It delivers all the overtaking performance you’d want from a luxury SUV, with excellent cruising-speed economy, which means you aren’t stopping every second hour on a cross-country road trip.

The current Sport is heavier than its predecessor, which means more wear on suspension, braking, and driveline components. Like all luxury SUVs, the Range Rover Sport is very expensive to maintain at mid- to high-mileage, out of maintenance plan.

Iconic Land Rover model name, revived as the model between Evoque and Range Rover Sport.  

Velar’s distinctive tapered rear design looks so much better than the awkwardly styled German sloping-roofline SUVs.

Created to offer Ranger Rover status in a smaller, more parking-garage-friendly package. But it’s not really a genuine Range Rover…

Components and engineering are a lot more Jaguar than Land Rover underneath, which makes Velar less of a true all-terrain SUV. And more of a status luxury crossover vehicle. It’s why Velar doesn’t have low-range gearing. But in truth: how many luxury SUV owners ever use low-range?

Cabin architecture is tasteful, luxurious, with excellent digital UX. Rear legroom and comfort is limited and not really worthy of something with the Range Rover name.

The Velar PHEVs are expensive for the powertrain technology they offer. Best buy is the P300 diesel. If you need a 'small' Range Rover to work with your urban lifestyle and parking realities.