Recently, we’ve seen new luxurious SUVs that would lead a hard-nose critic to say, "Gee, this is now on par with a Range Rover." Then we get our hands on the Range Rover HSE Td6 and realize, no, nothing has the regal moxie of the real thing.
Our test model had the virtue of practicality about it, even as it delivered a refined ride and a beautifully detailed leather interior. The Td6 cannot be stretched out like the luxury liner model, the Autobiography. Nor is it as fast as the snarling and crackling Sport edition with which we once raised hell. But it does hustle. The torquey diesel provides punchy power. Getting onto a crowded highway? Whooomph, there you are.
Combined with the eight-speed automatic, the Td6 earned mileage ratings in the mid-20s as it plied the Post Road and exceeded its 29-mpg rating on highway cruises. Of course, it comes standard with the four-wheel-drive capabilities to deal with all manner of snow, mud and ice. In town, all that yeoman utility is disguised by the general air of swank. Our tester had the Driver Assistance package, which provided help with parking. The Vision Assist option provided not just a surround-view camera with which to observe your world, but also “configurable mood lighting.” It could be romantic, no?
The assortment of new models are on display at a new Range Rover dealership at 1335 Boston Post Road, Darien (203-655-8811). It’s a world of luxury worth observing.
RANGE ROVER HSE TD6
Base Price: $93,450
As Tested: $105,725
Drivetrain: 254-hp, 3-liter V-6 diesel w/4-wheel drive
EPA Mileage Ratings: 22 city/ 29 highway