Test drive Land Rover Range Rover 2002 - 2005 SUV

OFF-ROD with the prefix "Lux"

The new Range Rover is a full -fledged SUV, but the British position it somewhat differently. In their opinion, this should be a real representative car ...

Indeed, it is difficult to even imagine that this car was created for off -road already very royal Range Rover. Honestly, at first it is generally not clear why the car is on the bare asphalt, and not on the carpet ...

Without rushing, we leave the parking lot. The V-shaped eight practically does not give its presence the silence in the cabin is perfect. What is surprised: the silent work of the motor is one of the components of the image of the representatives of the representative class. By the way, the engine on the Range Rover is the same as on the BMW 540i: 282 horsepower with 4398 cubes of volume. The difference is only in reinforced oil seals, the design of the air intakes and fastening of the attachment equipment.

Bavarians also engaged in the setting of asphalt characteristics of the car, taking their X5 as the standard. German meticulousness affected the most positive way: the controllability of the car on the asphalt is beyond praise. The rhealhic steering is mounted here on the subframe, which, in turn, is tightly attached to the carrier body. In addition, Range Rover has lost dependent suspensions.

However, the Briton still does not reach the BMW X5: huge passages of pendants (270 mm in front and 330 mm behind) are affected, which determine some foliage of the car in corners.

But in a straight line, Range is much softer than X5. In general, the softness of this car is a separate topic. Sometimes it seems that he does not go, but flies low over the asphalt, ignoring almost all the irregularities with which our roads abound. It is possible that this is the merit of the air suspension system, which was also used on the previous model, has become more perfect on the new one. As before, the car can take three provisions for parking (it is for landing/landing passengers), movement along the highway and off -road movement. Plus, the pneumoballons installed on one axis are now also communicating. In the case of hitting a high obstacle to one of the wheels, the second, as it were, extends, leveling the roll of the car. However, this applies exclusively to the off -road, which we still had to get to.

In the meantime, the Range Rover rushed along the highway, breaking through the road in a tight stream exclusively due to its authoritative form and xenon light of the headlights. Using the courtesy of others, we maintained a decent average speed for quite some time, which, by the way, allowed us to estimate the fuel consumption. If in the city it was about 22 liters per 100 km of path, then on the highway it was almost doubled. The latter was very pleased with us, since there was still an off -road test, and the capital tank was already half empty.

Until now, we have never said a word about the car. Do you know why? Because it is tantamount to the description of the royal chambers. There is everything here: from the skin in the decoration to the TV in equipment. In terms of comfort and luxurious equipment, this Briton is not inferior to any other representative of the representative class. It makes itself felt and 281 mm of the clearance (with an extreme position) at most road users you look down.

Congress with asphalt. The driver presses the brake pedal, and the car stops as if he came across an invisible wall (next time you need to be careful, painfully non-parliamentary expressions sounded in the cabin). However, the passions quickly subsided, the luggage returned to its place, we continue the way already along the dirt road. The needs of lifting the car to the extreme upper position do not have a highway clearance quite acceptable for the ground.

But the road has become worse, and we, not wanting to take risks, decide to raise the car. The turn of the corresponding lever, and our Range, lifting the stern, and then the nose, occupies the position of Off-Road. Now, thank God, you can continue the drive test.

However, a surprise awaited us: instead of dissolving the suspension and letting the wheels walk with a greater amplitude, Range Rover contrary to common sense, while becoming incredibly hard. We repeat the operation. Again down, then up. A couple of times blinking with bulbs notifying the suspension condition, the car again took the highest position. Carefully touch the place. Now everything is in order. Almost without crossing, our transport moved forward. This time, the electronics did not give a failure, and even along a desperately bumping area the car walked, as they say, completely relaxed.

Interestingly, this Range Rover even has the front pennies of telescopic. They allow the front suspension to provide such a large move. At first, we, however, were somewhat alarming incomprehensible sounds that came from somewhere below, but soon we stopped paying attention to them. (By the way, the history of their origin has not been clarified. Either this is a constructive shortage, or the cost of the run, which at the time of our acquaintance with the car is 6 thousand km.)

Having examined almost all the slope and dirt roads in the district, making sure that all this was not a barrier for our new acquaintance (even the reducing series of transmission had never turned on), we decided to moisturize it.

Having estimated, on what about the trajectory to go through the ford, we decide to force it. The automatic box selector box is transferred to the position corresponding to the first gear, and the car slowly begins to enter the water. First, along the wheel hub, then along the bumper, and after some time the radiator grille was also under water. It seemed a little more, and the hood would swing, and there it was impossible to avoid a hydraulic boom. However, the Range Rover continued to confidently move forward, even when the running wave began to break on the windshield, as about the pier. The properly organized air fence in the power system and good waterproofing affected.

Having got out to the other side, the car crept slightly with pulled pulleys in the water and continued its way. Almost a meter ford was taken without problems. Once again, having broken the applause, the new Range Rover proved that Off-Road can be with a luxury prefix.

... In the evening, passing by the DPS post at the entrance to the city, they paid attention to a young sergeant who was jerking his right hand to his cap. Well done, serving, the case knows: on such cars, simple mortals, in principle, do not drive ...

Technical characteristics of Range Rover Vogue

All -metal body.
Number of places, people. five
Equipped mass, kg 2440
Full mass, kg 3050
Dimensions (length/width/height), mm 4950/2191/1863
Base, mm 2880
Maximum speed, km/h 208
Acceleration time to 100 km/h, from 9.2
Fuel control (mixed cycle), l/100 km 16.2
Engine:
- Type V8
- working volume, cm3 4398
- Power, L.S. at MIN-1 282/5400
- torque, NM at min-1 440/3600
- power supply system for multiple injection
Transmission automatic., 5-speed
Tire size 255/55R16
The wheel suspension is independent
Disc, ventilated brakes
Steering gear-rake, with gur
Price, $ 96700

Text: Oleg Kalaushin
 

A source: Magazine 5 wheel [10/2002]