2012 Land Rover Range Rover Overview Change Vehicle

This 2012 Land Rover Range Rover review explains changes for the model year, provides a summary of the 2012 Range Rover, and includes Land Rover Range Rover safety, reliability, and fuel economy ratings.

Arguably the world’s very first luxury sport/utility vehicle, commanding an astronomical price upon the nameplate’s introduction in 1970, the Land Rover Range Rover is today simultaneously an iconic off-roader and luxury conveyance. It competes with vehicles like the Lexus LX 570, Mercedes-Benz G-Class, Porsche Cayenne and even the Toyota Land Cruiser as its primary competitors; all can rumble over the roughest trains, and all are priced stratospherically.

This is rumored to be the final year for the current generation of the Range Rover, which first debuted for the 2003 model year. As such, there aren’t many changes. An iPod connection and HD radio are newly standard, and a handful of exterior trim details change for 2012. New colors are also available, and new Silver Pack and Tow Preparation options packages debut, the latter standard on the posh Autobiography edition. Autobiography models also come standard with the Exterior Design Package, special wood trim for the interior and unique 20-inch wheels, while the Autobiography Ultimate Edition aims to make mincemeat out of “regular” Range Rover owners with its exclusivity and status.

Four versions of the Range Rover are on sale for 2012: the HSE, the HSE LUX, the Supercharged, and the Autobiography.

The Range Rover HSE is the “base” model and, aside from the amenities you would expect in any luxury vehicle, also comes standard with a triple-zone climate control system, a power sunroof, and heated everything including the seats, steering wheel, side mirrors, and front and rear windows. A navigation system with rearview camera, a 14-speaker Harmon/Kardon audio system, and Xenon headlamps are tossed in for good measure, along with an adjustable air suspension and 19-inch wheels.

Step up to the HSE LUX for heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seats and even softer leather upholstery. The HSE LUX also rides on 20-inch wheels and comes standard with the new Towing Preparation Package that includes a receiver, a trailer towing wiring harness, a variable rear differential lock, a full-size spare tire and and Adaptive Dynamics suspension that continually adjusts the shocks according to the road and your driving habits. Buyers choosing the HSE LUX also have an expanded menu of upgraded leathers and woods from which to select.

New for the year, the Silver Pack option package adds swiveling headlamps that help to illuminate around dark corners, high beam headlights that automatically dim when traffic is approaching, a blind spot monitoring system, a surround camera system, a four-zone climate control system and a 19-speaker Harman/Kardon sound system.

Next on the model roster, the Land Rover Range Rover Supercharged adds 135 extra horsepower courtesy of its supercharged V8 engine, as well as upgraded brakes. Unique wheel design and mesh grille and side-vent inserts help the Supercharged model standard apart from the HSE models.

The Range Rover Autobiography is the most luxurious version, equipped with semi-aniline leather covering every conceivable surface, a rear seat entertainment system with a six-disc DVD changer, Adaptive Cruise Control, and power reclining heated and cooled rear seats with power lumbar support. Unique exterior details and a bespoke set of 20-inch wheels identify the Autobiography as such.

If you truly feel the need to further elevate your Range Rover (and at more than twice the price of the Range Rover HSE, this thing better take you sky high), check out the Autobiography Ultimate edition. Only 500 examples will exist in the world, with 50 headed to America. Each one is individually crafted to order, so you’re virtually guaranteed to own a one-of-a-kind Range Rover. Buttery semi-aniline leather covers the seats, door padding, dashboard top and steering wheel, complemented by exclusive wood trim. The cargo area is furnished with a teak wood floor with leather and metal detailing to cradle your luggage. The rear bench seat is replaced with two captain’s chairs and a rear center console featuring a machined-finish aluminum laptop table and a refrigerator, while two Apple iPads in special holders comprise the rear seat entertainment system.

Your choice between two different engines breathes life into the 2012 Land Rover Range Rover. The HSE and HSE LUX models are powered by a 5.0-liter V8 that stomps out 375 horsepower and 375 lb-ft of torque, while the Supercharged and Autobiography models have a supercharged version of that engine whipping up 510 horsepower and 461 lb-ft of torque. Both engines are matched to a six-speed automatic transmission that powers a full-time four-wheel drive system equipped with an electronically controlled, infinitely variable locking center differential to optimize traction on slippery surfaces.

Curiously, both engines get the same grim fuel economy ratings. Around the city the Range Rover returns 12 miles to the gallon while on the highway you’ll get an optimistic 18 mpg. Best not to test out the posted zero to 60 mph acceleration times of 7.2 seconds for the HSE and 5.9 seconds for the Supercharged. While those figures may not seem that impressive given the horsepower figures of the engines, keep in mind that each V8 is motivating an almost 6,000-lb. vehicle which, when properly equipped, can tow up to 7,700 pounds.

But what makes the Range Rover truly stand out from its competition is its ruthless ability to clamber over almost every obstacle on non-paved surfaces. Set in the proper mode, the Range Rover’s adjustable air suspension provides 11 inches of clearance, and can traverse water hazards up to 24 inches in depth. The Terrain Response system tailors powertrain and four-wheel-drive system calibration for many kinds of different surfaces and conditions that could prove tricky, such as sand, rock, ice, and downhill grades.

The 2012 Land Rover Range Rover has a number of active and passive safety equipment to help you avoid a collision and, if one is unavoidable, keep you safe in case of a crash. Seven airbags, traction and stability control with active rollover resistance, plate-sized antilock brakes fortified with electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist, and a rearview monitor are standard. Optional safety equipment includes a blind spot monitor, adaptive cruise control, and swiveling adaptive headlamps.

In terms of crash safety data, there is none. Neither the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has tested the Range Rover, which is not uncommon for high-priced vehicles that sell in lower numbers.

Consumer Reports also reports little in the way of reliability data for this vehicle, while J.D. Power and Associates gives the Range Rover an average predicted reliability rating.

In 42 years of Range Rover history, this model has only been redesigned twice. Despite the current model’s age, it is by far the best one ever, partially due to its provenance. Briefly, while the current Range Rover was designed and engineered, BMW owned Land Rover. In fact, today’s Range Rover has common chassis components with the previous generation 7 Series sedan. In the decade that has passed since Land Rover was sold to Ford Motor Company, and then to India’s Tata Motors, the Range Rover has been updated many times, and the current iteration is also the best one by far.

The Range Rover is abhorrently expensive and its fuel economy ratings are dismal. Still, when it comes to regal mystique, there’s no touching the 2012 Land Rover Range Rover. Whether it’s in ferrying the Queen of England to tend to her duties or serving as the steed of Hollywood royalty, you can always count on a Range Rover making an appearance in the background. Time will tell if the Indian conglomerate Tata Motors will be able to maintain and even improve upon the luxury and exclusivity that has made the Range Rover so iconic. We sure hope so.

By Liz Kim