Before the introductions of the Bentley Bentayga and the Rolls Royce Cullinan, the Land Rover’s Range Rover sat unopposed at the pinnacle of luxury SUVs.

Here’s the thing though, a Range Rover will take you (and bring you back from) places one would never dare to go in the Rolls or the Bentley. More show than go, they simply do not provide the off-road capability of the Range Rover.

Yes, the Bentley and the Rolls will turn more heads at in your local Whole Foods parking lot, but a true SUV is supposed to be about more than just getting groceries.

Intro

Now, with that said, I will accede you are far more likely to find a Range Rover parked out front at Trader Vics than you are to encounter one crawling through axle-deep mud in a Polynesian rain forest. Still though, with exceptional ground clearance, acute approach and departure angles and powerful drivetrains, Land Rover’s Range Rover will absolutely do so if you ask that of it.

Full disclosure though, the $8,450 Ethereal Frost Silver Gloss finish on the long wheelbase 2026 Land Rover Range Rover SE with which I spent a week gave me pause in that regard. Even though the impulse hit me, I just couldn’t bring myself to muddy up that beautiful paint job. And therein lies the rub I suppose.

Even though Range Rovers are more than capable of dealing with the harshest terrain the Earth can muster, they’re so nice, you might feel bad asking them to do it.

Powertrains and Fuel Economy

Propulsion is courtesy of a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline six, which is teamed an electric motor to produce a total system output of 395 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque. The all-wheel drive powertrain is fed through an 8-speed automatic transmission with overdrive.

The 48-volt hybrid system (referred to at Land Rover as the P400) is rated at 21 mpg in the city, 19 on the highway and 24 combined. This proved to be quite accurate, as I saw an overall figure of 23 mpg.

Interior Accommodations

Upholstered in Perlino (off white) perforated Windsor leather, the Rover’s seats were nicely complemented by black glossy wood veneers and an Ebony-colored plush headliner.

Tasteful accent lighting made the Rover an especially inviting place to be after dark when the full effect could be seen. Demonstrating firsthand that true elegance resides in simplicity, the dearth of extraneous buttons, knobs and switches gave the cockpit a clean, unfettered appearance.

If I had to find fault with the interior, it would be with the fact that the third row is not very accommodating for taller people. Accessing it requires a considerable degree of litheness as well. Beyond that though — well actually, there is one more thing.

One doesn’t just step into the Rover, one ascends. So much so I had to get a step-stool for the lovely, talented and ever so gracious Mrs. Me. Standing 5’5”, scaling Mt. Range Rover was a bit of a challenge for her without it. And yes, this remained true, even when I set the adjustable suspension to “access” mode.

Comfort, Convenience & Safety Tech

The floating 13.1-inch touchscreen infotainment interface was slightly curved to better follow the contour of the dash. Behind the steering wheel was another digital monitor, this one measuring 13.7-inches, reporting on the functions that made the Rover go.

Land Rover’s Pivi Pro interface supports wireless CarPlay and Android compatibility. Alexa is supported as well. Additional standard features included in-dash navigation, wireless smartphone charging and SiriusXM satellite radio. Driver assistance tech included automated emergency braking, lane-keeping assist and adaptive cruise control.

Driving Impressions

Going with an inline six was a very smart move on Land Rover’s part, as this configuration is known for its smoothness.

Turbocharging the engine and mating it to an electric motor gave the Ranger Rover more than adequate thrust, coupled with an air of sophistication wholly becoming the Range Rover’s nature. Throttle response was instant, with an alacrity that reminded of an EV.

The Range Rover was also quiet as an EV, at all but full throttle. Only then did the engine make itself apparent. Few automobiles have insulated me from the raucousness of internal combustion the way the Range Rover did.

Even more impressive was the easy way it handled, even with the extended wheelbase. Perfectly behaved on both the highway and the street, the Range Rover demonstrated unmitigated aplomb in every situation.

In Summary

Of course, at a base price of $117,200 and a price as tested of $147,420; one would expect the Land Rover Range Rover to conduct itself in a dignified manner. What’s more, having attended Land Rover’s driving academy at the famed Biltmore Estate in North Carolina, I can tell you the Land Rover Range Rover SE’s prowess when dealing with challenging terrain, water crossings, obstacles, mud and ruts, is almost surreal.

Looking around the plush cabin while the opulent Rover is up to its front bumper in a fast-moving stream is nothing short of amazing — if you can bring yourself to get that beautiful paint job muddy.