The king is dead, long live the king! Yes, I'm referring to the all-new Range Rover as a monarch here. And so should you when talking about the fifth generation of this English reign. If the automotive world had kings and queens, the Range Rover would be a respected ruler. But is the new one still imperial? Very much so. Its creator has not failed us.

Why are these bloated words written above to start this review off? Because there are simply only a few car models which hold such an iconic position in the global consciousness and blowing it all up with fancy words seems fitting. We're talking about the 2022 Range Rover here in case you missed the elephant in the room. And the latter is also a comparison that fits. Because the new Land Rover monarch measures (a minimum) 5.05 meters in length, 2.05 meters in width, and stands 1.87 meters tall. Luggage space comes in at 720- to just under 1120 liters with the seats down. In terms of weight, the new Range Rover can weigh close to what an African forest elephant can weigh: 2.6 tonnes for the car I tested. Heavy? Very heavy. Big? Not as big as the challenge of putting another successful king on their throne, a quest Land Rover could not afford to fail.

CJ favorite

If you've been with us for a while, you'll have seen many Range Rover models being reviewed by us. We have a soft spot for this car, for the way the brand created a unique pinnacle in the industry. In the line-up, there are many flavors of the vehicle to enjoy and therefore also many versions to review. Its lineup ranged from entry-level diesel versions up to what was arguably the pinnacle of luxury SUVs, the SV Autobiography LWB with a supercharged V8. And the all-new Range Rover falls in line with that tradition, our first review starting a the humble beginning: the D350 with the standard 3-meter wheelbase. Diesel. Yummy.

Pressure creates diamonds, yet some gems can crack under pressure

Imagine this: you're assigned the task of renewing a car that singlehandedly keeps the JLR company afloat. Daunting thought? Imagine the sleepless nights some people must have endured to get where we are today. Rather than rethinking the formula, those in charge chose wisely and chose to pursue evolution. It's something the Range Rover has in common with the Porsche 911, each generation is an evolution rather than a revolution. Safe bet? Perhaps, but these icons and customers demand the same thing. It must be both all-new and still holds the proclaimed status.

Simply put: the 2022 Range Rover has gotten a complete overhaul except for the utilitarian concept that sprung it to life. Land Rover, the creator of the Range Rover, has seemingly gone through all the steps needed to continue the reign of its icon for many years to come. Modularity stands at the very base of the strategy, the new MLA-Flex platform allowing all the flavors of drivetrain possible (no fuel cells tho). Even a full BEV version is due in 2024 but ours tested here is quite the opposite, the HSE 350D. Offering all those drivetrain flavors is just the start though. Lower than ever drag (0.3) on this behemoth? Check. Smart four-wheel-drive to reduce emissions? Check. Recycled interior? Check. Pricetag that still is unreachable for the masses? Check! You won't be driving one for less than € 140.589 (BE).

Royal Appearance, Royally Dressed

If evolution was the dress code, Land Rover got the memo. If you'd ask non-car-people to point out the difference between the 2022 Range Rover and the previous generation, they'd struggle. Ask any car enthusiast, and they might struggle as well when you say they can't point out the new rear lights. Only avid Range Rover fans will be able to put the differences into words. But every mentioned here will call out the latest model when you put them side to side. Land Rover has carefully reshaped the iconic profile and slightly trimmed a line here and there, and the results are impressive. Immediately recognizable and with more presence than ever, the fifth-gen oozes presence. Well done Land Rover, well done.

Where the fourth-gen Range Rover and Range Sport looked somewhat alike to its, the 2022 Range Rover stands far from its 'Sport' version in terms of design. Something status-sensitive buyers might enjoy. The king is the king, and the prince is simply the prince after all.

Royal Ballroom

Inside the divine theme endures. Quality materials surround you, and so does serenity due to the impressively quiet cabin. Some parts, like the seats, look and feel just like those of its predecessor. A bad thing? No, it makes the cabin feel familiar. Which is a welcome thing amidst all the innovation, things like the new Pivi Pro infotainment (which you might recognize from the new Jaguar F-Pace), the digital rearview mirror, and the 'floating' digital dashboard. Don't get me wrong though, these innovations complement the interior greatly as well. The same goes for the minimalistic approach of the designers, their little lines and few panels, and still hinting towards older dashboard layouts simply works well. But please do take into account that Land Rover SV offers vast customization options, even when the car isn't an SV version, to begin with.

Perhaps the greatest change drivers will be confronted with, is the new steering wheel. It's smaller and a fair bit thicker than before, something that fits the new driving dynamics. More on that in a bit. But there's still a downside. Even when the car has been equipped with all the possible driving aids, the spaces on the controls are still oddly empty. The lack of proper physical buttons is a miss.

Another point of criticism of the fourth generation, especially the SWB versions, has been resolved with the arrival of the 2022 Range Rover, that of legroom for the rear passengers. Oddly enough, the vast exterior dimensions didn't translate into much legroom a bit backward in the bloodline. Gone is that problem for the new ruler of the streets and off-road, as legroom feels in abundance back there. Need more? The LWB version offers 30 centimeters more and for the first time, the LWB version can even be equipped with a third seating row. And no, that doesn't turn this into a royal minivan.

Revolution inside the Monarchy

Despite our affection for the Range Rover, our love wasn't without criticism. The biggest of all these was the previous generation's handling, it always felt like you were driving a yacht on land. But evolution has taken a step that seemed unfathomable last year, the 2022 Range Rover handles so much better than its predecessor. Rear-wheel steering and active-stabilizer rods are new for the Range Rover bloodline and have paved the way for a revolution. Not only does the car feel more communicative (even too much now and then), body roll has dramatically reduced. And not only spirited driving is rewarded by the infusion of this new hardware. No, comfort for the occupants benefits from it too.

The 3-liter diesel inside the 2022 Range Rover HSE 350D isn't unfamiliar. No, it's a renowned drivetrain option that packs 350 horsepower and at a mere 1500 RPM starts offering a massive 700 Nm. Despite the elephant-like weight, zero-to-a-hundred can be met in just 6.1 seconds. Yet the most impressive to experience are the accelerations when the car is already on the move. Throttle response is quick and so is the transmission in terms of response. You're going to have to warn your passengers now and then because the push can be unexpectedly quick. Same for the stopping potential, which is impressively quick yet is very dose-able

Successful Reign Guaranteed

As I write the last part of this review, I find myself in awe at what Land Rover has accomplished with the 2022 Range Rover. Every tweak and addition the fifth generation has been equipped with seems to benefit the concept that the Range Rover embodies. It feels more luxurious, even more, powerful, and more capable, and I haven't even ventured off-road yet.

Previous generations could only dream of having dynamic potential and comfort as the fifth-gen has. Its new rear-wheel steering makes the car easier to use than ever in cities while also benefitting the handling. Previous Range Rovers could have only dreamed of the level of technology inside the cabin for all occupants. So yes ladies and gentlemen, the new king is here. God save the king! May this new reign surpass what the previous generation has brought us. Just one thing that makes me doubt that: the increased price tag might make the new Range Rover too expensive for those who previously bought the entry versions.

2022 Range Rover Review | The King Never Left