Range Rover Fifty Review: 50 Years Of Unequalled Luxury
For 50 years the Range Rover has been one of the British icons that stood for luxury and welfare. So it seemed fitting to introduce an anniversary edition. Fittingly dubbed the Range Rover Fifty.
It’s 1970 and the first ever Range Rover rolls off the production line. The Range Rover was designed to be a more recreational off-roader next to the more spartan Defender. It was advertised as “A Car For All Reasons”. A top speed of 160 km/h, a towing capacity of 3.5 tonnes, seating for 5 people and a permanent all-wheel-drive system with a high & low range.
And although reception was critical about the Range Rover, it proved itself to be one of the best cars if not the benchmark in its class both on- and off-road.
Still an icon
Fast forward 50 years and the current Range Rover still is “A Car For All Reasons”. However, it has climbed up the luxurious ladder and is now a high-end SUV still capable of performing well both on-road or off-road. It’s still able to pull up to 3500 kg. All this is powered by various diesel and petrol engines in the Range Rover Fifty. Looking for something to use daily on short trips? There’s the P400e for that. Doing a lot of kilometers on a daily basis than the D350 as our test car had might be something more for you. It’s smooth, very quiet and for a car this size and weight sipping just under 10L/100 km on average is pretty damn good. The diesel definitely does know how to rack up the kilometers without any hassle.
And if you want the biggest and baddest Fifty you can opt for the Long Wheel Base with a 525 hp Supercharged V8 upfront. A bonus feature is that the Long Wheel Base features an extra 192 mm of legroom for the rear passengers. A must really if you’re going to be spending most of your time in the back.
But with luxury like never seen before
Range Rovers always had this certain presence. And the Range Rover Fifty is no different. Especially when you opt for one of the 3 heritage paint options (because why else would you opt for a Fifty). There’s Davos White, Bahama Gold, and Tuscan Blue (the color of this car). Each color is a nod to the original Range Rover which featured the same colors. This is how you’ll be able to recognize a Fifty instantly. And for some reason, Range Rovers can always pull off bold colours in ways that their German counterparts could never manage. A certain British class.
Step inside and the first thing you notice is the amount of leather used inside. Everywhere you touch you’ll find soft leathers which welcome you inside this lovely, luxurious cabin. You just sink into the seats so nicely and seat massage helps you relax as a driver.
But since this is a Range Rover. Chances are high you’re going to be sitting in the back as well. That’s where the Executive Class Package comes in. Allowing the front passenger seat to move forward creating more space and a fully adjustable back seat with heating and massage functions with a lovely soft pillow to top it off.
Well, it doesn’t really stop there since there’s also rear-seat entertainment. A live TV broadcast is available or you can hook up anything you’d like through the HDMI port. Laptop, CD player, even your own gaming console thanks to the 230V plug at the bottom of the center console. You name it, it’s possible.
Fifty anniversary
So as stated before, the Range Rover Fifty has 3 Heritage colors to choose from with Tuscan Blue being the one presented here. Next to that, there are various Fifty badges on the in- and outside of the car. The Fifty badge is even stamped into the leather of the headrests which is an amazingly elegant touch. Finally, there’s a plaque below the gear selector which says Range Rover Fifty 1 of 1970. Because yes, 1970 units of this Range Rover will be built globally.Furthermore, bespoke exterior accents are finished in Auric Atlas, there are 2 unique 22-inch wheel options.
The Ultimate Range Rover?
While it may not be the full SVAutobiography, the Range Rover Fifty is a unique piece and the colour alone is a reason to get the Fifty. Not many cars can pull off bold colours like this but in a certain classy way, Range Rovers just can. And with it being limited to 1970 units, you’re going to be the owner of a very cool historic piece. My ideal Range Rover? That’d be a long-wheelbase Fifth in Tuscan Blue with the new Ingenium D350 engine.
