Range Rover Mk3

The third generation Range Rover was a clean-sheet redesign, developed by then Land Rover (LR) owner BMW as its flagship 4WD.

Consequently many of the engineering and drivetrain experiences that went into bringing the smaller BMW X5 to fruition underpinned the British 4x4 icon.

Of course Ford purchased Land Rover during the Raneg Rover III’s gestation, so it arrived at Ford as a BMW.

That means a 210kW/440Nm 4.4-litre DOHC 32V variable valve timing V8 or the 130kW/390Nm 3.0-litre DOHC 24V TDI turbo-diesel also found in earlier X5 iterations.

Bigger than before, and heavier, the latter engine has quite a job hauling the Range Rover around.

Both motors are connected to a five-speed automatic transmission – also Bavarian sourced. The base Range Rover is the SE TDI, followed by the HSE TDI and V8.

This vehicle has a formidable on-road presence yet is actually reasonably zesty and responsive.

In the realms of $100,000-plus off-roaders, the Range Rover manages to combine outstanding off-road ability with on-road ability unchallenged by any other large four-wheel drive heavyweight.

And the reliability issues that dogged older Range Rovers should now be a thing of the past.