10 Things You Need To Know About the 2016 Land Rover Range Rover LWB

2016 Land Rover Range Rover LWB ・ Photo by Lyndon Bell

When you’re already known as the best of the best, one of two things can happen; you can get complacent, rest on your laurels and watch the competition pass you by—or you can strive for even loftier heights, introduce new innovations and stay well out in front of the pack. Happily, Land Rover continually chooses the latter path for its Range Rover flagship. Introduced for the 2014 model year, the long wheelbase version of the marque’s iconic Range Rover is a worthy alternative to the world’s most luxurious sedans—with an added bonus. The Range Rover LWB can take its privileged passengers places you wouldn’t dream of going in any ultra-luxury sedan. For the 2016 model year, long wheelbase Range Rover pricing starts at $108,195.

2. What’s New For 2016

As we mentioned in the introduction, Land Rover is always making moves to keep its top model the ultimate sport utility vehicle. For the 2016 model year, the Range Rover gets a system known as All-Terrain Progress Control as standard equipment on V8 models. This system gives the Range Rover an automatic low-speed cruise/crawl control mode heightening its capabilities in offroad situations. While we’re discussing “heightening”, the Range Rover’s new Automatic Access Height is standard on all versions. This system automatically lowers the Range Rover’s air suspension to “access height” once the transmission is placed in Park. This makes it easier to get in and out of the Range Rover. On the safety and security front, Land Rover’s new Land Rover InControl Remote & Protect system is also standard equipment. This provides access to Emergency Services and Roadside Assistance at the push of a button. It also enables certain functions of the vehicle to be controlled by smartphone. A new optional feature is the Hands-Free Gesture Controlled Power Tailgate.

Photo by Lyndon Bell

3. The Proportions Work

The long wheelbase version of the Land Rover Range Rover measures 204.6 inches in overall length while the standard wheelbase version is just less than eight inches shorter—at 196.8 inches. Reading about it, the difference might sound less than significant, but when you consider the entire difference is given over to the rear seat passengers—it’s highly significant. Make no mistake about it; the LWB version of the Range Rover has considerable presence. Remarkably, even with the LWB’s additional length, the styling of the Range Rover remains remarkably well proportioned. It’s almost as if the SUV was intended to be this long in the first place. It really looks good.

4. The Opulence of Its Interior Features

While the Range Rover has always been, and remains, an exceptionally satisfying automobile to drive, this version of England’s go-anywhere land yacht was primarily intended to be chauffeur driven. This is readily evident in the fact the rear seats recline, as well as slide fore and aft. Standard Range Rover Supercharged LWB features include a panoramic sunroof and powered blinds for the rear windows. An optional offering is a pair of Executive Chairs with 18-way adjustability; as well as massage, heat, and cooling functionalities. Go top of the line SVAutobiography and you’ll also get power-folding rear tray tables, footrests, and a cooler box.

Photo by Lyndon Bell

5. Range Rover LWB Has Three Trim Packages

For 2016, Land Rover is offering the Range Rover LWB in three trim levels. Supercharged ($108,195), Autobiography ($144,995), and SVAutobiography ($199,495). Standard features include an adjustable air suspension system, automatic xenon headlights, the Land Rover four-mode Terrain Response System, a rearview camera, a power liftgate, heated power folding mirrors, tri-zone automatic climate control, 21-inch alloy wheels, and foglights. Autobiography adds upgraded leather upholstery, a sueded headliner, and a 29-speaker Meridian audio system. SVAutobiography (LWB-only) adds a more powerful engine, four-zone automatic climate control, two-tone paint, smart cruise control, and the aforementioned Executive seating package.

Photo by Lyndon Bell

6. Comfort & Cargo Capacity Are Outstanding

If there exists a more comfortable SUV than the 2016 Land Rover Range Rover LWB, we’re having considerable difficulty imagining it. First of all, the elegance of the Range Rover's interior furnishings immediately put you in a good mood. This thing is Nice (and yes, the capital "N" was wholly intentional). Sumptuously outfitted in both quality and substance, you know you’re sitting somewhere special. Yes, we'll admit, even with the new Automatic Access Height feature, climbing up into the big beast can be something of a bother for shorter people (a retracting running board would be perfect), but once you do so, it’s beyond comfortable. The seats are exceptionally supportive with both heat and massage functions. Further, outward visibility is excellent. Maximum cargo capacity is 82.8 cubic feet.

Photo by Lyndon Bell

7. The Range Rover's Cutting Edge Safety Features

Available safety features include a rearview camera washer, a 360-degree parking sensor array, a 360-degree camera system, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, self-parking, lane departure warning, emergency braking assist, and smart cruise control with full emergency braking. Standard features include ABS, traction control, stability control, rollover prevention, hill descent control, a full complement of airbags, and active front headrests.

Photo by Lyndon Bell

8. The Supercharged V8 Engine

All of the long wheelbase Range Rover models are fitted with a supercharged V8 engine. The Range Rover Supercharged LWB and Range Rover Autobiography LWB get a 510-horsepower version of the engine with 461 ft-lbs of torque and 5.0-liters of displacement. SVAutobiography gets 550 horsepower and 502 ft-lbs of torque from a modified version of the same engine. An eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time four-wheel drive complete both powertrains.

Photo by Lyndon Bell

9. Its Size Matters Where It Counts & Is Irrelevant Where It Doesn't

The 2016 Land Rover Range Rover LWB wafts along as effortlessly as any other 510-horsepower English luxury automobile. The Rover demonstrates utter civility on the street, and outstanding capability offroad. This is essentially a limousine capable of negotiating impossibly steep inclines (in either direction), wading through just under three feet of standing or flowing water, and showing up looking like a million bucks at the country club’s formal dinner. Yes, it can be a bit tricky managing its sheer size around town, but out on the road the Range Rover LWB handles just as sweetly as any luxury sedan.

Photo by Lyndon Bell

10. The Range Rover Long Wheelbase's Pros & Cons

Outstanding comfort, powerful engines, exceptionally luxurious, and beautifully finished.

High price; marginal fuel economy, difficult for shorter people to get in and out.

Photo by Lyndon Bell