Range Rover 2010 review

IT’S a view that would strike fear into even the most hardened thrill-seeking explorer – a single-track road with a sheer drop of over 10,000 feet. And I’m about to descend it in a Range Rover.

Auto Express is in the Rocky Mountains, Colorado, US, celebrating the 40th anniversary of the luxury 4x4 by taking it on its toughest test ever – the legendary Black Bear Pass.

As I look at the road ahead, I’m frozen with fear. It appears impassable. It’s only two miles down, but the track is barely wide enough for our Range Rover and is made up of treacherously wet and jagged rocks. At times there is less than an inch between the wheels and the abyss below, while some hairpins are so tight that we can’t get round without driving to the edge thenreversing back and forth.

At each bend, I put my faith in Land Rover’s top US 4x4 driving instructor Tom ‘TC’ Collins, who guides me inch-by-inch over the minefield of hazards.

The descent took just over two hours, and every minute seemed like an eternity. It’s the most frightening drive I’ve ever done – I’ve never gripped the wheel so hard or kept my foot planted so firmly on the brakes. In two hours I never went above 1mph, and when the final corner was passed I felt a huge wave of relief. I’d conquered Black Bear.

The drive emphatically confirmed that the Range Rover is not only the King of the Mountains, but the most formidable all-round vehicle in the world. Over our four-day expedition, it took some of the most hostile terrain on the planet in its stride, thanks to Hill Descent, which automatically brakes the vehicle on steep descents, and Terrain Response, which allows you to switch the suspension settings to cope with anything from rocks to mud, snow and even sand.

Factor in an adjustable ride height as well as high and low-ratio four-wheel-drive systems, and you’ve got one of the most complete cars in the world.

Off-roading deliberately dominated our birthday adventure, and while most owners will never experience the Range Rover’s talents, they should – if not quite to the extent of the Black Bear Pass.

We also drove plenty of miles on road; enough to leave you amazed that a vehicle which performs so incredibly off it can drive so well on tarmac. We’ve already tested the new 309bhp 4.4-litre V8 diesel, and it’s a mighty machine. Hooked up to a slick new eight-speed auto, it’s capable of 30mpg, while emissions have been cut to 253g/km. But it’s the refinement, performance, assured handling and smooth ride that make it such a great car to travel in.

A luxurious cabin that wouldn’t be out of place in a Bentley further highlights how far the vehicle has come in the last 40 years. After four days, the conclusion was clear – the latest Range Rover is quite simply the best all-round vehicle in the world.