Skip advert
Advertisement

‘Land Rover’s reliability is the elephant in the room’

Editor-in-chief Steve Fowler has been impressed with the new Range Rover, but hopes Land Rover’s reliability issues won’t hold the luxury SUV back

Opinion - Range Rover

There’s no doubt that the new Range Rover is an incredible piece of design and engineering. I was blown away by how well it drives and was really surprised how much I enjoyed throwing it around some seriously twisty roads. You forget just how big and heavy it is – until you slide out of the super-comfy driver’s seat and your feet eventually hit the ground!

Advertisement - Article continues below

There’s an incredible amount of tech on board, too, and some real high-end luxury features – the quality seems to be superb. However, there’s one question that hangs over the Range Rover (and other JLR products) and one which must be banished for good with this car. Being honest, whenever I recommended a Land Rover to people in the past, it was with a caveat: it might go wrong.

Reliability is not the brand’s strongest suit – and it’s not just us saying so. Our own Driver Power survey data proves owners are frustrated. And mud sticks – as social media proved when I uploaded a video of the clever motorised Club Table in a top-spec Range Rover SV rising into position. Responses included: “Another feature to go wrong”, “Give it 12 months and that’s the only electrical component that’ll work”, and “So much to rattle after 18 months and then fail just after the warranty ends”. JLR is aware of its issues and its reputation, and we’re assured no stone is being left unturned in addressing them.

Two things will help the new Range Rover: millions of pounds have been spent on the plant in Solihull to build the new car; we’re told it’s like a new factory and we know new factories tend to build better-quality cars, as we’ve seen with the Defender, built in a brand-new facility in Slovakia. Then there’s the new electrical architecture, with software-over-the-air compatibility, which can fix problems before customers know there are problems.

This Range Rover deserves to succeed, but that success must come with reliability. Let’s hope that this time it will.

Click here for our list of the best luxury SUVs...

Skip advert
Advertisement

Steve Fowler has previously edited Auto Express, Carbuyer, DrivingElectric, What Car?, Autocar and What Hi-Fi? and has been writing about cars for the best part of 30 years. 

Find a car with the experts

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Best cars for road trips - our top models for the ultimate driving adventure
Best cars for road trips - header image

Best cars for road trips - our top models for the ultimate driving adventure

Our experts pick their ideal road trip cars with everything from super-luxury saloons to high-powered supercars
Best cars & vans
14 May 2025
The best ever popemobiles
Best ever popemobiles

The best ever popemobiles

For nearly 100 years Popes have had bespoke transport – here we chart the astonishing history of the popemobile
Best cars & vans
8 May 2025
New Range Rover Electric ride review: luxury EV could be worth the wait
Range Rover EV prototype - front

New Range Rover Electric ride review: luxury EV could be worth the wait

We get taken for a ride in the hotly-anticipated all-electric Range Rover ahead of its official reveal
Road tests
24 Apr 2025
Top 10 best luxury cars to buy 2025
Best Luxury cars - header

Top 10 best luxury cars to buy 2025

Indulge yourself with our list of the best luxury cars on sale today
Best cars & vans
23 Apr 2025

Most Popular

Car Deal of the Day: Sacre bleu! The Renault 5 keeps getting cheaper
Renault 5 - front full width

Car Deal of the Day: Sacre bleu! The Renault 5 keeps getting cheaper

The modern-day Super Cinq comes with a super price. It’s our Deal of the Day for 14 May
News
14 May 2025
Kia is returning to its 'Keeping It Affordable' roots
Opinion - Kia

Kia is returning to its 'Keeping It Affordable' roots

Mike Rutherford thinks new cars are simply too expensive, but some manufacturers are starting to do something about it
Opinion
19 May 2025
Best electric cars 2025: the top 10 best EVs you can buy
Best electric cars header

Best electric cars 2025: the top 10 best EVs you can buy

Thinking about making the switch to an electric vehicle? Here are the EVs that should be on your shortlist, and why…
Best cars & vans
14 May 2025