The stigma of a diesel engine is what you experience when you hear a tractor trailer, a large pickup with a diesel engine or an older model SUV that has the loud and obnoxious diesel engine under the hood. These engines were often associated with a smell that could be attributed to a vehicle that was good for some hard work, but certainly not for one that was meant for luxury driving and a smooth quiet sound. This was the diesel stigma of the past, but the diesel engines we enjoy today are much better and can even be the right power plant for a luxury SUV.
The Land Rover Range Rover Td6 HSE is such a vehicle. This Ranger Rover offers us a comfortable ride on road and on the trials. As part of the name that is synonymous with the best in off roading capability right form the factory the Range Rover HSE is an SUV that has the ability to give you a comfortable ride around town that can put your babies to sleep while also being equipped to take on the undiscovered outdoors. Not many other vehicles can come close to this same claim to fame, but the Range Rover can deliver with superb performance.
The Td6 version of the HSE is powered by a smooth running 3.0-liter V6 turbodiesel engine that brings in 254 horsepower and an impressive 440 lb.-ft. of torque. The full use of the torque is available as early as 1,750 rpm, making this a powerful vehicle right from the start. All this power is routed to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission that is perfect for the job, as you would expect from any Land Rover vehicle. This is one diesel that we actually get to enjoy in the US as this model is new for 2016.
The steering in the Range Rover is enjoyable and surprisingly light considering the HSE weighs in at 5,600 pounds. The vehicle may feel lighter than it is because of the early availability of all the torque, which is one of the most impressive benefits of this vehicle. Riding on an air suspension system helps the HSE be able to clear obstacles that are in your path but also give you a smooth ride on the road that is enjoyable for every passenger you have riding along with you.
From inside the cabin you will notice the glorious menu of features and driver assistance functions that make the HSE a Range Rover you can love to drive. There’s no shortage of equipment, soft materials, comfortable seating, cargo space and automation. The rear seats fold to give you more cargo room when you need it and the panoramic moonroof will impress your younger passengers who want to see the sky as they drive and feel like they’re part of the outdoors.
One of the concerns many people have when driving a large luxury SUV is the fuel mileage. The beauty of the diesel engine in this Range Rover is that you will enjoy fuel mileage that comes in at 22 city/28 hwy which results in a combined 25 mph for your Range Rover. This is perfect for a family to be able to head out on a grand adventure, knowing the Range Rover HSE isn’t going to take all their fun money and suck it into the engine to burn for fuel.
The life of a Range Rover is one that rarely ever sees the off road features used, but if you are an adventurer that’s looking for a great SUV to cross the desert or climb a steep hill, this is the one that will do it better than nearly anything else on the market. Even with that said, knowing the Range Rover is mostly going to be driving around kids for practice or running errands Land Rover made the right choice by making this a vehicle that offers a quiet and smooth ride on the road.
Is the Range Rover Td6 HSE the right choice for you? Keep in mind this vehicle can get pricy, but it’s not out of range of most of the competition and it does give you the complete package of fuel mileage, power, off road capability and comfort that you’ve been looking for.
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