Vehicle Tests > 2007 4WD of the Year

However, no other 4WD on the market today can claim such a direct lineage back to a vehicle that defines the very essence of 4WD and Land Rover says its Defender customers don't want change, so who are we to argue?

SPECS
Base price: $48,990
Price as tested: $48,990 + on-road costs
Engine: 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel
Gearbox: Six-speed manual
4WD System: Full-time
Low Range: Yes
Claimed max power: 90kW @ 3500rpm
Claimed max torque: 360Nm @ 2000rpm
Weight: 2041kg
Average fuel consumption on test*: 13.5 litres/100km
Fuel tank capacity: 75 litres
Touring range**: 506km

*Test included a high percentage of low-range driving plus beach work and is higher than you would expect for onroad use only.
** Based on test average fuel consumption, fuel tank capacity and a 50km safety margin.

BEST POINTS: Space, load-carrying ability, economy
WORST POINTS: Ergonomics, lack of refinement

5th (223 points)
Range Rover Vogue TDV8 Luxury

Background
The Range Rover Vogue TDV8 is here in this contest thanks to its new 200kW/640Nm V8 turbo diesel engine. This engine replaces the 135kW/390Nm straight-six BMW turbo diesel fitted to the Rangie since the third-generation's debut in 2002.

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Note the Vogue tag is now used to differentiate the 'big daddy' Rangie from the Range Rover Sport, and is no longer a spec-level designation.
With the TDV8 engine, comes the high performance Brembo brake package from the supercharged petrol V8, which in turn means that the standard and smallest rim is now a 19-inch. Our test Rangie has optional 20s, but more on that later.

Set-piece hill climb/test track
Part of the Rangie's TDV8 upgrade includes the adoption of Terrain Response and an electronic self-locking and self-proportioning centre differential (a so-called e-diff) as seen on the Discovery 3 and the Range Rover Sport. We are keen to see how well this technology works given the fact that the Rangie has relatively smooth treaded 300kph-rated high-performance road tyres and fully independent suspension, not the sort of technology that you'd usually throw at a steep and rutted hill climb.

With the variable ride height set to the highest offroad setting, clearance isn't a problem for the TDV8 but the independent suspension can't keep all four wheels on the ground, and the wheels that do have contact with terra firma do so via relatively slick rubber. That's where the traction control and centre e-diff come into play. They get the Rangie up and over the top but not with the fuss-free casual aplomb you usually associate with a Range Rover. On a vehicle of this price and with this iconic nametag, the $1500 optional self-locking rear e-diff should be standard fitment.

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