X5 and Range Rover pros & cons

[deutsch100]

So, now that I have been living with my new Full Size Range Rover HSE after selling the X5 4.8i, I have a pretty good evaluation of the pros and cons of each car. I think I am to the point, where I can almost say "I love my Range Rover".

For sure, the X5 handled better, was faster, braked quicker and was sportier.

Both the 4.8i and the RR drink gas like there's no tomorrow. When I got the RR, I never expected it to be economical with gas usage though. It is somewhat better than my 4.8i actually. The 4.8i was about 10mpg in the city, and about 15/16 on the highway. The RR is about 12-14city and 16-18 highway. Not bad, considering the RR weighs in at just under 7000lbs! Yeah, she's a big girl!!

The climate control is SO superior in the Range Rover, I don't even know where to begin. It is even, consistent, strong, whisper quiet, logical and just works. Just hit the "Auto" button, set the temperature(s)...and perfect A/C or heat. Vents are automatically distributed, even and basically perfect.

Although the E70 has some preset buttons, that can be assigned for the radio or Sirius...mine unprogrammed themselves or set new stations all the time (not a welcome feature). The Nav screen is also the radio screen in the Range Rover...and it's touch screen (same supplier as Lexus). Flawless, easy and to the point.

My biggest (daily) joy is the RR key. Unless you have Comfort Access on the E70, the key fob is a joke and annoying. Why must you insert the key fob, push a button to start the car, and then for turning off, push the button & then push the key fob to release. WHY? If you want a key chip, then make it like MBZ..insert the key, and turn it. 1 step. Period. The Range Rover has a thick (drop and waterproof up to 75 feet) fold out key (kinda old school) but it feels good in the hand!

While I always thought the new gear shift selector on the E70 was cool, I do find the traditional lever (like in the 3 Series, or the old X5) to be easier and practical. Never a problem in my 2 E70s, but the RR is easy too...and manual shifts "feel" more tactile and engaged.

I do miss my Auto tailgate feature on the 4.8i. The RR is not hard to open & close, but it was super easy in the X5.

Heated seats in the X5 are much better. The RR uses heat from the climate control pumped in. It's nice & dry, but it takes minutes & minutes to feel any warmth. Also, the X5 has more even heating in the seats. Not bad at all in the RR, and since I'm in Southern California...it only gets used a few weeks out of the year.

While the seating position is good in the X5, it is awesome in the RR. You sit so high, you can see everything. Side and front visibility is great, as the glass all around is expansive!

Ride comfort, oh Ride comfort. My X5 felt on many roads as if my fillings were going to bounce loose. The RR is smooth, soft (not spongy though), poised and so comfortable.

The transmission in my 4.8i was terrible. Rough, jerky, held gear to absurd RPMs and downshifted miserable. The 6 speed transmission in the RR is silky smooth, responsive and pretty perfect.

Most importantly, in the first 30 days of both my '07 and '08 E70 ownerships...I had many, many visits to the Service Dept (both minor and major). So far, the RR has been perfect. No warning lights, messages, faults, snafus, quirks, etc.. This is the best part of the new car

So, I know I wrote a lot...just thought some members might enjoy reading about the pros & cons first hand.

[LobsterX]

Originally Posted by deutsch100

So, now that I have been living with my new Full Size Range Rover HSE after selling the X5 4.8i, I have a pretty good evaluation of the pros and cons of each car. I think I am to the point, where I can almost say "I love my Range Rover".

For sure, the X5 handled better, was faster, braked quicker and was sportier.

Both the 4.8i and the RR drink gas like there's no tomorrow. When I got the RR, I never expected it to be economical with gas usage though. It is somewhat better than my 4.8i actually. The 4.8i was about 10mpg in the city, and about 15/16 on the highway. The RR is about 12-14city and 16-18 highway. Not bad, considering the RR weighs in at just under 7000lbs! Yeah, she's a big girl!!

The climate control is SO superior in the Range Rover, I don't even know where to begin. It is even, consistent, strong, whisper quiet, logical and just works. Just hit the "Auto" button, set the temperature(s)...and perfect A/C or heat. Vents are automatically distributed, even and basically perfect.

Although the E70 has some preset buttons, that can be assigned for the radio or Sirius...mine unprogrammed themselves or set new stations all the time (not a welcome feature). The Nav screen is also the radio screen in the Range Rover...and it's touch screen (same supplier as Lexus). Flawless, easy and to the point.

My biggest (daily) joy is the RR key. Unless you have Comfort Access on the E70, the key fob is a joke and annoying. Why must you insert the key fob, push a button to start the car, and then for turning off, push the button & then push the key fob to release. WHY? If you want a key chip, then make it like MBZ..insert the key, and turn it. 1 step. Period. The Range Rover has a thick (drop and waterproof up to 75 feet) fold out key (kinda old school) but it feels good in the hand!

While I always thought the new gear shift selector on the E70 was cool, I do find the traditional lever (like in the 3 Series, or the old X5) to be easier and practical. Never a problem in my 2 E70s, but the RR is easy too...and manual shifts "feel" more tactile and engaged.

I do miss my Auto tailgate feature on the 4.8i. The RR is not hard to open & close, but it was super easy in the X5.

Heated seats in the X5 are much better. The RR uses heat from the climate control pumped in. It's nice & dry, but it takes minutes & minutes to feel any warmth. Also, the X5 has more even heating in the seats. Not bad at all in the RR, and since I'm in Southern California...it only gets used a few weeks out of the year.

While the seating position is good in the X5, it is awesome in the RR. You sit so high, you can see everything. Side and front visibility is great, as the glass all around is expansive!

Ride comfort, oh Ride comfort. My X5 felt on many roads as if my fillings were going to bounce loose. The RR is smooth, soft (not spongy though), poised and so comfortable.

The transmission in my 4.8i was terrible. Rough, jerky, held gear to absurd RPMs and downshifted miserable. The 6 speed transmission in the RR is silky smooth, responsive and pretty perfect.

Most importantly, in the first 30 days of both my '07 and '08 E70 ownerships...I had many, many visits to the Service Dept (both minor and major). So far, the RR has been perfect. No warning lights, messages, faults, snafus, quirks, etc.. This is the best part of the new car

So, I know I wrote a lot...just thought some members might enjoy reading about the pros & cons first hand.

Congratulations on the new ride! It seems like you have found a keeper! Post some pics!

[deutsch100]

Thanks, what my car looks like!

[nynd]

Range Rover looks like an awesome machine. From what I've heard, seems like they are also prone to being in the shop for various issues. I think its get what 'spins your wheels'. Other than that, with the auto sector hurting as it is, lets just hope Tata makes it through... supposedly, they are also running tight on cash (was in the news today) as they spent alot of money on the purchase of Jag & LR.

[deutsch100]

Originally Posted by nynd

Range Rover looks like an awesome machine. From what I've heard, seems like they are also prone to being in the shop for various issues. I think its get what 'spins your wheels'. Other than that, with the auto sector hurting as it is, lets just hope Tata makes it through... supposedly, they are also running tight on cash (was in the news today) as they spent alot of money on the purchase of Jag & LR.

Yeah, I had a 2006 Range Rover Sport Supercharged...and it was a total nightmare. Bought it on a Saturday night, and it was in the shop on Monday (and Monday of the following week, and Wed the next week, and Friday the next week... From all the exhausting research I did before getting my new Full Size Range Rover (and talking to many owners)...2007+ has been actually excellent. Since the current model debuted im 2003, Land Rover has had plent of time to work out kinks, glitches and issues. So far, I am really impressed & happy. I hope Tata makes it, as I think they are a good fit for Land Rover-Jaguar. They understand British Culutre and Automobiles, and they have many times confirmed that they plan 100% to let LR-Jag carry on with business as usual. With 2 famed, historic & iconic companies, you don't take a chance messing with them. People who spend $60-120,000 for a car, will not accept some "Indian" British car.

[X Foomph]

Nice writeup on two great machines, very informative.

I, like some of my brethren sometimes sneek over the fence (to this forum) and amongst other issues have followed a few threads on the dissappointing back up camera on the E70.

So I guess my question is; How does the b/up camera compare on the RR and while I'm at at it how does it compare with tailgate / rear end rattles ?? as again I've read with astonishment that the E70's still have that inherent bloody rattle that I think every E53 ever built has got at some stage in its life ??

[bmwman3241]

Before I bought my car, my main options were X5, Range Rover Supercharged, Cayenne Turbo S, and Lamborghini Murcielago LP640(Main choice before something changed my mind). All three had their PROs and CONs IMO but I found the X5 to be best.
IMO, Cayenne had the speed but nothing else, Range Rover had the looks but lacked the speed, and X5 had the looks and somewhat the speed. (I was considering the G-Power Supercharger at the time). I am happy although I will probably get the Range Rover Supercharged as well in the near future.

[deutsch100]

Originally Posted by X Foomph

Nice writeup on two great machines, very informative.

I, like some of my brethren sometimes sneek over the fence (to this forum) and amongst other issues have followed a few threads on the dissappointing back up camera on the E70.

So I guess my question is; How does the b/up camera compare on the RR and while I'm at at it how does it compare with tailgate / rear end rattles ?? as again I've read with astonishment that the E70's still have that inherent bloody rattle that I think every E53 ever built has got at some stage in its life ??

Thanks X Foomph! Funny username...trying phoenetically to say 5 in German? Fünf!! The backup camera is/was awful on the E70, I mean truly dreadful. I have a feeling it is the same supplier for Range Rover...although daytime clarity, colours and focus is about 25-40% better on my Range Rover, than on the E70. Nighttime camera usuage on the Rover, is about as bad as the E70. Both the Range Rover & E70 started offering the backup camera at about the same time, so that is why I think it is a shared part, and also when I start to drive away, the camera stays on for a while, just as in the E70. MBZ and Lexus turn off right away, once the gear is selected in D (and both MBZ & Lexus are crystal clear, day or night!). So, my camera is somewhat better in the Rover, but still subpar, IMO. NO rear rattles at all in the Range Rover!!! Knock on wood/Touch wood! We had 2 2004 X5s, and no rattles either. My '07 E70 rattled like crazy, but my '08 did not rattle at all. So far, my Range Rover feels so tight, solid, quiet..and the interior build quality is leaps & bounds above the E70 (which is by no means bad)!

[BGM]

Originally Posted by deutsch100

Thanks X Foomph! Funny username...trying phoenetically to say 5 in German? Fünf!! The backup camera is/was awful on the E70, I mean truly dreadful. I have a feeling it is the same supplier for Range Rover...although daytime clarity, colours and focus is about 25-40% better on my Range Rover, than on the E70. Nighttime camera usuage on the Rover, is about as bad as the E70. Both the Range Rover & E70 started offering the backup camera at about the same time, so that is why I think it is a shared part, and also when I start to drive away, the camera stays on for a while, just as in the E70. MBZ and Lexus turn off right away, once the gear is selected in D (and both MBZ & Lexus are crystal clear, day or night!). So, my camera is somewhat better in the Rover, but still subpar, IMO. NO rear rattles at all in the Range Rover!!! Knock on wood/Touch wood! We had 2 2004 X5s, and no rattles either. My '07 E70 rattled like crazy, but my '08 did not rattle at all. So far, my Range Rover feels so tight, solid, quiet..and the interior build quality is leaps & bounds above the E70 (which is by no means bad)!

You are comparing a 1st year model in an '07 e70 with an '04 e53 that had been through 5 years of bug fixes, being able to fix rattles, etc--same holds true with the RR that design has been around for ages. First year model runs always have issues. You do hear a lot about the bad camera quality on the e70--sounds like BMW needs to do some more R&D on that. The RR is not a good comparison to an e70 in my opinion--needs to be more compared with a Land Cruiser as they are not performance they are more for luxury and off-road capabilities. Like it was mentioned above LRs and RRs have bad reliability history.

[golfer4life]

Originally Posted by deutsch100

So, now that I have been living with my new Full Size Range Rover HSE after selling the X5 4.8i, I have a pretty good evaluation of the pros and cons of each car. I think I am to the point, where I can almost say "I love my Range Rover".

Not for nothing but you're comparing and evaluating a full size RR vs. an E70? They are in 2 different class of SUV so comparing the 2 does not really do justice to both. I can understand comparing it to RR Sport.

Kind of like comparing an X5 vs X3 or ML vs GL and so on. Does not make sense.