2007 Range Rover Vogue Luxury TDV8 Road Test
October 9, 2007 by Alborz Fallah
2007 Land Rover Range Rover Vogue Luxury TDV8 Road Test
Test Model: 2007 Land Rover Range Rover Vogue Luxury TDV8
Price: $166,900
CarAdvice Rating: 
Drive through any wealthy suburb and you’re bound to stumble across at least one form of Range Rover, be it the Sport or the Vogue. There must be some reason these things are so popular, so with that in mind, I picked up a Range Rover Vogue Luxury to see exactly what all the fuss was about.
First and foremost, this thing is massive. The driving position is extremely commanding and visibility through all four corners is superb. Although all the buttons located on the dashboard look daunting initially, they are intuitively placed to provide as little distraction to the driver as possible. A brilliant satellite navigation system, an actual demister in the front windscreen and an amazing sound system headline the features list up front.
Head to the second row and rear seat passengers are treated to two in-seat LCD screens which can play video/audio from individual sources via wireless headphones. Leg room is above average for a four wheel drive of this size and the seats and door line cater for people of all sizes.
Most importantly, I wanted to find out how good the Vogue was off-road. Weighing in at just over 2.7-tonnes, the Vogue is no light weight. The height adjustable suspension allows the vehicle to lift enough to avoid obstacles, while the turbo-diesel V8 moves the Vogue along with little haste. It tackled the off-road course with little trouble – partly thanks to the automatic operation of the 4WD system, variable upon the drive mode and terrain selected.
Under the bonnet, one of the best diesels in the business powers the Vogue. Producing 200kW and a stellar 640Nm of torque, the frugal motor sips through 9.8-litres/100km – which is very impressive for a vehicle that weighs some 2.7-tonnes. Power is sent through a slick-shifting 6-speed automatic gearbox.
The Vogue is a relatively competent car through corners too. Normally a vehicle of this size wallows when pushed through corners, but the Vogue is surprisingly responsive and provides decent feedback through the wheel, while the Brembo front brakes provide adequate stopping power.
The Range Rover Vogue range includes three models – the TDV8, priced at $142,900, the TDV8 Luxury, priced at $166,900 (being test driven) and the Supercharged, priced at $185,900.
Standard features included in the Range Rover Vogue Luxury are: Heated/cooled front seats; heated rear seats; heated steering wheel; front/rear window demister; leather seats; satellite navigation; 6-disc DVD player; 6-disc CD player; power windows; power mirrors; auto-dimming rear vision mirror; electric driver and passenger seats with memory; cruise control; bi-xenon headlights; sunroof; adjustable air suspension and alloy wheels.
Safety features include: Driver and front passenger airbags; side airbags; curtain airbags; ABS brakes; Electronic Stability Control (ESC); hill descent control (HDC); brake assist (BA) and engine immobiliser.
In a world where ‘bigger is better’ and ‘less is more’, it’s hard to find a reason to rationalise the Vogue. If you are constantly driving only one or two passengers around and rarely venturing off the beaten track, you are far better off buying a small car.
If, on the other hand, you do cart a small army of passengers around and do hit the bush on weekends, the Vogue couldn’t offer better value for money. Take into account the 3.5-tonne towing capacity, along with the massive list of features and you will soon see the reality behind the asking price. The turbo-diesel V8 provides plenty of torque, along with excellent fuel efficiency, it’s hard to want anything more in such a well equipped, luxury 4WD.
Print it: 
the off-road credentials look pretty damn good, but damn 166ks! Is that a typo or is this bloody expensive.
I’m sure the petite pony club mums driving these around our wealthier suburbs will appreciate it’s impeccable off-road credentials. ;-)
Is that economy figure of 9.8L/100km a Highway or Combined figure? ….and what was the actual figure achieved on your test drive?
great 4wd but the sad reality is that most of these will end up with some rich suburban mum who will scream if a branch touched it… though she wont notice the 50 other cars she cut off or the motorcyclist she hit- sorry rant they should ban women with children to buy 4wd!!!!
Foggy! took the words right from me!!
OWWWWWWWWW,Arsenalroc….please don’t tar us with all the same brush ! As much as I hear what your saying {see it every say myself at school} some of us chicks are more than capable of driving a 4X4 than some guys and using it to its real capabilities. I do think that like the US rear mounted cameras should be mandatory in all large vehicles! Or has that law been passed here now!
About the R/Rover…….I love the look of the Sport more than this but I have no doubt this is a great vehicle.$166,000 yer its exy but what does a top of the range Lexus cost? It is a pity though this vehicle will be lucky to see mud to show its true capabilities. I guess we have to ask ourselves if we could afford $166.000 to spend on a 4×4 and wanted one , would this be it?
The big question is, who’s taking $167k worth of stuff off-road, where it can get damaged, scratched etc?
I wouldn’t.
Hey JW……people use to say the same about taking a $70.000 landcruiser too,we use to take hedge clippers with us if needed,true. Didn’t worry about the mud or sand though!
When you’re talking this kind of money it’s difficult to argue that something is good value, but for me the V10 Touareg is a bargain compared to this vehicle.
Plus if you buy the Touareg, you get reliability thrown in for free! The downside is you won’t become intimately acquainted with the dealer service manager :)
Take either through the Vic high country – no, if I could afford the V10 Touareg, I would also buy another vehicle to go off-roading, such as a 60/80 series and fit it with Winch/diff lock/muddies and use that for play.
I am driving a Q7 audi at the min and it is truly the best 4wd i have driven.
Ihave had a v10 touareg and it is very good, but for something i could live with every day a Q7 beats it hands down!
I will be placing my order next time for the new Q7 v8 tdi, it is very close in spec to the new rangerover… and has more torque than touareg…
Nwe rangies certainally do look the goods but….
Well, sales are at record highs and so is quality statistics, people need to start letting go of the notion that landrovers have bad quality in 2007!
Ive head this 3.6 Twin trubo deisel V8 is more powerful, quieter and more fuel efficient than the 3.0 inline 6 BMW deisel it replaced! amazing.
It certainly is excess, but isn’t that the point in the this vehicle segment…
I like it, ive driven a LR3 and the sports version and i liked them.
Two words…
“The King”
Cheers
F-0
Tonyn
you change cars like changing underwear
:)
you could say that, but it is good fun! im not a 4WD person but have
I have a GT falcon which i tow a bit to shows so i like to experment with 4WDs, Q7 defently has been the best for the job! i have had a td land cruiser too and the q7 is every bit as good power and towing wise…. buy my 4wd’s never go off road, just to tow with!
Adam, I’m not going to part with $166,000 for any LR in 2007, given that their poor reliability reputation has not been disproved, especially when a superior product (VW Touareg, Audi Q7) is available for a MUCH lower price. A new model release does not prove the bad reputation will not continue.
Spread the risk – buy the lesser priced car, be totally satisfied, and invest the rest in the sharemarket. That way you are not gambling $166,000 on a LR suddenly having a magic change to being reliable, you are only gambling $66,000 on the market. You have a better chance of doubling your $66,000 than the LR being trouble free.
I have this car a range rover sport and plenty of others including aston martins, bmws, mercedes, maseratis, audis, alfas and sorry but what can i say. I’m a real car collector but its obvious that your all just jealous that you can’t afford a $166,000 Range Rover. Except the people who praised the Range Rover. Its a fantastic car and my most used. Lets see what you would say after crawling from your corollas and commodores and see what you would say about the Range Rover after that. Huh? Think about it before you write me an insulting reply.
Not too sure where the pricing comes from, the car in the road test is actually $185,000.00 including NSW on roads costs. To say it is “too expensive” is subjective, this is mainly the objective when the car is “too expensive” for a persons budget. Is a 5 series too expensive when you can can get a perfectly good large sedan in the form of a Falcon?
The Vogue is actually great value when you consider you are getting a similar level of equipment and luxury as you would expect to see in an S Class, Arnage etc… Factor in the Vogues fuel economy and off road ability and the luxury sedans (that the Vogue is actually competing with) seem ridiculously over priced; please don’t mention the Cayenne or GL as they are rivals on price and price alone and they are not classed as true luxury vehicles.
A good friend of mine works for a Land Rover service department, if his reports are anything to go by then the brand has come on significantly. I am sure people will still be harping on about the brands “reliability issues” for years to come, I am pretty sure these will also be the people that never actually own a vehicle from the range…..everyone is an expert.
Don’t you just love stereotypes.
First one. My wife has a RR Sport and she takes it 4WD regularly. She knows how to drive and has the respect of her friends who accompany her. The vehicle is simply outstanding and holds its own in the company of Landcruisers and Patrols. In fact, owners of thos vehicles who have driven the RR Sport (TDV8) have raved about it.
Second one. The reliability of the RR Sport is tops. Ours has been off road and driven as a surburban taxi. It is performing above specifications.
In terms of value. I’ll pay whatever it takes for the vehicle that does what I want from it. I don’t care if it is expensive, as I have the capacity to pay for it.
You either want one or you don’t. The rest is just hot air and time wasting
Eh, Ainsley, the RR “Vogue” TDV8 is not the RR “Sport”. In fact, the Sport doesn’t come as a diesel, afaik.
great SUV, I`m sure this new TDV8 engine is a great powertrain, lots of torque, and 280 hp to play in the mountain roads.
The Vogue trim simply rocks
maracas culias
Peter P – you have no idea really do you. I have driven a RR SPort Diesel since late 2005 and have upgraded to the TDV* Sport in early 2008. Get a grip and talk facts – I guess you dont know aa YOUVE NEVER BEEN IN THE SHOWROOM
It’s such a shame they chose to test the TDV8, not the supercharged version. OK, the TDV8 is worthy and economical, but once you’ve planted the right foot of a Supercharged rangie and left some bogan eating dust….yo can’t go back really. My personal favourite is playing chicked with BMW drivers who think they can out drag me into traffic from the left had lane…..
Sorry to be a prat, but I just love driving the big bruiser.
Strangely enough, the most problematic thing so far has been the software that runs the sound system – seems to have a touch the teenager about it and refuses to get out of bed in the mornings on occasion.
I’m actually taking it for an off road thrash tomorrow, so may be taking the train home (I wrote off my last RR Sport S/C last time I went up to Lithgow).
As much as it pains me to agree with some of the less sensitives Ruperts on this posting, if you hate it, you’ve never had the pleasure of driving it. It’s a Bentley that goes off road – BMW X5 – don’t make me laugh. It’s not a car for posers – it’s a car for people who are happy to pay for a stupendously comfortable, highly capable off roading luxury car. I heartily recommend it to anybody who enjoys cars.