2014 Range Rover LWB – Fit for the Queen? [Review]

2014, range rover, lwb, long, luxury, supercharged
2014 Range Rover LWB

What vehicle would the Queen of England take on a spontaneous outdoor adventure or hunting? How about this 2014 Range Rover LWB!  Yes, the standard Range Rover is already a comfortable and capable vehicle. However, what if you needed a little more room to relax after a full day in the country? LWB stands for Long Wheel Base and adds over seven inches (7.8 in) to the passenger compartment and the wheelbase. Can this Rover still go off-road and do the things that Rovers do?

STATS Starting Retail Price As Tested Price HP / Lb-Ft
2014 Ranger Rover LWB $106,225 $122,930 510 / 461
EPA Rating MPG As Tested MPG Curb Lbs
Rating: BUY IT!
14 / 19 / 16 16.8 5,319

Actually, Queen Elizabeth II would likely choose the highest end Autobiography edition Range Rover and then customized it and made it bomb and bullet proof. The test vehicle is not an Autobiography, but is still no slouch in amenities and luxury. The LWB does pose a steep increase of $22,000 over the regular model, and this loaded tester ended up at $122,930 MSRP.

2014, range rover, supercharged, lwb, v8

This luxury off-roader is powered by a 5.0L Supercharged V8 that is good for 510 horsepower and 461 lb-ft of torque, which is enough to propel this large hunk of aluminum 0-60 mph is under six seconds. Actually, the stretch only adds about 183 pounds to the total weight of the Rover for a total of 5,319 lbs. Thank goodness for light-weight construction that is mostly aluminum (or aluminium).

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Interior appointments is what this Range Rover is all about. Overall design is classic and constrained. There is plush carpet everywhere, and attention to detail is paramount. The extra legroom in the back does wonders. If you are tired of your kids kicking you in the back of your seat, this behavior is made impossible in the LWB. Of course, the Queen would feel good back there as well. And no, you cannot get a third-row option.  This off-roader is meant for four or five people in a pinch.

There are stories of the Queen actually driving her Range Rover, and this is understandable. The driving position is nice and tall for a commanding view of the road. The seats are comfortable and the headrests have adjustable side bolsters to cradle your head (as you would find on some airliners). The center gauges are big and very clear, but the main infotainment system is still not very intuitive. Many operations require you to go three or four levels within the menus. A good example is trying to launch a movie on the dual rear DVD monitors. This procedure requires at least five steps. Not sure whether the Queen would even bother with it, as long as her favorite music is already selected.

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She might like the twelve interior accent colors for night driving. There are enough options to match most moods.  The giant panoramic sunroof is also a nice touch, and the rear passengers can operate the top sunshade. They also have electric side-window shades to maintain the privacy.

Chassis and suspension is what Range Rover is known for and proud of. There are adjustable air cushions at all four corners, that allow for three selectable ride heights: access, normal, and high. The access height is the lowest setting and makes egress much easier. It’s available at lower speeds, and the Rover automatically go into normal mode at higher speed. The high setting raises several inches (up to a total 11.6 in) and allows for off-road capability that is not far from the regular wheelbase Range Rover. Approach and departure angles in the LWB are identical, but it does lose a little on the breakover angle (27.3 deg -> 26.1 deg). Also, the LWB has a wider turning radius by 2.2 feet.

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Street ride is very comfortable on any suspension setting. The fully extended air cushions on high (off-road) setting do make the ride a little more harsh, but it’s only noticeable when the pavement ends. The steering and handling strike a good balance between comfort and all-out performance. This giant Rover is not meant for carving canyons, the Range Rover Sport SVR is a much better tool for that. The LWB is not afraid of spirited driving, but you can still feel the vehicle heft in corners.

The Range Rover does compete against the Cadillac Escalade, Lexus LX570, and Mercedes-Benz G / GL-Class. These luxury SUVs do compete on power, amenities, capability, price, and panache. However, none of them offer the ultimate rear passenger legroom and comfort of this LWB. Of course, you can pimp out your Escalade ESV and out some lazy-boy recliners in the back, but it does not come like this from the factory.

On the TFLcar scale of:

  • Buy it!
  • Lease it!
  • Rent it!
  • … or Forget it!

I give the 2014 Range Rover LWB a Buy It!

It presents a very unique limo-like experience in the luxury SUV segment. The Rover LWB is basically a long wheelbase luxury sedan, such as the Jaguar XJL or Audi A8L, but with full off-road capability.

Take a look at this video where we take this LWB Rover off-road in the rain.

Andre Smirnov
Andre Smirnov

Andre Smirnov is a life-long automotive enthusiast, software engineer, writer, and reporter. He has been writing and reporting at TFLcar since 2011.