Since their conception in 1970, the Range Rover has been a staple of both country and city life, offering great off-road capability as well as luxury and comfort. One of the most common concerns over buying any Range Rover is reliability, in this article, we’ll take a look at which Range Rover is the best to buy. 

The History of Range Rover 

Devised by a Land Rover engineer who wanted to combine the off-road capability of the Land Rover, with the prestige of a Rover saloon. Whilst not initially designed to be a luxury vehicle, it was quickly adopted by wealthy landowners as a vehicle to use on the road in comfort, and travel across fields and farmland. 

In 1995 BMW bought the Rover brand, and in 2005 the Range Rover Sport was launched. This was a direct result of the fact many Range Rover drivers were not using their cars to go off-road, so a more road-focused, sporty version made sense, the Range Rover Sport was a huge success.  

There are now 4 different versions available, including the full-size Range Rover, the Sport, and two smaller crossover style SUVs in the Velar and the Evoque. 

Are Range Rover and Land Rover the Same Thing? 

If you’ve looked at Range Rover adverts online, you’ll notice that the manufacturer is listed as Land Rover. This is because “Range Rover” is technically a model of “Land Rover”, even though everybody refers to them as if Range Rover is the manufacturer. 

This means if you have a Sport or Evoque model, the name listed on the V5 owner document will say “Land Rover Range Rover Sport” or “Land Rover Range Rover Evoque”. 

Are Range Rovers Reliable 

Unfortunately, many Range Rover models have been featured in lists of most unreliable car surveys over the years, including the Range Rover Sport, Velar, and original Range Rover. So compared to other brands, Range Rovers are not generally considered to be reliable.  

This can be mitigated by selecting vehicles with proven engines or gearboxes, and that have as few complex features as possible, read on for more information on this. 

Most Reliable Range Rover Year - Range Rover Velar 

In 2021 WhatCar surveyed warranty claims and concluded that the current Velar, made since 2017 is the most reliable Range Rover to own. The Velar starts at around £54,490 but can be bought for as low as £17,000 with around 50,000 miles on the clock. 

If you’re looking for a “full-sized” Range Rover, as the Velar is a smaller model, the L302 generation made from 2001 to 2012 might be a good fit. Whilst it’s certainly not devoid of common faults and weaknesses, there is a good network of spares and repair services servicing this model, meaning getting it fixed is not as expensive as you might expect. 

Which is the Most Reliable Range Rover Engine 

The L322 Range Rover from 2002 to 2006 came with the option of a straight 6 BMW diesel engine, the same one used in a host of BMW products. We would consider this as the most reliable engine in a Range Rover. 

As well as being reliable and well built, it delivers great power with reasonable fuel economy, and as certain parts are interchangeable with BMW models, they don’t always cost the earth. 

An L322 with the BMW 6-cylinder diesel engine can be bought for as little as £3,000, this would be an early car, around 2002 or 2003, which were often the most problematic. We would recommend going for a later model with under 100,000 miles and a full service history though. Around £7,000 can buy you one like this. 

Which Range Rover is the Cheapest to Maintain 

The L405 made from 2013 to 2022 had its fair share of problems, but it has been around long enough for independent specialists to have worked out the problems and developed reasonably cost-effective solutions.  

We think this generation has the best balance of modern luxury and cost-effectiveness. However, aside from classic models from the 80’s and 90's that are very simple, all Range Rovers have the capacity to cost a lot in maintenance.  

L405 generation Range Rovers start at £12,000 for a high mileage example, to get one with less than 100,000 we’d recommend budgeting £15,000 or more. With any Range Rover make sure to keep some money aside for maintenance and repairs. 

Which is More Reliable Range Rover or Land Rover? 

If you’re deciding between a Range Rover and a Land Rover, we would suggest a Land Rover if reliability is a priority.  

That is of course if the reduction in luxury and comfort is acceptable. Range Rovers have many extra systems such as air suspension and complex transmissions that can cause problems, but without these, the Land Rover has less to go wrong.  

Are Range Rovers Expensive to Maintain? 

Range Rovers will be more expensive than most cars to service, repair, and maintain, although it does depend on the age and warranty situation. 

Older cars that don’t need to be taken to the dealer can be kept on the road at a reasonable price, however, parts are not cheap and many jobs require significant labour hours simply due to the complexity of the vehicle. 

If you’re looking at a Range Rover that is still in warranty, servicing and repair costs can be significant. Range Rover dealerships have some of the highest labour costs of any manufacturer, and genuine parts are very expensive.  

How to Repair a Range Rover Cheaply 

Unfortunately, the words “cheap repair” and Range Rover are not often used together, that said, there are a few things you can do to help, should your Range Rover break down: 

• Research online - many problems are known to the community, and have common fixes, there may be a workaround or alternative part that could save you money 
• Don't go to the dealer - Range Rover dealers are expensive, try to find a local specialist that has good reviews online and is recommended on Range Rover forums and groups. 

Bumper Can Help 

Bumper offers zero-interest financing on car repairs, perfect for those big bills. We have many partners nationwide who can fix your car. To find your nearest Bumper approved garage check here.

Author - Joseph Law

Joseph has been writing about cars for over seven years and writing for Bumper for over two, blending his passion for automobiles with a talent for storytelling.

Joseph has written about engineering and cars for Autozilla, Komaspec, and several engineering manufacturers. When he's not writing or tinkering with one of his five cars, Joseph dreams of owning an Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale.