Land Rover Range Rover 3rd Generation (L322) 2003-2012 Review

Because it was on the market for ten model years, the 3rd-gen Range Rover L322 benefited from many updates over the years.

There are new headlights of which the inner lenses now cut into the grille¹; the grille is new to accept these changes and to accommodate the new lights². It also now cuts into the bumper a little bit, and the bumper is a new molding too, with more sharply defined creases and a restyled lower air intake³.

For 2010, the Range Rover gets new headlight clusters again, with three clear LED strips that light up in amber for the turn signals, and LED running lights in a circular arrangement around both round headlight lenses¹. The design of the front bumper is cleaned up, and the body-color section now only contains the parking sensors². The black lower valance reaches up higher and contains both the foglights and the lower air intakes³. A new, higher grille with a U-shaped surround and three perforated slats reaches down into a deeper bumper cutout, making it visually thinner⁴. It juts out less than before, with considerably rounder styling.

At the rear, the changes are hardly noticeable, and the most obvious one is that the turn signal in the rear light cluster is white and no longer amber¹.

The taillights are still two circular units stacked on top of each other, but everything else changes. They are no longer recessed in an opaque gray surround, but get a clear cover with the two silver light units standing proud of their black surround, each with a red circumference and white lenses. The turn signals are LEDs situated between the two main lenses¹.

Besides some new wheel choices¹, the fender vent just ahead of the front door gets three louvers instead of two on the normal Range Rover², and the side turn signal is now clear and no longer amber³.

The new taillights¹ and different front bumper² and headlight treatment are clearly visible in profile³, along with redesigned alloy-wheel choices⁴.

The interior is left as is in terms of design, but the upgraded infotainment interface that accompanies the new electronic infrastructure can clearly be seen¹.

There are changes to the center stack, with the strip containing the center vents now considerably thinner and with smaller vents¹ to make space for a bigger infotainment display above it². The right-hand side of the dashboard is restyled to accommodate new twin gloveboxes³. The center console gets big changes, too, with the manual parking brake deleted in favor of a compact electronic switch, the gearshifter moving right over to the left, and the space vacated by all of this taken up by two new cupholders with sliding covers on the passenger side of the center console⁴.

The center stack is substantially revised, with a new infotainment head unit¹ and redesigned climate controls². The steering wheel and its button layout are new too, but it still has four spokes³. The gauge cluster is totally redesigned, and the four analog gauges and old-fashioned liquid-crystal displays underneath them are gone, replaced with a digital gauge-cluster display screen⁴. The space on the dashboard to the right of the steering wheel previously occupied by the ignition slot now houses a push-button starter.

Fresh from a redesign started by BMW and finished by Ford, the third-generation Range Rover launches with a naturally aspirated BMW 4.4-liter M62 V8 under the hood. It produces 282 hp and is connected to a ZF 5HP24 five-speed automatic transmission, driving all four wheels via a permanent 4WD system. The BMW engine survives for three model years only before being replaced by the AJ-V8 engine, a corporate Ford/Jaguar/Land Rover design. This engine arrives in two formats - a 4.4-liter naturally aspirated and a 4.2-liter supercharged derivative, with 305 hp and 400 hp, respectively. The old five-speed automatic is replaced with a ZF 6HP six-speed automatic transmission.

The final change on the mechanical front happens for the 2010 model year, when the AJ-V8 is enlarged to five liters capacity, gaining direct injection and boosting power to 375 hp and 501 hp for the naturally aspirated and supercharged version, respectively. A nominal power increase to 510 hp is applied to the most powerful model the following year. In other parts of the world, there was a Range Rover L322 hybrid model, and it was available with a variety of six-cylinder and V8 turbo-diesel engines developing up to 309 hp and 516 lb-ft, but none of these were ever offered to US buyers.

Large gas V8 engines and a curb weight starting north of 5,300 lbs are not a recipe for fuel economy, and so it is in practice. Such is the march of progress, however, that even the very last 510-hp supercharged 5.0-liter V8 uses less fuel than the first naturally aspirated 2003 model. Efficiency gains, thanks to direct fuel injection, also meant that the 5.0-liter engines came with no consumption penalty over their smaller predecessors. Still, the best you can hope for on the combined cycle with any L322 Range Rover is 15 mpg, which will be good for more than 410 miles on the combined cycle on a full 27.6-gallon tank. Due to the low sales of these premium SUVs, very few owners submitted their own fuel-consumption figures to the EPA.

* Real-world mpg and MPGe figures are provided by the EPA. Once a car has been on sale for a significant period of time, the EPA gets real-world figures directly from the customer base. These figures are then provided on the EPA website. Real-world figures are not available for certain models due to a lack of sales, or not enough people partaking in this after-sales survey.

Neither the NHTSA nor the IIHS ever crash-tested the L322 Range Rover, but EuroNCAP did, and at the time, it scored an overall average of four out of five stars for adult occupant protection. Being possessed of a modern unibody crash structure designed under the auspices of BMW, it is probably as safe as any contemporary SUV.

It doesn't lack standard safety features and, even back in 2003, came standard with ABS brakes with brake assist and electronic brake-force distribution, stability control, hill-descent control, auto-dimming interior and exterior rear-view mirrors, six airbags, and front and rear parking sensors. HID xenon headlights cost $750 extra at the time, so check whether they have been fitted. The 2004 Westminster limited edition has standard rain-sensing windshield wipers. A rearview camera was added to the lineup in 2006, and bi-xenon headlights became standard, while all trims get access to optional adaptive headlights. The 2006 Supercharged trim has rain-sensing wipers. A driver's knee airbag was added to the lineup in 2007, and the adaptive headlights become standard on the 2008 Supercharged.

In 2009, a heated windshield is added to both trims and, in 2010, a 360-degree surround-view parking camera is fitted. The 2010 HSE gains optional access to the adaptive headlights and auto-dimming side mirrors via the Luxury package, the 2010 Supercharged gets blind-spot warning and automatic high beams, and the Autobiography package gains adaptive cruise control with brake assistance. The blind-spot warning, auto high beams, and adaptive cruise control, as well as multi-camera parking assistance, are all bundled in the 2011 HSE's optional Vision Assist package. The 2011 Autobiography gets all of these features as standard. The 2012 HSE gains access to adaptive headlights with automatic high beams and the surround-view camera, both via the optional Silver package that can be added if the Luxury package has already been specified.

The Range Rover was launched as a 2003 model in a single trim level, HSE, with a single engine, a BMW-sourced 4.4-liter V8 and a five-speed automatic transmission. The first special edition, the Westminster, arrived in 2004, but the normal HSE remained the only permanent trim. Along with the new in-house V8 engines and six-speed automatic transmissions, a Supercharged trim is added for 2006, and a mild facelift is applied to the L322.

Here are some notable annual changes:

2004:

• Arrival of Westminster Edition

2005:

• New fiber-optic-based electronic infrastructure with updated navigation and audio

2006:

• A mild facelift is applied
• All-new AJ-V8 engines are introduced to replace BMW engine
• New six-speed automatic transmission replaces five-speed
• Standard limited-slip rear differential fitted
• Supercharged trim added with a 400-hp engine
• Laminated side windows on the front doors improve acoustic insulation
• Backup camera and bi-xenon headlights become standard

2007:

• A knee airbag is added for the driver on all trims
• Revised storage includes twin gloveboxes and a new center console and cupholders
• Restyled dashboard
• Revised HVAC system is quieter in operation
• Heated front seats become standard on all trims
• Ventilated front seats and heated rear seats become optionally available
• Terrain Response gets customizable settings and an electronically locking rear diff
• The manual parking brake is replaced with an electronic one

2008:

• Auxiliary audio jack standard on all trims
• "Bread-crumb" off-road tracking feature on navigation system
• Satellite radio standard on all trims
• Arrival of 20th Anniversary Edition

2009:

• The leather on the dashboard is upgraded to a softer, more premium type
• Wind noise is reduced, thanks to redesigned door seals
• A heated windshield is added to all trims
• Heated steering wheel and heated rear seats are added to all trims
• Supercharged Autobiography trim added

2010:

• New 5.0-liter direct-injected V8 engines made available
• A facelift is applied across the board
• Digital gauge cluster, a revised navigation systemm and a USB port added to all trims
• Updated Terrain Response and air suspension
• 360-degree surround-view parking camera is standard
• Keyless start added to standard features
• HSE Lux trim added
• Additional driver-assistance features become available

2011:

• New optional features include a 19-speaker audio system and reclining rear seats
• The off-road hill-ascent and -descent functions are improved
• Autobiography Black package becomes available

2012:

• Silver package becomes available on the HSE Lux
• Arrival of Autobiography Ultimate Edition

Here are the special editions that came and went over the L322's model run:

• 2004-2005 Westminster Edition. The Westminster Edition gets 20-inch alloy wheels, pearlescent paintwork in either Bonatti Grey or Java Black, 14-way electrically adjustable Contour front seats (also added to the options list of the normal Range Rover), a leather-covered dashboard and center console, unique polished wood trim, and rain-sensing wipers. Only 300 were made.
• 2008 20th Anniversary Edition. Celebrating 20 years of Range Rover in the United States, this model is Supercharged-based and comes in pearl white only, with 20-inch split-spoke Diamond alloy wheels, special badging on the sills and tailgate, a bespoke two-tone interior color scheme with an Ivory and Jet steering wheel, extended use of leather, and oak trim. Only 40 were made.
• 2012 Autobiography Ultimate Edition. Costing around $170,000 at launch, the L322's swansong was the all-boxes-ticked Ultimate Edition that includes everything but the kitchen sink. It comes with high-grade soft leather on almost every interior surface, including the sides of the cargo area and the headliner. All seats are ventilated, the rear seats each have its own iPad integrated into the front headrests and picnic tray that flips out of the center armrest. It's finished off with an Exterior Design package that includes unique finishes and 20-inch wheels. Of the 500 built, only 50 came to the US.

The interior was world-class at launch and is a rolling English lounge on wheels, with top-class finishes and superb comfort all around. Things only became better as the years passed, with upgraded technology, extended leather and wood treatment, and added comfort and safety features. It is spacious for four passengers, but the trunk is a bit tight in this class, and perhaps less than would be expected of a 195-inch-long SUV. Blame the cab-backward design and upright windshield for pushing back the living space in the interest of maintaining the distinctive Range Rover styling cues.

Maintenance on the L322 Range Rover is expensive because it is a premium SUV - and it's not particularly reliable. It's a car you buy for its all-conquering off-road talent, luxurious interior, and comfort, not for problem-free service. Since they are now quite old, even considering one with a patchy maintenance history is a big no-no. Carefully peruse the service history and try to find one that has had its oil changes every 7,500 miles at least and not at the prescribed 15,000-mile intervals according to the book. Models serviced by the book at 15,000-mile intervals can be reliable if they were lightly used for long-distance cruising and not for towing or off-road, but you'll have to examine the car carefully to see how it's been treated and maintained.

The cabin filter must be changed every 15,000 miles and the transfer case's oil every 30,000 miles. The 30,000-mile service typically costs around $1,000 at Land Rover and over $600 elsewhere on 2003-2005 cars, but $660 and $400 respectively on 2006-2009 4.4-liters. The cooling system should be flushed and refilled every 60,000 miles, and this service should amount to around $1,600 independently or $2,100 at Land Rover on 2003-2005 cars. At 90,000 miles, the brake fluid and differential oil must be changed on the 2003-2005 models, but we would reduce that to between 60,000-75,000 miles for the differential service, seeing how much trouble these parts caused on the L322. Not all services can be compared, since the service items and mileages changed with almost every engine, but the AJ-V8 4.4-liter engines are the cheapest to run; the 2003-2005 BMW engine is finicky and expensive to run, and the 2010+ 5.0-liters are less reliable and require more frequent maintenance.

On the AJ-V8 engines used from 2006, the cooling system's refill is every 30,000 miles, which is sensible, and the brake-fluid and differential-oil changes are every 75,000 miles; on 5.0-liter cars, the brake-fluid change is every 60,000 miles. It is a little bit worrying that you have to replace the brake hoses on the 4.2-liter supercharged models every 90,000 miles and on 5.0-liter cars, every 75,000 miles, as this is quite unusual and may indicate a potential weakness. That being said, there were never actually any 2006-2013 Land Rover Range Rover Supercharged recalls to deal with potential brake problems. Transmission fluid cannot be replaced too frequently, and we regard 60,000-mile intervals as the absolute maximum for a big and heavy SUV like the Range Rover, especially if you're going to tow with it.

The early 2003-2005 Range Rovers with the BMW M62 engines must receive a minor lube service every 15,000 miles, but given the somewhat unreliable engine, that interval is too long and we'd do it every 5,000-7,500 miles. If subjected to off-road work and towing, reduce the engine's oil-change intervals to 5,000 miles. Good luck finding a used one that received such pampering. Even this basic lube service is expensive, costing around $640 at an independent shop and close to $1,000 at a Land Rover dealer on the 2003-2005 models. Buying the 9.6 quarts and oil filter yourself will come to about $120. An air filter costs $43, and a set of eight spark plugs about $73.

Oil changes on the AJ-V8 engines used from 2006 are set at 7,500 miles as they should be, so the chances are far better that you'll find used ones that stuck to this interval, which is another reason why the Jaguar engine is preferable over the BMW engine. This is quite a cheap $180 checkup at an independent shop and less than $300 at Land Rover. The 8.5 quarts of 5W-30 synthetic oil and the oil filter will set you back about $110 if you want to do a DIY job. The supercharged 4.2 has an oil capacity of 9.9 quarts, and that with a filter will come to around $120. A set of spark plugs for either engine costs around $75 for eight, and they both also use the same $22 air filter.

From 2010 onward, the 5.0-liter engines are back to 15,000-mile lube services, which just isn't smart considering their considerably worse cam-chain reliability and the fact that direct-injected engines tend to wear out their cam chains faster anyway. Given this reputation, we hope you can find a used one that had its oil changes every 5,000 miles. Lube-service costs should be similar to that of the smaller AJ-V8s. Air filters on the 5.0 are $30 each, which is par for the course, but spark plugs on these direct-injected engines are far more expensive - around $210 for eight. The spark plugs on the 2003-2005 BMW M62 engine last 60,000 miles, and that of the 2006+ AJ-V8 engines last around 105,000 miles.

The front and rear differentials' fluid should have been replaced once at the first 7,500-mile service. Another basic service item is the air filter, which must be changed at 60,000-mile intervals on the naturally aspirated M62 and AJ41 4.4-liter engines, but you should halve that if you operate your Range Rover in dusty conditions frequently. The supercharged 4.2-liter V8 wants a new air filter every 45,000 miles.

Being a BMW-era Range Rover, there is a lot to look out for. There aren't actually that many recalls, but the list of things that can go wrong is long, and certain models should be avoided.

Here is the complete list of L322 Range Rover recalls:

• A total of 19,168 2003-2005 Range Rovers were recalled to fit a modified front differential coupling sleeve, which may have been misaligned with the propeller shaft, causing spline wear and the eventual shearing off of the shaft.
• Only a few 2004 Range Rovers were recalled to replace a faulty yaw-rate sensor in the stability-control system.
• Nearly 75,000 2006-2012 Range Rovers were recalled to replace brake hoses that may rupture and lead to brake failure.
• Just under 2,000 2006 Range Rovers were recalled to replace a guide plate that may prevent the park pawl from engaging, allowing the vehicle to roll away in Park.
• There were restraint-system recalls for several of the model years. The L322 Range Rover fell prey to the Takata airbag recall that affected more than 42 million vehicles worldwide. 2007-2012 Range Rovers were recalled to replace airbag inflators that may rupture and send shrapnel flying into the passenger compartment. 2009 Range Rovers were recalled to reprogram the restraints control module (RCM) that may prevent the passenger airbag from deploying in a crash.
• Only 40 2009 Range Rovers were recalled to check their front and rear windshields' primer and to reapply primer as necessary, else these glass panes may leak and/or come adrift in a crash. Another 36 2012 models were also recalled for windshield-bonding repairs.

Here are some common OBD-II error codes to be aware of:

• On a 2006-2012 Range Rover, P0026 and P0028 indicate problems with the variable valve control system.
• On a 2003-2012 Range Rover, P0102 points to an issue with the mass airflow (MAF) sensor.
• Only any 2003-2012 Range Rover, P0106 and P1651 are manifold absolute pressure (MAP) sensor errors.
• P0139, P0170, P0171, P0172, P0174, P0420, P0430, P1173, and P1174 on 2003-2012 Range Rovers are errors related to the oxygen sensors and/or their readings, indicating issues with the fueling and/or injection or catalyst systems. P0968 is an injector-circuit error.
• P0221 and P1367 on 2003-2012 Range Rovers are throttle-position sensor (TPS) errors.
• P0300 on 2003-2012 Range Rovers is a random misfire error code.
• P0348 is a camshaft-position sensor error.
• P0440 on 2003-2012 Range Rovers indicates problems with the evaporative emissions (EVAP) control system.
• P0504 is a brake light switch error.
• P0507 is an idle air control (IAC) system error.
• P0513 is an immobilizer system error.
• P0730 and P0733 are automatic transmission codes for gear-ratio errors, and P0964 is a solenoid error.
• P1114 on 2003-2012 Range Rovers is an engine-coolant temperature error.

The liquid-crystal displays in the lower gauge cluster on early models can lose pixels as they age. Alternator problems can become apparent after 100,000 miles and might call for a rebuild or replacement. Quite a few owners have also complained about an incorrect fuel gauge. While it can be an ECU or fuel-pump problem, it's usually just a bad contact or corroded wire. If one of the more serious problems is causing it, a fix can be as much as $900, although it can usually be restored to action for less than half that amount. The ignition switch on earlier models before keyless start can fail, requiring the disassembly of the dashboard, so the labor charge will be big. If the key is loose or it gets stuck in the ignition, the switch is damaged. Having it replaced can cost you between $350 and $750.

Wheel bearings don't fail commonly but when they do, even just replacing the front ones will cost around $1,300 at Land Rover. Radios seem to fail quite frequently but often it's only a fuse, so check that first. Failing that, it could be one of the trunk-mounted modules, most often the Bluetooth module. It can be tested by removing its fiber-optic connection and putting it back into the same port to bypass the module. If this re-energizes the radio, the Bluetooth module must be replaced. Water leaking in through the sunroof seems to be a relatively common problem on some L322s and can start even before 60,000 miles. The sunroof drains can become pinched, no longer diverting the water away to be drained through special tubes, but allowing it to dam up and leak into the interior, potentially causing a lot of damage to the headliner, trim, and electrical components the water comes in contact with.

Despite being one of the earlier cars to make extensive use of LEDs for exterior lighting, the lights seem to be reliable and there are actually very few problems with Land Rover Range Rover tail lamps, LED turn signals, or daytime running lamps.

The early 2003-2005 Range Rovers with the BMW V8 and five-speed transmission is to be avoided. The engine lacks power, it's heavy on fuel, and it's just beset by too many problems, both in terms of engine and transmission. If you're going to tow, avoid all the naturally aspirated models and just go for a supercharged one. The heavy 5,400-pound weight makes even the updated 305-hp AJ-V8 4.4 work hard. While many view the 2010+ cars with the 5.0-liter engines as the ultimate, we're a bit put out by the increase in running costs and the fragile chain drive compared to the earlier engines. Avoid a car without a meticulous service and maintenance history like the plague, because it will soon become a money pit.

We'd go for the 2007-2010 Supercharged as our favorite. It's a year after the new AJ-V8 engines were launched, so most teething troubles have been sorted. 400 hp is plenty and performance is good, even if you tow. It is also the most reliable two engines of all the model years - better than the preceding BMW engine and without the cam chain issues and direct-injection carbon buildup of the 5.0-liters. For normal driving, the naturally aspirated 4.4 is perfectly adequate and potentially less expensive to maintain. A flawless maintenance and service history with oil changes every 7,500 miles is your best bet.

The Land Rover Range Rover L322 offers you the best - and worst - of the combined efforts of BMW and Land Rover, which means the lack of reliability is its biggest vice. On top of that, it is expensive to fix if anything goes wrong. The 2006-2009 AJ-V8 engines are quite reliable and the six-speed transmission is better than what went before, but as is usually the case with high-tech European designs, meticulous maintenance and 5,000-mile oil changes are needed to keep them operating reliably. If you're into the Range Rover philosophy of luxo-barging across a peat bog in comfort and style, by all means, go for it, but be warned, the upkeep will be expensive. Given its steep depreciation - a 2006 Range Rover can be had for under $10,000 - you do get a lot of value for money. However, you can soon spend the purchase price or more on repairs, so beware.