Range Rover is a 4X4 luxury SUV with a refined interior, exterior, and many advanced features. It has a whopping price of nearly $100,000, and customers demand fine quality and reliability in response to such a considerable price.
What is the Most Reliable Range Rover Engine? The most reliable Range Rover engine is the 4.2-liter V8 with a supercharger in the 2008-2009 model. Customer reviews say it can last more than 160,000 miles without major system-level faults. The 5.0-liter V8 in the 2010-2012 model has most mechanical issues, including timing chain guide flaw, cooling system failure, and excessive overheating. You can enhance the useful life of its engine through regular maintenance inspections and oil changes.
We will also discuss the expenditure on the repair and maintenance of the luxury vehicle and how purchasing a comprehensive warranty will help cope with expensive repair bills.
Different engine options for Range Rover
Range Rover has diesel, gasoline, and hybrid engine options in all 5 generations. Each design has pros, cons, and specifications, including power, torque, and fuel economy.
Their reliability and maintenance issues also depend on a specific type of engine.
4.4-Liter V8
The 4.4-liter V8 is available in diesel and gasoline variants in third-generation models from 2002-2012, manufactured by BMW and Jaguar.
Its power is 280-305 hp for the gasoline variant and torque rating of 320-330 lb-ft. For the diesel option, the 4.4-liter TDV8 turbo engine has a power rating of 305-310 hp and torque rating of 515-520 lb-ft.
It has a combined fuel economy of 16-17 miles per gallon (mpg) for gasoline variants.
Frequent maintenance issues are loss of power, faulty EGR valves, vacuum leaks from intercooler hoses, or other minor issues related to ignition coils, catalytic converter, airflow sensor, and timing belt.
However, they have good reliability with solid design. As a result, you will not get many mechanical issues, and it can last over 100,000 miles without any significant faults.
3.0 Liter V6
The 3.0-liter V6 engine is available in the 2013-2021 models of Range Rover’s 4th generation. It has gasoline, diesel, and hybrid variants with several upgrades during the years to upgrade its power and torque ratings.
The gasoline 3.0-liter V6 with supercharger manufactured by Jaguar can produce power within 330-380 hp and a torque rating of 330-335 lb-ft.
A 3.0-liter V6 turbo diesel engine can have a power rating in the range of 245-337 hp and torque of 440-520 lb-ft.
Ford has manufactured this engine for SUVs in SDV6/TDV6 and hybrid versions. The motor has a compact design made of aluminum alloy and stiff construction to withstand stress.
However, it is less reliable than the 4.4-liter V8 due to some inherent design problems related to the crankshaft.
Many customers have reported crankshaft failures and loud knocking sounds from the engine. However, the manufacturer resolved the issue in later model years.
5.0- liter V8
5.0-liter V8 engine manufactured by Jaguar is available in the 2010-2012 model in 3rd and 2013-onwards models in its 4th generation.
You will also find it in 2010-onwards models of Range Rover Sport in naturally aspirated and supercharged configurations.
It is available in gasoline variants only with naturally aspirated and supercharged versions.
It can deliver power up to 370-560 hp and a torque rating of 375-520 lb-ft. Moreover, it has better acceleration than the rest of the smaller displacement engines.
The 5.0-liter V8 engine on the 2010-2012 model has a better driving experience due to its good response to driving commands.
However, it has some mechanical issues, including timing chain failures and overheating of heads. 2010-2012 models have plastic guide pins for timing chains.
However, with time, the timing chain slips from its place due to the wear and tear of plastic pins causing damage to the engine.
Similarly, overheating causes engine heads to deform or warp due to excessive heat buildup without any indication on the dashboard.
However, the timing chain problem is non-existent in 2013-onwards models by installing metal sleeves around the guide pins to enhance their life.
2.0-Liter I4 Hybrid Engine
2.0-liter Ingenium I4 gasoline plug-in hybrid engine is available in its 4th generation models.
It is also available with a twin-scroll turbocharger and diesel variants. It can deliver power up to 395-400 hp and a torque of 470-475 lb-ft.
Its combined fuel economy of 20 mpg for extended driving on the highway. However, you can go up to 40 mpg while using batteries in off-road or crowded conditions.
Although it is a small 4-cylinder engine, it has power and torque comparable with a V6 engine.
However, they have associated issues like oil leaks in the engine bay, oil dilution in diesel versions, excessive cooling fan noise, and degraded cooling system performance.
4.0 Liter V8
4.0-liter Rover V8 gasoline engine is available in the 2nd generation of Range Rover from 1994-2001 models.
It has a power rating of 185-195 hp and torque rating of 235-253 lb-ft in its 2 variants. Earlier models before 1999 have vibration problems with the engine.
However, the manufacturer resolved the issue in later models in the 2nd generation. Moreover, the engine has a compact V8 configuration with aluminum construction for cylinder heads and the block.
This engine has better reliability than the 4.4-liter DOHC engine from BMW. However, it has a comparatively lower power than other Rover V8 engines, like 4.6-liter.
They have a better engine management system than previous engine designs. They can easily last more than 120,000 miles with routine maintenance and regular oil change.
4.6-liter V8
The 4.6-liter also belongs to the Rover V8 family and has 2 variants, including GEMS and Bosch before 1999 and after 1999.
It is available in the 2nd generation variants and has a more power rating of 215-232 hp and a torque rating of 275-305 lb-ft than the 4.0-liter V8.
However, its construction and other components are the same as the 4.0-liter V8 except for its size. As a result, their cams wear first, and the engine consumes plenty of oil.
Therefore, you have to replace it earlier, and it will keep working fine beyond 100,000 miles.
Moreover, there have also been reported problems regarding cracks in the block due to its thinner side walls.
It results in loss of coolant and slipping of the cylinder liner. This problem is more prevalent in GEMS versions before 1999 due to a poor management system that overstresses the engine.
Therefore, you will find most of these engines with replaced blocks.
2.5 Liter I6
The 2.5-liter I6 M51 diesel engine manufactured by BMW with a turbocharger by Mitsubishi is present in 2nd generation models.
It has a power rating of 135-137 hp and a torque of 197-200 lb-ft. Pre-1997 and 1998-2001 models have differences regarding inlet manifold, EGR, and mass air flow sensor.
Common problems associated with 2.5-liter M51 engines are failure of idler pulley with time resulting in stoppage of auxiliary systems including water pump and power steering.
In addition, it can cause the engine to overheat due to a failure of the engine water pump.
Moreover, it is difficult to start when the engine is hot due to problems related to the timing chain and glow plugs.
Fan coupling also fails over time, resulting in overheating of the engine due to the cooling fan not running.
Despite the issues, customers have reported 2.5-liter M51 motors running over 150,000 miles before any significant service operation.
4.2 Liter V8
The 4.2-liter V8 belongs to the AJ-V8 family of engines from Jaguar and is available in the 2006-2009 models and Range Rover Sport.
It is available in gasoline variants only, and with the help of a supercharger, it can produce a high power output. It can deliver up to 380-400 hp and a torque rating of 400-415 lb-ft.
It has a DOHC design and is modified according to its requirements to ensure high performance with minimum faults. it is reliable with no significant mechanical issues.
You can observe a few maintenance issues in related systems, including transmission and electronics, but the engine has no main problems and can run beyond 160,000 miles without extensive service requirements.
3.6 Liter V8
It is a diesel engine equipped with a turbocharger and manufactured by Ford. You will find it in the 2007-2010 models of 3rd generation L322 and 2007-2013 model Range Rover Sport.
It has variable valve timing technology and can produce power up to 270-275 hp and a 470-475 lb-ft torque rating. It can reach 0-60 mph in 8.6 seconds for such a heavy vehicle.
Moreover, it has a good fuel economy of 23-26 mpg. It has a construction of graphite iron and cylinder heads of aluminum.
It has a total of 32 valves, that is, 4 valves per cylinder. It can develop a few problems due to a faulty turbocharger that can end in severe damage to the engine.
One of the critical problems is a massive oil leak with the wearing of a turbocharger resulting in its pile-up in the intercooler and leakage to the cylinders through the intake manifold.
In addition, it can end in bending connection rods due to the extra force pistons have to exert to compress the oil in cylinders.
Driving with bent connecting rods can result in engine misfiring and, in severe cases, engine seizing and damage to the block. Sometimes, it can go beyond serviceability, causing you thousands of dollars on maintenance.
Most Reliable Range Rover Engine
These SUVs have a reputation for less reliability than luxury vehicles from other manufacturers.
Despite the fact, the 2008-2009 model Range Rover is the most reliable amongst the lineup with a 4.2-liter V8 gasoline engine from Jaguar with a supercharger.
It has excellent power and torque ratings and also no major maintenance issues. It is also available in the Sport models during these years and is one of the best engine options.
Other engine options face some design faults related to oil leaks, overheating, timing chain failures, and cooling system faults.
However, customers have no complaints regarding any critical issues in the 4.2-liter V8 engine.
Moreover, customers have reported a service life of more than 160,000 miles without system failures.
It is a remarkable figure for its engine amongst the lack of reliability in other machines in the lineup.
How long do Range Rover engines last?
Its engines have some weak points that cause them to fail before their expected life.
However, you can enhance their life by regular maintenance, including periodic inspections and oil changes according to the schedule.
As a result, most of them can last up to 70,000-130,000 miles before developing critical faults requiring parts replacement.
Moreover, there have been reports from SUV owners that their vehicles have lasted 200,000-300,000 miles by taking their due care and preventive maintenance.
It is expensive in terms of replaced parts and labor costs. Therefore, most people prefer to avail the warranty while purchasing a used SUV to avoid costly maintenance bills.
Do Range Rover engines have multiple maintenance issues?
Yes, Range Rover engines have the lowest reliability in luxury SUVs due to multiple maintenance issues related to electrical systems and other faults.
For example, few engines have timing chain guides problems while others have issues like excessive oil leaks, cooling system faults, and bent connecting rods.
Moreover, its parts are expensive, but their labor costs are even more costly. Their repair bills sometimes even exceed the purchase price of the vehicle.
Therefore, inspecting them thoroughly while buying a used one is crucial. I will always suggest buying the warranty for used SUVs; otherwise, you have to pay thousands of dollars for repair costs.
It is also preferable to lease the new SUV instead of buying it to get the benefits of a new vehicle while in warranty with fewer maintenance issues.
What is the Most Unreliable Range Rover Engine?
Earlier versions of the 5.0-liter V8 engine had several mechanical and electrical issues. Therefore, they are most unreliable in the 2010-2012 models.
The most prominent problem in 5.0-liter V8 turbocharged engines is a design flaw in timing chain guides.
It also has other issues, including oil flow problems and engine damage due to excessive overheating.
Overheating incidents are not common, but the owners have reported 1-2 incidents.
However, the engine can last more than 100,000 miles by replacing the faulty timing chain guides and resolving other issues. However, replacing the components and the labor costs involved is expensive to avail.
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