Land Rover will be offering a new diesel option for North America in the 2016 Range Rover Td6. A $1,500 premium, the 3.0L turbocharged V6 diesel engine reportedly delivers 32 percent better fuel economy over its supercharged V6 gasoline counterpart. The engine is rated at 254 horsepower and 440 lb-ft of torque, the latter of which comes on as low as 1,750 rpm. These figures are enough to get the Range Rover Td6 to 60 mph in 7.4 seconds (V6 gasoline models require 7.1 seconds), according to Land Rover. EPA mileage estimates are 22 mpg city / 29 mpg hwy / 25 mpg combined.
Land Rover has a strong reputation for its off-road capability long before technology came along to assist the four wheels to crawl over or through almost any type of terrain. Now those 20-inch wheels can be motivated by the low grunt of a diesel and the fuel economy to carry you through hundreds and hundreds of miles of challenging terrain. Below the floorboards is a sophisticated four-wheel drive system that senses and adapts to the constantly changing traction underneath the tires.
The Range Rover’s selectable Terrain Response system can be left in automatic sensing mode or it can be switched to one of three terrain settings: grass/gravel/snow, mud/ruts, and sand. The suspension is fully independent and double-isolated, complete with air-suspension that helps raise and lower the SUV based on the drive mode selected. The true four-wheel drivetrain has a two-speed transfer case and 50/50 torque split between front and rear.
For 2016, Land Rover has added a new feature, All Terrain Progress Control (APC). This nifty feature will allow even an off-roading newbie to tackle almost any climb or descent with ease. Once enabled, the cruise control button is used to set the desired speed, then the driver simply points and steers up and over dale. The system can be easily overridden, but it is best to keep the feet firmly planted on the plush floor mat.
In this TFLcar Ruts and Guts video, a Land Rover specialist rides along with Roman and tests the Range Rover’s off-road capabilities in the desert near Sedona, Arizona.
2016 Range Rover Td6 (all figures provided by manufacturer)
- MSRP as tested: $106,675
- Engine: 3.0L turbocharged V6 diesel
- Power: 254 hp
- Torque: 440 lb-ft @ 1,750
- Transmission: 8-speed automatic
- EPA Fuel Economy: 22/29/25 mpg
- Drivetrain layout: 4-wheel drive
- Curb weight: 4,709 lbs
- 0-60 mph: 7.1 sec
- Top Speed: 130 mph
- Fuel Tank Capacity: 23.5 gal
- Max Range: 658 miles
