L494 Sport diesel V8 v V6

[Babw]

The missus wants one of these, is it worth having the V8 for the slight increase in grunt but higher running costs? The thing that bothers me the most is reports of the V8 feeling significantly more nose heavy than the V6.

I've only managed to drive a V6 at the local dealer.

[orbtar]

The V8 is well worth paying extra for and will not cost more to run (apart from the extra cost to purchase). I ran both and the V8 was actually more economical than the V6. Now have an SVR which is even better and it's averaging just over 20mpg which isn't so bad given the available performance.

[458man]

V8: 4.4 Litre Diesel 339 BHP 740 Torque

V6: 3.0 Litre Diesel 306 BHP 700 Torque

The 3.0d 306 BHP engine is a peach of an engine and I don't see why anyone would want the 4.4. My 3.0d (2015) does 35mpg all day around town on school runs and on a run easily up to 54mpg. You will see nothing like these figures in a 4.4d.

[DanX5]

Bought a MY14 Range Rover Sport HSE Dynamic with the 3.0 SDV6 engine, so the previous 292bhp not the new one but I have to say that I am well pleased with it, it is more than capable and is smooth and gets what is a big vehicle about very nicely.

The improved 306bhp engine would therefore be even better and I'm not sure you need any more than that.

[Babw]

54mpg? That's impressive!

How are these diesel engines with short journeys? We might go for a couple of months where it's used purely for very short sub 10 mile journeys.

This will be the first diesel I've ever bought due to this as the other option is the 5.0 V8 which is significantly more expensive in depreciation.

[458man]

Babw said:

54mpg? That's impressive!

How are these diesel engines with short journeys? We might go for a couple of months where it's used purely for very short sub 10 mile journeys.

This will be the first diesel I've ever bought due to this as the other option is the 5.0 V8 which is significantly more expensive in depreciation.

Yes it is brilliant economy wise and performance wise! Our RRS is mostly used around town on short runs as you say and on longer runs on some weekends (once a month maybe). Never had an issue with mine but some friends have reported their DPF to cause issues and the engine light to come on the dash. It's easy to cure though - a quick 20-25 min run down a motorway at 70MPH turns the light off - most don't know this and end up going to a dealer though

[coetzeeh]

If you are going to lease new with warranty then I guess it is a non issue but there are reports of the TD/SDV6 engines suffering from crankshaft failures.

[Babw]

coetzeeh said:

If you are going to lease new with warranty then I guess it is a non issue but there are reports of the TD/SDV6 engines suffering from crankshaft failures.

I'm not going to lease but I was with my local dealer yesterday. After explaining the majority of the use he actually warned against buying a diesel especially as we have no dual carriageways or motorways within close vicinity for a blast to clear the DPF.

Back to the drawing board.

[Babw]

I've put a deposit on a March 2015 Autobiography V6. The tax bracket points to the SDV6 306bhp engine, can anyone confirm whether early 2015 cars had this for sure? A lot of the used 2015 reg cars on the Land Rover approved site seem to have the 199g/km engine.

Also does anyone know what the TL6 package is on the options list?

[kmpowell]

Babw said:

I've put a deposit on a March 2015 Autobiography V6. The tax bracket points to the SDV6 306bhp engine, can anyone confirm whether early 2015 cars had this for sure? A lot of the used 2015 reg cars on the Land Rover approved site seem to have the 199g/km engine.

Also does anyone know what the TL6 package is on the options list?

Currently in the process of buying a 2015 car myself. After test driving both engines, I've discounted the 4.4, there's no point for the extra expense.

The My16 update was a significant one which included engine, equipment, screen and software updates. It came into play officially in September 2015 on the 65 plate, but I've seen a couple of very late 15 plates with the updates.

MY15: 199g/km, £265p/a tax, 37.7mpg, 292hp.
MY16: 185g/km, £225p/a tax, 40.4mpg, 306hp.

[Babw]

I bought the above car (March 2015 V6 autobiography) and it's definitely a 306 bhp engine with the lower tax bracket £230 p/a.

[kmpowell]

Babw said:

I bought the above car (March 2015 V6 autobiography) and it's definitely a 306 bhp engine with the lower tax bracket £230 p/a.

I genuinely don't know how that's possible. The new MY16 engines weren't announced until early summer, with the press not getting their hands on them for road tests until August.

I'm really curious to know how a MY16 engine is seemingly in a March 2015 car, did you buy it from a Land Rover dealer?

Edited by kmpowell on Sunday 23 October 07:56

[V8LM]

I too thought it was late 2015 when the SDV6 was updated.

[kmpowell]

It's a bit of a minefield, as I'm finding out on ym hunt for a MY16 car on a 65plate. On Autotrader, Pistonheads, and the official LR dealer own group websites there are many MY15 cars advertised as MY16 spec, but when you check them on the proper main LR website the listing shows the correct MY15 details.

In my experience so far the only way to tell if it's a MY16 car is on the LR main website. As said in my previous post, the only 15 plate MY16 car I've seen was a grey car that was Aug 15 registered, that sold last week.

Happy to be proved wrong though, because it'll open up my options significantly if some of the MY15 cars were actually MY16.

Edited by kmpowell on Sunday 23 October 11:04

[Babw]

I checked my car on the official Land Rover Topix webiste for the spec and the engine is definitely the newer 306bhp/700nm engine. On the official spec list on the Topix site it states "Engine power source 225/700" (KW/NM obviously)

I have a friend who works for JLR and he said the engine was specced from MY15.5 which started around March time. 100% certain on this and I just paid 1 year tax which was £230 compared to a friend who has a MY14 which was £280.

[kmpowell]

Out of curiosity I've just punched in some of the reg numbers of MY15 cars listed on the LR website, into the DVLA tax checker, and they are returning as MY16 engines!

Good god, this opens up all sorts of new possibilities. Thanks Babw!

Edited by kmpowell on Sunday 23 October 12:03

[kmpowell]

Ok - long chat with the dealer which I had a deposit down with. In short there were two updates...

March 2015 (15) MY15.5 - which gave the new 306hp engine
Sep 2015 (65) MY16 - which on top of the new 306hp engine also made standard the All Terrain Progression Control, Auto Access Height, Hands Free gesture tailgate and Wifi. Plus the Software Interface update for the ICE system.

[Babw]

kmpowell said:

Ok - long chat with the dealer which I had a deposit down with. In short there were two updates...

March 2015 (15) MY15.5 - which gave the new 306hp engine
Sep 2015 (65) MY16 - which on top of the new 306hp engine also made standard the All Terrain Progression Control, Auto Access Height, Hands Free gesture tailgate and Wifi. Plus the Software Interface update for the ICE system.

Good to have confirmation.

What is the auto access height feature? I have an Autobiography dynamic MY15.5 which has the all terrain progression control and an access heigh setting.

How much of an improvement is the software interface update for the ICE? What exactly is it?

[kmpowell]

Babw said:

Good to have confirmation.

No worries. I've also logged into Topix and shoved the VIN in to see the car I have a deposit down on is a MY16 car, so I'm much happier now.

Babw said:

What is the auto access height feature?

Apparently the car lowers automatically when it stops, making entry/exit easier.

Babw said:

How much of an improvement is the software interface update for the ICE? What exactly is it?

By all accounts it's a whole new interface. Faster, different screens etc. Having not seen them side by side though I couldn't confirm exactly what.

Edited by kmpowell on Monday 24th October 16:08

[kmpowell]

Deposit/intent confirmed on the car I had reserved. All being well I pick it up next Monday.

MY16 Autobiography - Fire Engine Red, full ebony skins (with door cappings and dash) contrast panoramic roof, 3+2 seats, Digital TV, dual screen, privacy glass.