Range Rover L405 4.4 SDV8 or 3.0TDV6 - Quietest?

[Mulsanne-Speed]

I'm just looking to buy a newer Range Rover. A low milage L405 around 15, 16 or 17 plate.

Please can you share your opinions with me as to which is preferable, advantages / disadvantages of both?

To me the most important factor for me, is a smooth and quiet cabin - Should I go 4.4 SDV8 or 3.0TDV6

Or as another option, does anyone know anything about the new 3.0 Petrol engine?

Many thanks

Edited by Mulsanne-Speed on Tuesday 5th September 23:05

[Mulsanne-Speed]

w8pmc said:

I until recently had a MY17 FFRR Autobiography & chose the TDV6 engine.

Bottom line was i'd heard the V8 was a little less refined & obviously heavier so unless planning on heavy towing or the like, the engine was somewhat wasted for pure road use. The difference in performance was negligible (think it's .7 secs to 62) but the V6 is far less thirsty so all told i felt the better engine for it's purpose.

The new V6 S/C seems a totally pointless engine as is slower than the TD, drinks an insane amount of fuel & given the cars epic soundproofing won't sound any different from inside the car.

I believe new engines will be hitting the FFRR next year when the MY18 updates come, but as yet no firm details.

Thanks for sharing your opinion w8pmc, that's really useful and similar to what the salesman told me (but of course, I wasn't going to take his word for it).

I know there's a MY2018 due around Spring next year but didn't know there was going to be an engine change - I thought it was just onboard technology and a subtle facelift. I'm still considering one but I'm not sure as we have two 70kg Pyrenean Mountain Dogs that ruin everything and will be scratching the interior panels in the back! It's depressing in any car, more so in a brand new one.

I'm thinking similar to you, Vogue SE or Autobiography, slightly earlier though, 2015 / 2016. What was the biggest step up in spec that made you choose the Autobiography over the Vogue SE?

I take it the car's now gone, would you have chosen the same again?

Or are you perhaps in line for a MY2018?

Many thanks

[Mulsanne-Speed]

gizlaroc said:

I'm not sure it will be pointless?

As I said on the fullfatrr.com forum the other day.

The Supercharged 3.0 is 340hp and the 4.4 SDV8 is 339hp.
Of course the SDV8 should be a bit quicker to 60mph, but that supercharged 3.0 is a peach and will hold its own when on the move, well it is in the Jag anyway.

Now, both are £84k, with a few options you are close to £90k, let's call it £80k with discount?
That car is going to lose around 50% of list over 3 years for someone only doing 15k a year, so let's say £40K or £1100 a month.

The guys at Land Rover said the 3.0 supercharged is showing 24mpg compared to 28mpg on their TDV8.
Which seems to back up what the US guys are saying too, most are seeing 20-21mpg (us, so 24-26mph UK).
Some of the reviews (RRS) like the TopGear one of the supercharged 3.0 petrol say they averaged over 25mpg from their tests.

If you are doing 15k miles a year at 24mpg that is £270 a month in fuel compared with £240 a month on the diesel.
30k miles a year and it is £520 a month compared with £480 for the diesel.

So when you add up depreciation (1100), insurance (50), servicing etc. (100) and then fuel at either £520 and £480 you are left with £1520 vs £1490.
So just under 2% difference.

Doing 3000 a month it is what? £1730 vs £1770.
So 2.5% difference.


I don't get people who buy a new car that loses the best part of £55,000 over 3 years and say they would love a petrol but bought the diesel to save money. I don't think they have done the maths properly.

I think the problem is many compare old petrols with modern diesels, both in economy terms and performance.
NA petrols can be lethargic and the old V8s incredibly thirsty, but some of the modern petrols I have owned have blown me away. The 3.0 supercharged Jag unit is a stunner.

Sure, buy the diesel if you honestly prefer it, but not to save any money.

Now of course, if you are buying a 4 year old car for £40k all that changes somewhat.

Very interested in your comments gizlaroc - Do you know much about the 3.0 Petrol Supercharged Range Rover? - Have you driven one or know someone who has?

I ask this as it's a model I would certainly consider. You're right about fuel consumption also - If you're not doing loads of miles, the saving with a diesel is likely to be negligible.

I currently run a 6.75 litre 2016 Mulsanne Speed, returning 10-12mpg around town (approx 22mpg on a steady motorway run) and the other perfect car in my life is my 2007MY Range Rover Vogue 4.4 Petrol (naturally aspirated) - A very rare car indeed! ( A photo of both can be seen below). In 2007 everyone went over to the diesel TDV8 or 4.2 Supercharged petrol, so this is a rare bird, almost silent to drive and a step up in handling from the earlier L322's. I'm still yet to find anyone else at all who has one, apparently most went to the U.S. market.

So as you can imagine, I'm not too bothered about fuel economy but I do like my cars to be quiet. I did read somewhere that the new Landrover 3.0 Petrol Supercharged engine made a dull noise which resonated through the car - Have you heard or experienced anything along these lines?

[Mulsanne-Speed]

PrancingHorses said:

3.0D would be the best allound engine for performance and economy. I am currently in a brand new 4.4 TDV8 loaner and the fuel economy is appalling I cant get more than 22mpg!

That's shocking from a diesel engine....

[Mulsanne-Speed]

gizlaroc said:

I sort of agree, it would be the TDV6 for me, at an age where it has done 50% depreciation, and I would enjoy 35mpg.

But I don't agree about the refinement thing, the 6cyl and the 8cyl still have that diesel humm running through them, you can just feel it.

A few of my customers have gone from the L322 petrols into the L405 diesels and comment on it.
More seem to be commenting on the poor MPG on the SDV8 though, I think they were expecting much better.


if you averaged a genuine 35mpg then I'm impressed, with the car I mean, that is a worthwhile saving on fuel.

This is all very interesting and the above is what worries me most - Going from my 2007MY 4.4 Vogue Petrol, which is worth about £8k and is completely silent in traffic (let's face it, sitting in slow traffic is where we all seem to spend most of our time), then moving to a new, or nearly new £60 - £100k L405 and than hearing even a slight humm, I think would really bother me - I think I'm going to have to go for a new 3.0 SC Petrol.