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Thinking about getting a 2024 PHEV... are range rovers still unreliable?

24K views 30 replies 19 participants last post by  Djsl  
#1 ·
Thinking about getting one of these for the wifey. I have heard and witnessed issues with reliability in past Range Rover models/generations. Is this still a problem with the Gen3 PHEV? Still too early to tell? Appreciate any advice, thank you.
 
#2 ·
The 2024 PHEVs haven't been built yet and feature a different engine vs. the '23s (which were built in such small numbers that it's hard to see any patterns), but based on the L460's teething issues, generally, I would say that if rock-solid reliability is your thing, a 2024 is probably not for you.

Also, unless you've already placed an order for the '24, are willing to pay a hefty amount in dealer markup, and/or get really lucky, it may be a challenge to even order a '24 model at this time.
 
#4 ·
I have heard and witnessed issues with reliability in past Range Rover models/generations.
What you have heard and witnessed are in most cases issues with inadequate servicing and lack of preventive maintenance. This is mostly because these cars fall into hands of owners who do not realize the complexity of the machinery they got possession of.
This said, you can not rule out some construction errors or design flaws. It happens. However, it happens everywhere. I had my Cayenne engine seized and it was 100% Porsches fault, as the 4.8 V8 was so hastily designed, it was completely replaced with a new design for the next generation of Cayenne. It happens and Range Rovers are not really more prone to failures than anything else, as long as they are properly maintained.
 
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#7 ·
The current G63 is at the 'end of life imminent' status right now. Depending on the future market, it may be a wise investment or a financial disaster.
 
#9 ·
Range Rovers no, not really. A G-Wagen built in the right time may be an investment. A friend of mine just sold his G63 4x4 squared for three times purchase price. Granted, he didn't use it at all, this car has proven unusable even as a toy.
 
#11 ·
Going back to your title question "are Range Rovers still unreliable?"
I think you need to be way more specific with that question to get any useful answers.

I've had a 2015 RR ATB (L405) for 8 years and it has been an extremely reliable SUV. I had some annoying noises when I first got it, that took too long to diagnose, but has pretty much been trouble free for the rest of the time. It has never left me stranded on the road. Sure, service is slow, so any warranty issues usually mean they keep the car for a week, but I'm fine with that as long as they provide a loaner.

So my answer to your question is that I have never owned an unreliable Range Rover!
 
#13 ·
Well, I've got used to L460 PHEV weaknesses and I'm still enjoying it's strengths. 1st month was rather annoying with new problems arising every week, but for last 2 months it's rather delightful experience, and I'm still on my second tank of gas (60% full) after 2500 km. It looks like over time with software updates car gets a bit more stable and predictable.

BUT. If you're shopping for your wife, I would go for something not PHEV. When you're buying PHEV, you're buying two sets of potential problems at a time. When I placed my order I believed I'm getting best of both worlds. What I did not realize was I'm also buying the worst of both worlds. All the problems I had with my car so far were related to it being PHEV. As my intention is to keep this car for 10'ish years, I'm a bit anxious sometimes about the choice I've made ordering PHEV. I really hope my dealer will be able to sell me additional warranty for this car, as some potential PHEV related issues can get quite expensive to fix. But here and now, after initial set of problems were either resolved or accepted by me as "it's a Range Rover, so you have to learn a little Zen", I'm enjoying it.

So, unless your wife is PHEV enthusiast, I would recommend V8 or whatever engine she prefers. I don't think fuel economy is something that concerns you much.
 
#14 ·
Well, I've got used to L460 PHEV weaknesses and I'm still enjoying it's strengths. 1st month was rather annoying with new problems arising every week, but for last 2 months it's rather delightful experience, and I'm still on my second tank of gas (60% full) after 2500 km. It looks like over time with software updates car gets a bit more stable and predictable.

BUT. If you're shopping for your wife, I would go for something not PHEV. When you're buying PHEV, you're buying two sets of potential problems at a time. When I placed my order I believed I'm getting best of both worlds. What I did not realize was I'm also buying the worst of both worlds. All the problems I had with my car so far were related to it being PHEV. As my intention is to keep this car for 10'ish years, I'm a bit anxious sometimes about the choice I've made ordering PHEV. I really hope my dealer will be able to sell me additional warranty for this car, as some potential PHEV related issues can get quite expensive to fix. But here and now, after initial set of problems were either resolved or accepted by me as "it's a Range Rover, so you have to learn a little Zen", I'm enjoying it.

So, unless your wife is PHEV enthusiast, I would recommend V8 or whatever engine she prefers. I don't think fuel economy is something that concerns you much.
Well, I've got used to L460 PHEV weaknesses and I'm still enjoying it's strengths. 1st month was rather annoying with new problems arising every week, but for last 2 months it's rather delightful experience, and I'm still on my second tank of gas (60% full) after 2500 km. It looks like over time with software updates car gets a bit more stable and predictable.

BUT. If you're shopping for your wife, I would go for something not PHEV. When you're buying PHEV, you're buying two sets of potential problems at a time. When I placed my order I believed I'm getting best of both worlds. What I did not realize was I'm also buying the worst of both worlds. All the problems I had with my car so far were related to it being PHEV. As my intention is to keep this car for 10'ish years, I'm a bit anxious sometimes about the choice I've made ordering PHEV. I really hope my dealer will be able to sell me additional warranty for this car, as some potential PHEV related issues can get quite expensive to fix. But here and now, after initial set of problems were either resolved or accepted by me as "it's a Range Rover, so you have to learn a little Zen", I'm enjoying it.

So, unless your wife is PHEV enthusiast, I would recommend V8 or whatever engine she prefers. I don't think fuel economy is something that concerns you much.
"When I placed my order I believed I'm getting best of both worlds. What I did not realize was I'm also buying the worst of both worlds." Could you elaborate a little bit? Thnx
 
#15 ·
Well, for example, I will probably get engine coolant warning soon and one of my back lights will probably stop functioning and I will potentially have all the other issues ICE car owners have, as I have same engine to cool with same coolant, etc.

At the same time I had to deal with dead front left headlight, it died during charging and there are a lot of these cases with other PHEV L460s even here on forum. I have to deal with faulty charging timer (this night again it did not stop charging when it should and I've got charged for extremely high price, way higher per km than petrol, thank you JLR😩). I had some more PHEV-specific issues. All this comes on top of problems ICE cars owners have, as my car also has ICE.

So we have two systems with issues and combine them into one. Best case scenario is 1+1 = 2, which is already no good. But as these two systems are working together in same car, I rather expect that 1 set of problems + 1 more set of problems, when they are in the same car = 3 sets of problems, as we are creating an additional set of unpredictable issues related from co-existence and co-operation of ICE and EV in the same vehicle.

I'm always saying Range Rovers are very quantum. At the very same time your car is functional and in a good shape but it's also not, as there's always, ALWAYS something that's not exactly working as desired or not working at all. Perfect car which always have imperfections that need dealership attention or you're hoping something will be fixed with next software update. It's like a Schrödinger's cat, who's dead and alive at the same time. What we do with PHEV we are not only putting two cats in the black box, but we know they will also interact there. May attack and kill each other, etc. So it's Range Rover PHEVs are mega quantum. It theory there are two cats in the box and both are alive and fine, but it can really be just one, one and a half or zero.
 
#16 ·
Well, for example, I will probably get engine coolant warning soon and one of my back lights will probably stop functioning and I will potentially have all the other issues ICE car owners have, as I have same engine to cool with same coolant, etc. At the same time I had to deal with dead front left headlight, it died during charging and there are a lot of these cases with other PHEV L460s even here on forum. I have to deal with faulty charging timer (this night again it did not stop charging when it should and I've got charged for extremely high price, way higher per km than petrol, thank you JLR😩). I had some more PHEV-specific issues. All this comes on top of problems ICE cars owners have, as my car also has ICE. So we have two systems with issues and combine them into one. Best case scenario is 1+1 = 2, which is already no good. But as these two systems are working together in same car, I rather expect that 1 set of problems + 1 more set of problems, when they are in the same car = 3 sets of problems, as we are creating an additional set of unpredictable issues related from co-existence and co-operation of ICE and EV in the same vehicle. I'm always saying Range Rovers are very quantum. At the very same time your car is functional and in a good shape but it's also not, as there's always, ALWAYS something that's not exactly working as desired or not working at all. Perfect car which always have imperfections that need dealership attention or you're hoping something will be fixed with next software update. It's like a Schrödinger's cat, who's dead and alive at the same time. What we do with PHEV we are not only putting two cats in the black box, but we know they will also interact there. May attack and kill each other, etc. So it's Range Rover PHEVs are mega quantum. It theory there are two cats in the box and both are alive and fine, but it can really be just one, one and a half or zero.
Thank you. At least ride quality of PHEV is good I hope? And for the quality of the car I think there's no perfect build. Had BMW fully loaded. It was pain in the ass. Lexus are quite reliable as I was told. But they're so ugly and sooooo woke: underpowered, "sustainable" and with all beauties of impotency. Porsche? Don't know, maybe 911 only. MB? What an uglyness inside combined with impotent PHEVs. I've took my risk already by ordering P510e but upgraded to P550e recently so hope some problems will be sorted.
 
#17 · (Edited)
Ride quality is good and I'm overall happy with the car, so I hope you'll also be happy. I guess you also have Inchcape in Lithuania, so you getting PHEV is good for me, more PHEVs they sell locally, more knowledge they have to exchange. :)

911s have their own issues too. I had two engine rebuilds and one full engine change on GT3, for example, and it many times had engine faults right on racing track. I had many other 911s - Carrera, Turbo, Turbo S, they all were not as faulty as GT3 (GT3 was also most enjoyable), but all of them had issues, then new issues, etc. Now I have a 718 Spyder and it's CarPlay behaving a bit strange sometimes. So sport Porsches are not flawless, reliability-wise they are not different from Panameras and Cayennes.

Just Porsche's way to deal with problems is great and keep customers loyal and happy. At least in my country. So over the years you develop very safe feeling with them. And their Approved Warranty system is amazing. For a small money you have almost everything covered and you can buy it even for a relatively old car. I hardly ever paid for any problem with the car from my pocket, it was always covered by Warranty, even suspension parts for cars with many miles and many years on clock. You basically only pay for oil-filters-pads-rotors and spark plugs plus related hours, it's it.

I really hope I can buy something similar for Range Rover, have to check.
 
#21 ·
Personally, I’ve had the p550e now for three months with 5k miles on it. I DON’T recommend it.

1) transmission is jerky as if electric and gas are fighting for control everytime (my xc90 T8 is smooth as silk)

2) no hvac buttons would be ok if your PIVI system actually worked like Tesla’s. Instead it’s a pain. For example, the car keeps closing the vents so you have to go into three different screens to go open it. Apple CarPlay randomly disconnects on EVERY drive

3) HVAC system seems to NEVER shut off, even when put in AUTO mode. Don’t even know what the heck auto mode is doing


having driven both the gas and this PHEV, I’d go for the gas. I’m about to trade it back in bc the jerky transmission is driving me crazy. Poor engineering.
 
#22 ·
It should be some issues with a Land Rover if not it’s not a Land Rover. I have hade many different Land Rovers in a period of almost 20 Years and next one will for sure also be a Land Rover… If I afford it…. when the hopefully small issues is solved then there is no better car, that has been my opinion the last 20 years… It’s also a good thing to have as discussion with friends… what happened to your RR this week?….. and at least without all these things that JLR develop to us and let us test with different result, then no RR forum.
 
#31 ·
I have a 2024 RR550e that I paid a dealer surcharge for. It has under 5k miles. It wouldn’t shift into gear, so I took it for service. After a week of running updates, they now say I need a new transmission. This is a hard pill to swallow. I love this car, but I now know the car will not resell well if I ever need to. I feel duped and frankly powerless. This was my dream car. Has anybody else been notified their transmission needs replacing? It seems there is a recall.