2014 Range Rover Supercharged Review

Iconic looks, prodigious power, and off-road prowess - the 2014 Range Rover Supercharged has still got it.

At the time of writing, fuel prices continue to spiral out of control with no apparent ceiling. Yet, consumers still want to put large, luxurious sport utility vehicles in their garages.

Affluent buyers are drawn to these rolling monsters because they can haul a tremendous amount of cargo and provide a comfortable environment for passengers. Add to this the all-weather capabilities that come with a four-wheel drive, and you have the perfect rig for shuttling the family and friends to the cottage or ski hill.

2014 Range Rover Supercharged Review
2014 Range Rover Supercharged. Photo: Russell Purcell

The Land Rover Range Rover is one of the most sought-after SUVs in this segment due to its iconic looks, prodigious power, and off-road prowess. The model year 2014 brings us the fourth generation of this iconic vehicle. Although it derives much of its styling from that of previous iterations, there has been a significant number of updates.

At first glance, you will immediately recognize the 2014 model as a Range Rover. The basic profile of the vehicle is unchanged, but styling front and rear has been brought into the 21st Century with modern lighting elements and subtle tweaks to improve aerodynamics.

Supercharged V8 Power with Over 500 Horsepower

2014 Range Rover Supercharged engine
2014 Range Rover Supercharged. Photo: Russell Purcell

Under the aluminum hood of the Range Rover SC, you will find a 5.0L V8 engine fitted with a robust supercharger. This marvelous mill produces 510 horsepower and 461-pound feet of torque at relatively low rpm. Mated to a ZF-engineered, eight-speed automatic transmission, this potent pairing helps the Range Rover SC accelerate from 0-100 kilometers per hour in a scant 5.4 seconds.

But if you’re looking for something faster, check out Range Rover’s most powerful SUV, the 2022 Sport SVR Ultimate Edition.

2014 Range Rover Supercharged Review

While enormous power and blistering speed have their appeal, buyers of luxury-class SUVs are also looking for refinement. As a result, Land Rover’s engineering team has worked hard to reduce noise and harshness within the engine and the gearbox. When driven civilly, the Range Rover SC is a smooth operator. As a bonus, the machine has been engineered to use less fuel and significantly reduce harmful CO2 emissions. It also now incorporates start/stop technology.

The design team at Land Rover sought to reduce the Range Rover’s weight as it is the most effective way to improve the vehicle’s fuel efficiency. As a result, the latest Range Rovers now feature an advanced, all-aluminum structure that is immensely strong and weight-efficient. Still, it has also been engineered to withstand the punishing impacts of extreme conditions both on and off-road.

2014 Range Rover Supercharged Driving Impressions

2014 Range Rover Supercharged Review
2014 Range Rover Supercharged. Photo: Russell Purcell

The body is a monocoque design optimized to maintain structural integrity, increase stiffness, and enhance passenger safety. The inherent stiffness of the body and chassis helps bless the Range Rover with dynamic handling. The vehicle performs like a much smaller sports sedan when the pavement gets twisty.

The electronic steering is responsive and precise, and the vehicle reacted very efficiently to all my inputs as the driver. The centre of gravity is low enough that there is very little body roll when cornering, and the oversized performance tires do an excellent job of adhering to the asphalt. Unfortunately, these same tires hamper ride quality a little due to their low-profile design.

2014 Range Rover Supercharged Review
2014 Range Rover Supercharged. Photo: Russell Purcell

Few vehicles on earth can match the four-wheel-drive capabilities of the Range Rover, so when the pavement ends or road conditions take a turn for the worse, you can be secure in the knowledge that you have a good chance of making it to your destination.

Land Rover’s well-sorted and proven permanent four-wheel-drive system has a 50/50 torque split and a two-speed transfer box for high and low-range options. It is supported by the company’s latest version of its Terrain Response system (Terrain Response2), which now features an automatic setting to simplify its operation.

Performance tech

2014 Range Rover Supercharged Review
2014 Range Rover Supercharged. Photo: Russell Purcell

This innovative technology continuously monitors driving conditions and automatically adapts and optimizes vehicle settings – engine, transmission, centre differential, suspension and traction control- to best suit the ground surface. The driver is also able to manually select the system settings by using the console-mounted dial. Five sets help the vehicle tackle driving on slippery surfaces (such as grass, gravel, or snow), through mud, deep ruts, and over sand. The system even features a setting for crawling over rocks.

The Range Rover’s suspension has been revised to offer more wheel travel as part of the revamp. By using the vehicle’s air suspension setup, the operator can quickly increase ground clearance to a maximum of 11.9 inches.

Interior Features and Tech

2014 Range Rover Supercharged Review interior
2014 Range Rover Supercharged. Photo: Russell Purcell

The interior layout seems familiar, but most trim, switches, and equipment have been updated to give the Range Rover some modern flair. The cockpit and cabin are well designed, and I found that most controls, dials, and instruments were within easy reach of the driver or intended operator.

I say most because the placement of the window switches makes no sense at all, as they reside atop the interior door panel opposite the side mirror. At 6-foot-two inches tall, I still had to lean forward to operate them. Add to this the fact that in rainy Vancouver, these switches will be drenched by water droplets whenever the window is opened. I can only imagine what effect this will have on the longevity of the electronics.

2014 Range Rover Supercharged Review gauges
2014 Range Rover Supercharged. Photo: Russell Purcell

A large part of the appeal of owning a Range Rover is the impressive look, feel, and quality of the vehicle’s passenger compartment. The seats are firm and wrapped in fine leather, and attractive lacquered wood trim is used to class up the cabin. Fit and finish are impeccable, and all materials feel pleasant to the touch and appeal to the eye.

Outward visibility is excellent due to the tall seating position and extended windows, but you will learn to appreciate the large side mirrors and front and rear parking sensors.

2014 Range Rover Supercharged Review
2014 Range Rover Supercharged. Photo: Russell Purcell

While the Range Rover is impressive in size, it only offers seating for five. The front bucket seats feature folding armrests, which help to hold you in place during aggressive cornering maneuvers or off-road hijinks. I found the rear seating area comfortable enough for my large frame and big feet, and a flip-down center armrest acts as a practical divider when transporting two adults or troublesome teenagers.

The Range Rover SC can carry 32.1 cu. ft  (909 L) of cargo with all seats in place and up to 71.7 cu. ft.  (2,030 L) with the rear seats folded. Access to the cargo compartment is by way of a split gate design. A relatively narrow tailgate folds flat to make a nice bench, while the power-operated upswing hatch will provide shelter from inclement weather.

Takeaway

The folks at Land Rover were smart to make the fourth generation Range Rover evolutionary rather than revolutionary, as the vehicle has established itself a rather large fan base over the last 45 years. Apparently, the new model has had an immediate impact on sales as it is more efficient and luxurious than its predecessor, and has been outfitted with a host of new tech and safety goodies to help stave off competition from the growing contingent of rivals from both Germany and Japan.

2014 Range Rover Supercharged Specs and Photos

  • Type of vehicle: Four-wheel-drive, front-engine, luxury SUV.
  • Engine: 5.0-litre, supercharged, DOHC, V-8
  • Horsepower: 510 hp @ 6,000 rpm
  • Torque: 461 lb.-ft. @ 2,500 rpm
  • Transmission: 8-speed automatic
  • Brakes: Four-wheel disc with ABS
  • Fuel efficiency (L/100km): City 16.2 (17 mpg); Hwy 10.4 (27 mpg)
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Author:
Russell Purcell
Russell Purcellhttps://www.flickr.com/people/autoexposurecanada/
Russell Purcell is an award-winning automotive journalist and photographer based in Vancouver, B.C. His passion for automobiles was sparked at the tender age of six, when a family friend gave the wide-eyed first grader a ride to school in a track prepared Porsche 911 RSR. He continues to fan the flames by building an impressive library of automotive related books as well as a vast collection of interesting automobilia and motoring artefacts. Russell is a member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada, and is active on Twitter as RoadTestRuss.