Electrics: There are a lot, they’re all complicated and they’re known to intermittently glitch out. From boot switch to brake light, nothing is immune from failure although it’s not a foregone conclusion. Gremlins can vary between a £20 switch and a far more expensive rewiring. Post-2016 cars are best.
Gearbox: All versions use the eight-speed ZF unit. Owners recommend servicing every 50,000 miles to keep it in good health.
Body: The Range Rover lettering on the bonnet is known to tarnish and Land Rover will charge £250 to fit new badges. Or you can do it yourself for £10. Check absolutely everywhere for evidence of off-road knocks and parking dings both likely.
Chassis: This is a heavy machine and that can take its toll on the suspension. Track control arms are a common fail point; budget £700, including labour, to replace.
Also worth knowing
Trims run in ascending order from Vogue to Vogue SE, Autobiography and SV Autobiography. Westminster and Fifty were special editions that arrived towards the end. All are well-equipped and lots of Vogues had thousands of pounds of extra kit added to them to bring them close to Autobiography cars. It’s rare to find 19in wheels but they’re the most comfortable; 20s and 21s are a good compromise but 22s are a little fidgety on the road for our liking.
There were three main updates for this generation: 2016 brought better infotainment tech, ULEZ compliance and improvements in reliability; 2018 was the big facelift and included the arrival of LED lights and three screens; 2021 introduced new 3.0-litre mild-hybrid straight sixes that are smoother and more economical than their predecessors (296bhp or 345bhp for the diesel and 395bhp for the petrol).
How much to spend
£10,000-£17,999 Buy very carefully in this price bracket. Some cars have megamiles (more than 200,000 not necessarily a bad thing) while some will be lemons with temptingly low mileage.
£18,000-£29,999 Lots of high-spec, pre-facelift cars with reasonable miles and a good service history.