2011 Land Rover Range Rover
“The best car ever made” – The words of one Jeremy Clarkson. Whilst Clarkson is known for hyperbole, he may be onto something. The market for L322s has continued to boom over the last few years. The L322s desirability has been retained thanks to its combination of Rolls-Royce levels of comfort, the off-road capability that you would expect of something wearing the Green oval badge and their discreet but handsome good looks.
The third generation of Range Rover was originally launched in 2001. But it didn’t make it to launch without some typical Rover drama. BMW, who co-developed the platform with Rover engineers, made the decision to sell the Land Rover brand to Ford, just a few years before launch.
The L322 wasn’t just a step up from the P38 it replaced, it was a leap across a crevasse. Interior and exterior build quality was greatly improved. The Buick-derived Rover V8, was placed neatly in a bin and instead a series of engines sourced from BMWs catalogue as well as later Jaguar’s parts catalogue instead.
Close to 300,000 L322s were produced across an 11-year production run, nearly double that of its predecessor. This example is a highly desirable 2011 Autobiography model, built deep into production run which means it benefits from a whole host of facelifted upgrades.
Externally, this example is finished in Santorini Black, a dark shade that suits the L322s slab-sides nicely. The paint is in presentable condition, there are a handful or age-related marks. Most notably, there is damage on the front bumper corners and what appears to be key-related scratches on the drivers-side rear quarter. There is also a small amount of corrosion on the inner edge of the upper split tailgate, which is a common issue for these vehicles.
The marks, however, don't distract from the car's overall imposing appearance. Despite its age, the Range retains all the road presence it had the day it was built. Around the front, the car benefits from the facelift bumpers, grilles and lights which match the rest of the range in period.
The wheels are 20” gunmetal grey items, which contrast the black paint and match the grille trims and door handles and the lower section of the car benefits from fixed side steps. They not only offer an improved appearance but help those of us who are vertically challenged with hopping in.
Speaking of inside, the Autobiography specification means there are oodles of Jet Black Semi-Aniline leather. The seats which are not only electrically adjusted but are also heated and cooled front and rear are finished with perforated centres and contrasting white stitching.
The multi-function steering wheel benefits from being heated, ideal for those chilly mornings, as well as having a heated front windscreen. As a facelifted model, the car benefits from the newer style digital dash cluster, which shows the mileage as just over 100,000 miles. The dashboard, door cards, and arm rest are all wrapped in the same black leather, which is complemented by the addition of Piano black trim and the impressive dual view central display that allows passengers to enjoy a movie whilst the driver can view the sat nav screen. In the back seats you’ll benefit from TV screens in the headrests, individual climate controls and reclining seats. Ideal for adults or kids on a long journey, something the L322 is perfect for.
Under the bonnet, you’re met with a Jaguar sourced, 5.0-litre supercharged V8. It’s a magnificent engine, boasting 510bhp and enough torque to tow pretty much whatever you could imagine. The engine bay is clean, tidy and free from any signs of damage.
The engine runs well, and the car drives well too. Thanks mainly due to an extensive program of regular maintenance, as well as taking on some key jobs including a suspension refresh in 2020 that involved the replacement of some front suspension arms and replacement rear dampers supplied by Bilstein, as well as an all-important timing chain replacement in 2022.
The service records include a mix of main dealer and independent specialist records:
· 02/2013 - 1,677 miles - Land Rover
· 12/2014 - 9,822 miles - Specialist Independent
· 07/2015 - 25,661 miles - Land Rover
· 04/2016 - 40,622 miles - Land Rover
· 06/2017 - 59,284 miles - Land Rover
· 06/2018 - 70,221 miles - Specialist Independent
· 10/2019 - 81,630 miles - Land Rover
· 10/2020 - 86,484 miles - Land Rover
· 08/2021 - 89,608 miles - Land Rover
· 10/2021 - 90,293 miles - Land Rover
· 10/2022 - 92,324 miles - Specialist Independent (Timing Chain Replaced)
· 12/2023 - 98,186 miles - Land Rover
Beloved by Farmers and Footballers alike, the L322 will surely go down as one of the best generations of Range Rover. Their continued desirability is a sure sign of that, as at home in Skegness as it parked on Sloane Square. An ULEZ exempt, Supercharged V8 Range Rover. What more could you want?