King Charles – the royal rather than the spaniel – is quite partial to his Range Rovers. 

For the occasions when he’s not stylin’ it in his Rolls-Royce Cullinan – a magnanimous coronation gift from the King of Bahrain – or his official Bentley State limousine, you’ll see him stepping out of his long-wheelbase Rover. Think of it as his daily driver. 

The Royal Fam has had a long affinity with Range Rover parent, Land Rover, going back over 70 years. That was when Charles’ grandfather, King George VI, bestowed a coveted Royal Warrant on the 4×4 maker, making it an official, trusted supplier of rides to the House of Windsor.

Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022 – she was another passionate Range Rover fan – Charles renewed the Royal Warrant. 

It means you’ll see pretty much every blue-blood, from Queen Camilla, to William and Kate, and even Harry and Meghan when they deem to return to the olde country, riding in a Rover. 

No word yet whether Andrew, formerly known as Prince, is still driving his. 

So how royal does it feel riding in a new Range Rover? I donned my ermine and scepter and grabbed the keys to a 2026 Range Rover P400 SE LWB to find out. 

With its MSRP of $122,850, it’s not the most resplendent Rover you can buy. That honor goes to the latest 606-hp Range Rover SV Black flagship at a crowning $263,050.  

But I’ve found that every Range Rover I’ve driven – I piloted my first way back in 1982 – delivers the same kind of style, elegance, sense of occasion, and promise of being transported along the road less traveled in peerless comfort. And this latest rendition only heightens that feeling. 

Just, for a second, take-in that timeless, aristocratic design. To me this latest, fifth-generation Rover defines modern luxury, with its sophisticated, uncluttered lines, elegant face, proud stance and divine boat tail rear.

And the detailing is still exceptional; those trademark vertical side vents, the flush, deployable door handles, the towering waistline and eye-popping rear light design. I admit it, my heart still goes pitter-patter every time I see one on the road.  

Yes, it’s a practical, family-friendly SUV capable of taking you across the Continental Divide – as it did in 1989 and again in 2014. But it’s so much more than that. 

While buyers might cross-shop SUV rivals like BMW’s X7, Mercedes’ GLS and Cadillac’s Escalade, to me it’s more a super-luxe sedan alternative. I’d take it over a BMW 7-Series, Mercedes S Class or even a Bentley Flying Spur any day. 

And like the Bentley, it wafts serenely along the road, paved or unpaved.

Interestingly, our “starter Rover” P400 tester might just be the best. Its 3.0-liter turbocharged and supercharged inline six-cylinder with mild hybrid assist, is still one of the world’s great engines. It packs a 395 horsepower punch that can whisk this hefty 5,600-pound 4×4 to 60 mph in six seconds, yet average 24 to the gallon on the highway.  

It feels equally agile and athletic through the curves. Adaptive air suspension with four-wheel steering and deliciously-precise steering make it a delight to hustle through turns, with time-arresting brakes to haul it to a stop. 

And, as always, the high-up driving position is only matched by that of a Greyhound bus. The view forward across that vast clamshell hood is nothing short of panoramic, with a dash that’s low and a roof a mile high. 

Our P400 example is a three-row long-wheelbase version with stretch-out seating for seven, eight at a push. 

As with all Ranges, the interior is gorgeous. Glove-soft perforated leather, quality materials, exquisite detailing, all put together with artisanal craftsmanship. And this is the base model; step up to an Autobiography or SV, and you enter the Bentley world of diamond-quilting, exotic veneers and hot-stone massaging seats. 

If all this sounds like a gushing eulogy to this 50-plus-year-old icon, you’re not wrong. For me, being behind the wheel of one is always an occasion, delivering the feeling of driving what Land Rover rightly brands “the best-four-by-four by far”.  

I guess the only complaints you might hear are from the royal Corgis. That’s a long way up for the poor things.