First 1,000 miles now completed in the HSE. Mostly motorways/A roads but some backroads and round town at weekends.



Spec is :
3.0 SDV6 HSE
Corris Grey
Ebony/Ivory interior with Ebony seats
Ebony headlining
20” Style 12 Alloys
Powered 3rd row seating with load through
Privacy Glass
Santorini Black Roof
Micro Mesh Aluminium trim

What do I like :
- driving the RRS just feels like a great place to be. Still makes me smile every time I push the start button and cruise on out of the drive
- The TFT dash is fantastically clear (and only had one reset/blank moment so far...)
- good reaction from people who see it and ride in it, adult front and rear passengers over long journeys found it very comfortable
- cruises beautifully on the motorway, never feels stretched and so smooth, just point and go
- rapid enough for my skill level, flick it into Sport and it will jump round lorries and hat wearing drivers on backroads in no time
- enough tricks and toys to make me happy, even though this is an HSE and not the AGB I have on order so fairly standard spec
- 38 mpg so far
- dealer experience at Stratstone in MK was excellent

Things to get used to :
- it is a big unit to park, coming from a 'normal' family size 5 door car. Takes some getting used to and I'm looking forward to getting the surround cameras I've spec'd on the AGB
- appreciate the cabin style is minimalist, but not sure so much going through the touch screen is good. Even some of the buttons just link to it. Couldn't the heated seat button have just, well, turned on the heated seats?
- pulling away from stopped you can't miss it's a big SUV. I've found if you're going into a small gap in traffic, say on a roundabout for instance (I get to do that a lot living in Milton Keynes), then a slightly early lift on the brake to trigger engine restart from ecoStop first is easier on the nerves
- the audio parking aids seem a bit slow on the uptake, even at very low speed they seemingly jump from quiet to red alert very quickly, often feels like there is a delay which I worry could get expensive if I get careless. My old Ford ones were much sharper

But generally no regrets so far, still glad I took up the offer of the cancelled order that meant I got this one 6 months early

Great review

Jim

I've just done a few miles in mine (SDV6 HSE) so far and would echo some of the above comments.

- Beautiful interior, very quiet and comfortable.
- I'm getting about 33 - 34mpg (but no motorway journeys yet). 38mpg is amazing.
- I've got the surround cameras and if you have experienced the BMW X5 Topview system you will be disappointed.
- Agreed about the heated seats. Not a very user friendly way of turning them on and off.
- The Eco Stop/Start is a pain and I turn it off on every journey (but I live in the country where big jams are rare).
- I think the park sensors should come on automatically front and rear at <5mph instead of the fronts having to be manually enabled if you don't reverse first.
- I would like the suspension to automatically default to access height when you turn off the engine.

Overall though, the RRS seems a very good vehicle. Regards

Malcolm

"I would like the suspension to automatically default to access height when you turn off the engine."

The problem with this is that access height is best selected before you stop as the wheels have to splay out. That's why I always select it a few seconds before coming to a parked stop. 

Could be wrong but I think I read the manual and it said it can be selected to access height and when car slows below??? mph it will lower.

You mean you actually read the manual?...

Jim

Car is on order and will be here April but have had a look at TOPIX to see what's what and help spec the right bits.

That's my excuse for the totally non bloke behavoir.

very nice review
like it very much
thanks for every 1

Nice review

Well, as the car has now run in properly, I have also managed 38.7mpg on a longer run. I'm getting 34mpg on general driving. This is very good for such a big vehicle. My last X5 40D averaged 28mpg overall so a 20% improvement for much the same performance is excellent. Regards

Malcolm

Up to 3,700 miles now and average mpg is just over 36, combination of longer motorway runs (150 miles or so) and some round town weekend stuff. I think for the size and type of car that's more than acceptable

Great review

Foxy 

I'm averaging 28mpg but that's mainly stop/start town driving. I've noticed the rear really sucks up the dirt onto the tailgate/rear window and have to regularly wipe the rear view camera lens. Wonder if rear mudflaps would help?

I've had mud flaps fitted and they significantly reduce the grime collecting.
These really should be fitted by the manufacturer for a car of this type and expense!
The rear camera is hopeless and needs a wash device - I hope LR will make it possible to retrofit as a freebie because this should have been sorted in development.
There are too many short sighted savings that let this otherwise great car down. One wonders why such problems were not sorted earlier in development.
I use my car in the mud and do not consider it as a Chelsea tractor appendage. Come on LR stick to your principles and keep us country users at the forefront of your thoughts!