First Impressions (Going from MY13 LR4/NAV8 to MY16 LR4/SCV6)

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manoftaste

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Last week, I drove to the dealership in our 2013 LR4 LUX HD and a couple of hours later left the dealership in our new 2016 Landmark HD. I was quite skeptical at first (the whole V6 vs V8, the gear selector rotatory knob vs the lever, etc, etc.) but I have been very pleasantly surprised so far.

Here are my first impressions, mostly about the drivetrain and suspension, and some Quality Control nonsense that should not really be there:



SUSPENSION:

The first thing that I noticed soon after leaving the lot was how much more refined the suspension was in 2016 compared to my former 2013 LR4, thus adding to the overall ride quality. The drive home included both the freeway (that lovely and ever so welcoming 405) and the city driving. The ride in 16 is much smoother and better composed over uneven and bumpy surfaces, with almost no judder. It soaks up smaller bumps and surface unevenness much better, and the front wheels do not not just flow right into the path/direction that the bumps want them to go into, like used to happen in my 13 LR4. And this smooth ride is with the 20 inch wheels (with less rubber/sidewalls) that came standard with my 2016, vs my former LR4' 19 inch wheels.

I remember when I traded in my LR3 for LR4 a few years ago, the ride home that day was a bit on the firmer side and wasn't as plush and buttoned down as LR3. I can elaborate on the whole suspension experience later.



SCV6:

This has been a bit surprise for me so far, perhaps because I am still in the break in mode and by no means pushing the vehicle in any way.

My biggest fear was that this is where I would notice the most difference (going from V8 to SCV6), but honestly, I am a bit pleasantly surprised. During normal everyday driving, this little SCV6 really could. Granted right now I have been driving like an eighty year old, the engine pulls without feeling stressed. No struggle or higher RPMs required (like my former 2006 LR3).

With only about a 127 miles on the truck, I'd say, in the city driving, its very comparable to almost the same as the V8. And on the freeway as well, with me not having gone above 60 mph yet and without doing any hard pulls etc, it feels the same as far as the effortlessness. And this particular truck is loaded with extra weight of the running boards, full size spare, tow package (that heavy tow hitch stowed inside the vehicle) with wiring harness, Longer/Full length roof rails, and the extra weight of the rear seat entertainment headrests. I mean the brochure for 2016 mentions the weights starting at 5840 Lbs :). So I am guessing, mine maybe over 6000 Lbs.

Only two or three hours after I had pulled into the dealership with my V8, and with that right foot/pedal force to the V8/vehicle' response ratio still fresh in my memory, As I started driving my new SCV6 LR4 (probably a bit heavier than my V8 LR4) for the first time, with both of my slightly overweight parents in my new car, I was a bit surprised at the level of refinement, lack of engine stress, and just overall effortlessness. The drivetrain pulled nicely going up the hill/mountain pass on the 405 with no sign of stress or struggle.

I was weary of a bit of a crude feel that you get when you just start driving a brand new car due to everything/part being new and fresh and still in need of settling in. I remember experiencing just that when I switched from my buttery smooth and well broken in LR3 HSE with almost 50k miles to my new 2013 LR4 LUX. It was like a bit night and day. The engine in LR4 was much smoother but the overall drivetrain/suspension refinement fully came in after a few thousand miles.

With respect to SCV6, another important thing that I noticed immediately was the absence of the supercharger whine. And I do remember that whine very clearly from when I test drove an SCV6 last year. It may very well be that I am not pushing the engine yet (though I dont remember pushing the engine on the test drive vehicle either) or it could be that hey may have tuned or modified something under the hood to muffle the sound. Either way the current engine sound is definitely not that same annoying flimsy V6 sound that I had feared.



TRANSMISSION:

The only annoying thing I have noticed so far is when you are coming to a very slow stop from a slow speed, the vehicle jerks a bit due to abrupt downshift(s) and you hear a muted noise as well, like metal to metal noise. It happened literally first few seconds right after I started driving for the first time as I pulled up the exit gate at the dealership. By now I have noticed it at least three or four times. Service Manager relates this to the transmission learning my style. Hope it will go away soon.

Another aspect, which is more related to the engine perhaps, sometimes as you start driving again slowly after a complete stop or from very slow speed (like when slowly pulling into a parking space while turning etc) the engine throttles up bit quickly without that intention with the vehicle lunging forward a bit, and then comes under control as you ease off the gas. Not sure if its an attribute of the supercharger kicking in etc, but for sure is annoying.


Have to run now but will post later about some gremlins and quality control crap that they really need to get right by now, its 2016 and not 1996 anymore, buyers notice these things.

Oh, one more thing: I just effing hate that rotary knob shifter. Not efficient at all. Cant throw the transmission into sports mode as quickly as I could with that lever on my older LR4 during any type of evasive maneuvers for that extra vehicle control and engine/drivetrain braking. It just purely sucks. They've got to give that shifter/lever back to us.
 
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SoCalPaul

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So I have to agree on a few things.. having just bought exactly the same thing myself for my wife.

The suspension is really taut compared to my 2010 lr4..its more fun to drive and more car like around corners...but I put that down to it being brand new. I wonder if I replaced my airsprings/shocks.. it might feel similar.

For the engine.. I found it is quick around town - ie responsive. But it revs more and is louder than my V8 which is more of a lazy power.

So it does go.. you just need to be more generous with the throttle pedal.
 

Quijote

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The suspension is really taut compared to my 2010 lr4..its more fun to drive and more car like around corners...but I put that down to it being brand new. I wonder if I replaced my airsprings/shocks.. it might feel similar.

Usually it's not that shocks and springs but rather worn bushings what start giving cars a floaty less taut feel. On such a heavy car, I would not be surprised if after just a few 10k's they start to feel worn. This would be made worse by off-roading.
 

colorover

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^ Agree with that, fresh bushings/tie rods and other pieces likely helping with the buttoned up feel. I'm not aware of any material changes to the LR4 suspension throughout the production years. We have an LR3 and a 15 LR4 and the difference is even more drastic. At altitude the SCV6 also works better than the NA V8s, and in the mountains having the extra two gears helps a lot. Even fully loaded, has never felt stressed, even passing going up steep grades.
 

mpinco

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..... At altitude the SCV6 also works better than the NA V8s......

Hmmmm ....... not my experience or from multiple observations of others (Colorado). Both HP and Torque curves are earlier and higher for the V8. The advantage of the SCV6 is a slight increase in fuel efficiency and reduction in CO2 emissions.

Maybe your experience is driven by the 8-speed transmission although others have said it introduces the "hunting" problem, always changing gearing.

Or V8 over SCV6 for towing at altitude, which I do.
 
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LR4TQ

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I have shared my point of view on the exact same scenario; from 2013 V8 to 2016 SCV6 and my feedback is exactly the opposite of you in the engine performance. Even my wife noticed a pretty dramatic loss in power delivery and overall throttle response. 8000 miles in, I regret every mile...and no matter how conservative I drive, the brand new, more efficient engine gave me a whopping +0.6mpg gain.

I dislike the rotary dial and new location of the terrain response. With the small change tray open on the center dash, you can't see which selection you are in the terrain response. Being this a LR, anything that obstructs the use of TR completely blows my mind. WTH Land Rover!?

I think the ride sensation you are experiencing is probably just due to the fact that everything is new. I noticed the cabin is a lot tighter and quieter when I first got it but after putting on some miles and few off road trips, it felt the same as the old 2013. I don't think LR revised the suspension at all. But I still have the new car smell!

The autostop "eco" feature is completely pointless (see above mpg savings) and worst part for the 2016 version is that if you bypass the secondary battery to disable the feature, the warning light in the dash is front center with a massive font. WTH Land Rover!?

You ask why I trade it in? Well, my wife made me do it...
 

colorover

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Hmmmm ....... not my experience or from multiple observations of others (Colorado). Both HP and Torque curves are earlier and higher for the V8. The advantage of the SCV6 is a slight increase in fuel efficiency and reduction in CO2 emissions.

Maybe your experience is driven by the 8-speed transmission although others have said it introduces the "hunting" problem, always changing gearing.

Or V8 over SCV6 for towing at altitude, which I do.
Sounds like you are also in CO? Power loss is around ~3% per 1,000 feet of elevation, holding all other factors constant. A normally aspirated motor cannot adjust for this, a forced induction (SC/turbo) can. Not completely but mostly. So the SCV6 is close if not at parity with the 8 at our elevation. I take the point about power and torque curves but the 8 speed helps here to. I found a similar amount of hunting with the older 6 speed and it is more far more jarring - the 8 is extremely quick to change gears and does so in a less disruptive manner.

BTW, I hate the rotary dial and new TR buttons as well. Perfect world would have been to keep the V8 and add the 8 speed, would have been perfect. The fuel economy gains are illusory in real world conditions.
 

mpinco

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Sounds like you are also in CO? Power loss is around ~3% per 1,000 feet of elevation, holding all other factors constant. A normally aspirated motor cannot adjust for this, a forced induction (SC/turbo) can. Not completely but mostly. .....

BTW, I hate the rotary dial and new TR buttons as well. Perfect world would have been to keep the V8 and add the 8 speed, would have been perfect. The fuel economy gains are illusory in real world conditions.

Not wanting to beat a dead horse ..... NAV8 vs SCV6 Comparison

Yes on Colorado - North Colorado Springs/AFA

Agreed on "not completely but mostly". :)

Besides the lower hp/torque for the SCV6 the other aspect brought up in the linked discussion is the reduction in inter-cooler efficiency as elevation rises. This would be a result of less dense air reducing the heat capacity of the air and lower heat transfer efficiencies. The 8-speed is the major factor here. Agreed the ideal would be V8/8-Speed. BTW my observations are pulling a trailer at altitude which exposes the difference in power.

I also would hate the rotary dial. Granted the new technology reduces the need to select transmission gearing but not completely. Looking down at a dial is the last thing I want to do when that selection is required, which is usually right before the gear change is needed. On Engineer's Pass I was working the gear selection to ensure best off road performance. Damn I wouldn't want to be distracted by some cute little dial.
 

VTBike

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Let me just say - I love the rotary dial. It's super refined, and aesthetically way more pleasing than an antiquated column sticking out of the middle of the car. The whole "I need to look down at the dial" thing is a little BS. After a few hundred miles, if you cant figure out and remember that you're just turning a *** through the same clicks as shifting a lever, something's a bit amiss with you.
 

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