iSurfvilano
Full Access Member
So my dislike for the D5 is pretty well documented in this forum yet my experience prior to now with the D5 has been limited to a 2 day loaner of a base (literally bare bones) model then a 30 minute off-road test at the LR experience in Asheville this past Summer with a more upgraded HSE model w/ the HD package. So, when dropping my LR4 off last week for maintenance work they informed me it would be there for a week or two due to the amount of vehicles that came in at the same time for maintenance items. They said I could come back at a later date or take a loaner...well...the loaner they offered me was a very well-optioned all black (black pack) diesel with the HD package. I took it. And since I publically blasted it in this forum I thought it would be nice to give an updated opinion based on my now 5 full days with the vehicle.
CONS, well...with some positives:
- The way it looks...yeah, but it has grown on me, and it continues to look better when I park in front of a window and see those headlights glowing around the all black vehicle. They are really nice. And in all black...it actually looks decent. Except it's ass, the ass looks massive.
- The slanted front window and driver seating position. Still not a fan, but you forget about it rather quickly as this vehicle has great ride quality.
- No fold flat seats...This was an initial complaint of mine but if you fold them down they are "flatish". Auto fold function is pretty cool. Still kind of a con but not as big of an issue as I first thought.
- The infotainment system. I'm still getting used to it, that's why it's a con. There are a lot of options and it's just taking a while for me.
- The steering wheel is skinny...or my hands are too big, not sure here.
- The drivers window is too high for my liking, as I like to rest my arm on the sill.
- The diesel, well I just expected more, that's all. But not horrible by any standard (well, I zen drive, so maybe for you "race car" drivers it will be bad)
- Tailgate...it's just dumb. Seriously, why would you do this, the split was amazing and this is something I cannot get over.
PROS:
- The ride is awesome. It actually feels comparable to my wife's RRS but sits higher.
- The sound system is miles ahead of my "upgraded" LR4's
- It feels light and turns really well.
- Wow is this thing amazing in sand! This was the only off-road terrain I've taken it in thus far, but in thick sand it is far more confident than my LR4. Especially in inclines.
- Air suspension takes less time to adjust (lighter vehicle)
- It's quiet, not as many rattles or weird noises. I've had 2 LR4s, one brand new, and there has always been little noises here and there that bother the **** out of me.
- Headlights are crisp and even the DRLs are bright enough to use by themselves in the dark.
- Averaging 25.4mpg the past week, opposed to my 17mpg on my LR4.
- Interior lighting is much better.
CONCLUSION:
I should have held off on judgement until I drove one of these as if I owned it. Hard to draw a proper conclusion until you find yourself living day to day with it rather than having one for just a day or two. It's not as bad as I initially thought, it's actually pretty damn nice.
So, while this will not be a replacement for my LR4 (because I am superficial and like the look of my LR4...aaaand I'm too invested in my lr4) it may be an option for my wife's RRS when the time comes. It really is better than the LR4 in many areas, but it seems more like an extra capable and practical RRS.
CONS, well...with some positives:
- The way it looks...yeah, but it has grown on me, and it continues to look better when I park in front of a window and see those headlights glowing around the all black vehicle. They are really nice. And in all black...it actually looks decent. Except it's ass, the ass looks massive.
- The slanted front window and driver seating position. Still not a fan, but you forget about it rather quickly as this vehicle has great ride quality.
- No fold flat seats...This was an initial complaint of mine but if you fold them down they are "flatish". Auto fold function is pretty cool. Still kind of a con but not as big of an issue as I first thought.
- The infotainment system. I'm still getting used to it, that's why it's a con. There are a lot of options and it's just taking a while for me.
- The steering wheel is skinny...or my hands are too big, not sure here.
- The drivers window is too high for my liking, as I like to rest my arm on the sill.
- The diesel, well I just expected more, that's all. But not horrible by any standard (well, I zen drive, so maybe for you "race car" drivers it will be bad)
- Tailgate...it's just dumb. Seriously, why would you do this, the split was amazing and this is something I cannot get over.
PROS:
- The ride is awesome. It actually feels comparable to my wife's RRS but sits higher.
- The sound system is miles ahead of my "upgraded" LR4's
- It feels light and turns really well.
- Wow is this thing amazing in sand! This was the only off-road terrain I've taken it in thus far, but in thick sand it is far more confident than my LR4. Especially in inclines.
- Air suspension takes less time to adjust (lighter vehicle)
- It's quiet, not as many rattles or weird noises. I've had 2 LR4s, one brand new, and there has always been little noises here and there that bother the **** out of me.
- Headlights are crisp and even the DRLs are bright enough to use by themselves in the dark.
- Averaging 25.4mpg the past week, opposed to my 17mpg on my LR4.
- Interior lighting is much better.
CONCLUSION:
I should have held off on judgement until I drove one of these as if I owned it. Hard to draw a proper conclusion until you find yourself living day to day with it rather than having one for just a day or two. It's not as bad as I initially thought, it's actually pretty damn nice.
So, while this will not be a replacement for my LR4 (because I am superficial and like the look of my LR4...aaaand I'm too invested in my lr4) it may be an option for my wife's RRS when the time comes. It really is better than the LR4 in many areas, but it seems more like an extra capable and practical RRS.