The Detroit Newspapers's view

When we first tested the redesigned Range Rover several years back, we were duly impressed by the tremendous strides former owner BMW had made in performance, quality and aesthetic appeal.

Current owner Ford has sunk even more money into the Land Rover brand and, in particular, into the 2006 Range Rover flagship, and it shows. The latest edition is the best Range Rover ever, perhaps the best sport utility vehicle. We drove an ’06 Range Rover HSE with $7,500 worth of options and a bottom line of $82,450.

HE: Land Rover really moved up the bar for luxury SUVs when it redesigned the Range Rover four years ago. The ’06 model, which borrows a 305-horsepower 4.4-liter V-8 from Jaguar and couples it with a slick six-speed Tiptronic-style automatic. If that’s not enough muscle, you can order a new supercharged 4.2-liter V-8 with 400 horses. The new Range Rover also gets a modest exterior makeover and offers one of the most luxurious cabins I’ve ever seen in a truck. Elegant, sophisticated, civilized — and amazingly capable off road. For my money, all those qualities continue to keep Range Rover at the front of the SUV pack.

SHE: You’re such a dreamer. I can’t imagine spending 80 thousand bucks on any vehicle, let alone a sport utility. The price kind of makes the Range Rover the ultimate fantasy SUV. If money is no object in your household, you probably won’t think twice about dropping the extra bucks to get an absolutely gorgeous cabin with an unbelievable assortment of bells and whistles.

HE: Oh, baby, and what a cabin this is! The matte-finish cherry wood and nickel metal trim are just exquisite.

SHE: Actually, I fell for those great seats, which are really comfortable and supportive. I don’t think our living-room furniture looks half as good. But also give the Land Rover people credit for paying attention to the last little detail, like those clever, cleated floor mats, which must surely be the finest floor mats on any luxury vehicle, period.

HE: We should talk a bit about the ride quality, which is always an issue in SUVs, even the premium ones. The Range Rover is fitted with air suspension and automatic load leveling. Which means, on or off road, you get an amazingly comfortable ride, no matter how many people are on board or how much gear you’ve got stowed in the rear. The standard 19-inch wheels and tires also contribute to a more compliant ride.

SHE: The standard safety equipment is pretty impressive. There are eight air bags, four-wheel disc brakes with antilock, all-terrain dynamic stability control and park distance control, plus a new rear backup camera.

HE: You might have to wait a little longer to order that new living-room furniture you were hinting about a minute ago.

SHE: I still have some issues with the Range Rover. Why, for instance, if I’m spending this much money, can’t I get a power tailgate and adjustable pedals? And who wants to cope with EPA fuel economy figures in the mid-teens when gas is still near $2 a gallon?

HE: My issues are few and minor. The huge turning circle makes parking a pain in the butt. And why is the darn CD changer still hidden in the glovebox?

SHE: For this kind of money, you have your choice of premium SUVs from Porsche, Mercedes, Lexus, BMW and Infiniti. If it were my money — and I’m still dreaming about that new sofa and chair — this is a no-brainer. The Range Rover is still the world’s finest SUV.

He drove, she drove Anita and Paul Lienert are partners in Lienert & Lienert, an Ann Arbor-based automotive information services company. Image

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The 2006 Range Rover HSE

Type: Front-engine, four-wheel drive, five-passenger utility vehicle.

Price: Base, $74,950 (inc. $665 destination charge); as tested, $82,450.

Engine: 4.4-liter V-8; 305-hp; 325 lb-ft torque.

EPA fuel economy: 14 mpg city, 18 mpg highway.

Where built: England.

Key competitors: BMW X5, Cadillac Escalade, Hummer H2, Infiniti QX56, Lexus LX 470, Lincoln Navigator, Mercedes-Benz G-Class, Porsche Cayenne.

12-month insurance cost, according to AAA Michigan*: $2,679. (Estimate. Rates may be higher or lower, depending on coverage and driving record.)

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Anita’s rating: 5

Likes: The ultimate fantasy SUV. Clever, cleated floor mats. World-class safety features. Good backup camera. Comfortable seats with good thigh and lumbar support. The $5,000 luxury interior package includes beautiful Aspen leather upholstery with ivory piping. Rear-seat DVD entertainment system.

Dislikes: Lacks power tailgate. No adjustable pedals. Complicated audio controls. Rear headrests hamper visibility. Lousy fuel economy.

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Paul’s rating: 5

Likes: Best SUV on the planet. Simply spectacular cabin, including matte-finish cherry wood and nickel metal trim. Prodigious off-road capability. Air suspension makes for smooth ride, even on rough pavement. Awesome 710-watt Harman Kardon audio system. Surprisingly good assembly quality.

Dislikes: Why is the CD changer still hidden in the glovebox? Huge turning circle makes parking more difficult. Complicated controls require a steep learning curve.

Rating system: Unacceptable, 2. Subpar, 3. Acceptable, 4. Above Average, 5. World Class