Skip to main content

At long last, Range Rover brings luxurious but efficient diesels Stateside

More V6 torque and better fuel efficiency are among Land Rover’s promises for its diesel-powered luxury SUVs. Debuting at the Detroit Auto Show, the 2016 Range Rover HSE Td6 and Range Rover Sport HSE Td6 represent the first of the automaker’s recent models to offer diesel power in the U.S.

The pair will reach showrooms by fall of 2015, and Land Rover says other models in its lineup will add diesel engine choices “in coming years.”

For the models at the top of the lineup – the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport – the new diesel engines improve efficiency significantly. Estimated at 22 mpg city and 28 mpg highway, the fuel economy of the Td6 beats that of the base gasoline V6 by 5 mpg in each driving cycle.

Better efficiency translates to greater range, too, with the Td6 stretching a tank of diesel fuel to 658 miles. A combination of efficiency and range make the diesel-powered SUV a wise choice for longer highway trips.

Off-roaders and the rare Range Rover driver that pulls a trailer may prefer the Td6 as well. Compared with the base gasoline V6, the 3.0-liter turbo diesel Td6 churns out considerably more torque, although it cannot match the horsepower of the supercharged gas engine.

The Td6 is rated at 440 pound-feet and 254 horsepower. That’s an advantage of more than 100 lb-ft compared to the gas V6 and comes close to the supercharged V8’s torque rating of 461 lb-ft.

Related: Land Rover’s 2015 Range Rover Sport SVR: fastest, most powerful Land Rover … ever

Despite its horsepower deficit, the diesel versions accelerate nearly as quickly as those with the gas V6. Land Rover lists 0 to 60 mph times for the Range Rover Td6 and Range Rover Sport Td6 at 7.4 seconds and 7.1 seconds, respectively. Both figures are less than a half-second slower than Land Rover’s figures for the gas V6 equivalents.

Pricing for the Td6-powered Range Rover models has not yet been announced, but a premium over equivalent models with the gas V6 is likely. For 2015, the Range Rover Sport HSE is priced at just under $70,000 while the Range Rover HSE comes at $90,000.

Fuel economy may not be a primary concern of drivers with the better part of 100 grand to spend on an SUV. If that efficiency advantage comes with real improvements in drivability, though – whether off-road, on the highway, or while hauling a trailer – the Td6 may prove the sweet spot in the three-engine lineup for the 2016 Range Rover and Range Rover Sport.

Nick Palermo
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Nick Palermo is a freelance automotive writer in Atlanta. Since becoming an freelance automotive journalist in, Nick has…
Toyota unveils 2026 bZ: A smarter, longer-range electric SUV
toyota bz improved bz4x 2026 0007 1500x1125

Toyota is back in the electric SUV game with the 2026 bZ, a major refresh of its bZ4X that finally delivers on two of the biggest demands from EV drivers: more range and faster charging.
The headline news is the improved driving range. Toyota now estimates up to 314 miles on a single charge for the front-wheel-drive model with the larger 74.7-kWh battery—about 60 miles more than the outgoing bZ4X. All-wheel-drive variants also get a boost, with up to 288 miles of range depending on trim.
Charging speeds haven’t increased in terms of raw kilowatts (still capped at 150 kW for DC fast charging), but Toyota has significantly improved how long peak speeds are sustained. With preconditioning enabled—especially helpful in colder weather—the new bZ can charge from 10% to 80% in about 30 minutes. Also new: Plug and Charge support for automatic payment at compatible stations and full adoption of the North American Charging Standard (NACS), meaning access to Tesla Superchargers will be standard by 2026.
Under the hood, or rather the floor, Toyota has swapped in higher-performance silicon carbide components to improve efficiency and power delivery. The AWD version now produces up to 338 horsepower and sprints from 0–60 mph in a brisk 4.9 seconds.
Toyota didn’t stop at just the powertrain. The exterior has been cleaned up, with body-colored wheel arches replacing the black cladding, and a sleeker front fascia. Inside, a larger 14-inch touchscreen now houses climate controls, giving the dash a more refined and less cluttered appearance. There’s also more usable storage thanks to a redesigned center console.
With the 2026 bZ, Toyota seems to be responding directly to critiques of the bZ4X. It’s faster, more efficient, and more driver-friendly—finally bringing Toyota’s EV efforts up to speed.

Read more
Cheaper EVs ahead? GM and LG say new battery cells are the key
2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV front quarter view.

General Motors and LG Energy Solution have announced a new phase in their ongoing partnership: developing a new battery cell chemistry that could significantly lower the cost of electric vehicles. The joint effort centers on lithium manganese iron phosphate (LMFP) battery cells, a variation of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) that’s gaining popularity for being more affordable and less reliant on expensive materials like nickel and cobalt.

This is a big deal because battery costs are still the single largest expense in producing EVs. According to GM and industry experts, LMFP cells could help bring the cost of electric vehicles close to — or even on par with — gas-powered cars. The goal? Making EVs accessible to a broader range of drivers without sacrificing range or performance.

Read more
Waymo recalled 1,200 robotaxis following collisions with road barriers
Waymo Jaguar I-Pace

Waymo’s autonomous-car technology has made great advances over the years to the point where it’s now allowed to offer paid robotaxi rides in select locations in the U.S.

But the development of the technology is ongoing, and the robotaxi rides continue to gather valuable data for Waymo engineers to pore over as they further refine the driverless system to make it as reliable and efficient as possible. Which is why glitches will sometimes occur.

Read more