When Land Rover revealed the Range Rover in the 1970s, it was the start of a new era — not just for the brand, but for the automobile industry at large. Hailed a masterpiece of industrial design, it’s the only car to have been exhibited at the Louvre Museum in Paris. Even today, it’s still considered the most iconic luxury off-road vehicle, and a dream car for people all over the world.

Just like all luxury vehicles, however, Range Rover reliability isn’t exactly the best, with just 2 stars out of 5 on RepairPal. This ultimately results in more frequent trips to the auto shop, and it comes as a surprise to many owners that Range Rover parts are incredibly expensive — even more so than parts for other luxury cars.

But why is this the case? To help you understand the wider financial implications of owning a new or used Range Rover, here we’ll take a look at the key reasons why components are so costly, as well as ways to protect yourself from unexpected repair bills.

Premium Parts: The Foundation of Range Rover Costs

The Land Rover brand is known for off-road performance, and it has that reputation to uphold. To do that, the automaker has made a commitment to luxury and durability, constructing vehicles (and their associated components) from premium materials. But it goes without saying that premium materials command premium prices.

While aftermarket parts are significantly more affordable than genuine Land Rover parts (costing up to 60% less), you can’t really compare the two on build and performance. Aftermarket parts will last nowhere near as long as the alternative — ultimately costing you more in the long run — and can even void any warranty coverage that might be in place.

The real deal has also been designed with a specific make and model of Range Rover in mind, ensuring a perfect fit every time. This means an easier fitting process, thus keeping labor costs to a minimum. So, however tempting it can be to go down the aftermarket route, you really get what you pay for.

To give you a clearer picture of just how high the price of some Range Rover parts can be, let’s use RepairPal data to take a look at some of the more expensive Range Rover repairs and compare them with the cost of the same job for other luxury class vehicles:

Suspension Shock and Strut Replacement Parts

• Range Rover cost: $2,259 – $2,923
• Mercedes Benz 400SEL cost: $2,028 – $2,070

Sunroof Motor Replacement Parts

• Range Rover cost: $1,287 – $1,375
• BMW 328i cost: $786 – $800

Air Conditioning Refrigerant Line Replacement

• Range Rover cost: $2,065 – $2,034
• Jaguar XK cost: $1,104 – $1,136

Power Steering Pump Replacement

• Range Rover cost: $574 – $1,256
• Lexus RX350 cost: $519 – $794

Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor Replacement

• Range Rover cost: $591 – $645
• Audi A4 cost: $403 – $456

Advanced Technology Comes at a Premium

Luxury has always gone hand in hand with the latest technological developments, and Range Rovers are certainly no exception. Each new model introduced comes packed with advanced tech that heightens the driving experience, but as you might expect, these groundbreaking systems drive up the price point of both the vehicle purchase and any subsequent repairs.

Using the upcoming 2025 model as our example, we can see it comes with the following innovations:

• Plug-in hybrid (PHEV): An extended range plug-in electric hybrid system offering 53 miles of EV range and 80% charging in under 60 minutes.
• Active noise cancellation: Headrest speakers create individual quiet zones to eliminate unwanted noises, vibrations, and distractions.
• Pivi Pro: A market-leading infotainment system offering easy connectivity with smartphones and a host of connected driving options.
• Driver assistance: A range of features makes driving easier and safer, including forward collision warnings, lane assistance, speed limit warnings, and speed limit notifications.
• Adaptive dynamics: Monitors body and steering movements up to 500 times a second to continuously optimize the damper settings.
• Electronic active rear locking differential: Controls slip between the wheels on the rear axle to offer more traction on corners and more grip off-road.
• Torque vectoring by braking: Delivers controlled cornering and handling through the tightest of bends.
• Electronic air suspension: Automatically adjust the vehicle’s height to prime it for corners, resulting in a smooth, relaxing drive.
• Dynamic response pro: Improves handling through electronic active roll control (eARC), optimizing on-road performance.

As well as costing more to maintain and repair, advanced parts and systems are often in limited supply. So, if yours should break down for whatever reason, you may find yourself waiting a lot longer for your vehicle to return from the auto shop. Add the low reliability of Range Rovers into the mix, and you will have a recipe for frustration on your hands.

Specialized Labor Costs More

A Range Rover isn’t just any old set of wheels. It’s a high-performance, high-complexity, high-end vehicle that requires a highly trained expert to maintain and repair. Not only do you need to seek out someone who really knows what they’re doing, but the specialist nature of Range Rovers means more time to complete any work and higher labor costs as a result. That’s on top of the higher cost of components, of course.

Your closest Land Rover dealership will most likely be your first port of call for repairs, but whatever needs doing, these are always the most expensive options. Although they’re few and far between, independent mechanics who specialize in Land Rovers do exist and will most likely be a little cheaper. Either way, however, you’ll be spending a lot more money than you would on most other vehicles to have any repairs completed.

How to Ease the Financial Burden for Range Rover Owners

Owning any vehicle can be an expensive pursuit, but owning a Range Rover takes the financial burden to new heights. Repairs aren’t just more expensive — they’re more frequent, too, significantly ramping up the amount you need to spend per year to keep yours on the road. But there is a way to protect yourself from the cost of unexpected component failure.

When it comes to repair bills, an extended auto warranty, also known as a vehicle service contract or auto protection plan, is the best possible safeguard. Having an extended car warranty in place when the worst happens means your wallet can stay firmly in your pocket, as any covered repairs will be paid for by your provider. While luxury cars can be a little harder to find protection for, there are some providers who offer coverage specifically for them. And Endurance is the only one you need to know.

El comprehensive Endurance Supreme plan features a Highline extension designed for luxury vehicle owners, looking out for select models from manufacturers like Land Rover, BMW, Jaguar, Porsche, Maserati, and Mercedes-Benz that are up to eight years old with fewer than 80,000 miles on the clock (with a $500 deductible). Supreme is an exclusionary plan that’s as close to a bumper-to-bumper warranty as you can get without a factory warranty, so as soon as you’ve signed your contract, you can drive with total confidence.

Not only does having an Endurance auto protection plan save you serious money on the cost of Range Rover parts and labor, but it also opens up some amazing added benefits. For example, every Endurance plan gives you access to Asistencia en carretera 24 horas al día, 7 días a la semana (including towing, fuel delivery, and lockout services), rental car reimbursement, and trip interruption coverage as standard. If that wasn’t enough, all Endurance customers get a year of our Beneficios de élite, adding on up to four tire repairs or replacements annually, key fob replacement, up to $500 in collision discounts, and up to $1,000 in total loss protection.

Unlike most other vehicle service contract providers, we’re the direct administrator of all our plans, making the claims process almost effortless. Our award-winning customer service team is only ever a phone call or email away, and the handy Endurance smartphone app means you’re always connected to the most important plan information wherever you are. As the icing on the cake, Endurance plans are also transferable, giving your selling power a boost should you decide to part ways with your vehicle.

The True Cost of Ownership: Is a Range Rover Worth It?

In 2023, AAA estimated that the annual cost of car ownership had increased significantly, going from 2022’s figure of $10,728 (or $894 monthly) to $12,182 or ($1,015 monthly). While this already sounds expensive, it’s actually just for the average vehicle, not a performance powerhouse with a penchant for regular breakdowns. Where Range Rover owners are concerned, you can expect that number to be much, much higher.

According to RepairPal, the average annual cost of maintaining and repairing a Range Rover comes in at $1,258, which is a significant sum and more than many other vehicles in the luxury full-size SUV category. Some are hundreds of dollars less:

• INFINITI QX80: $718
• INFINITI QX60: $639
• INFINITI JX35: $639
• Lincoln MKS: $886
• Lincoln Navigator: $1,089
• Lincoln MKT: $996
• Cadillac Escalade: $1,007
• Cadillac Escalade EXT: $940

Whatever the case, only you can decide if the cost of owning a Range Rover is truly worth it. Many people think that they’re the dream vehicle, but that dream can quickly turn into a nightmare if you don’t have the money or time to keep a Range Rover roadworthy. Weigh up your individual situation with what you’d get out of being behind the wheel. As painful as it may be to admit, it might be more logical to opt for a vehicle that trades some of its flashiness for affordability.

Protecting Your Range Rover with an Extended Warranty

The ultimate combination of iconic aesthetics and impressive performance, it’s little wonder why Range Rovers are some of the most coveted vehicles on the road. A low reliability score and expensive components can get in the way of enjoying this luxury ride, but with a contrato de servicio de vehiculo from Endurance in place, you can rest assured that you’ll be looked after if things don’t go to plan.

To find out more about how we can help you protect yourself (and your wallet) from the ever-rising cost of car ownership, just give our award-winning advisors a call at (800) 253-8203 for a free no-obligation quote or shop our eStore for instant plan recommendations and pricing estimates.

Nuestro extended warranty blog also has plenty more articles on Highline vehicles, extended warranty advice, and DIY maintenance, so make sure to head on over if you’d like to keep reading.