Can Range Rover Drive in Water?

The SUV segment has seen some of its toughest and meanest products in British manufacturer Range Rover. People know them for their resilient 4-wheel-drive off-roaders, delivering excellent performance, regularly encountering non-conventional terrains, and even water. 

So naturally, the question arises, Can Range Rover drive in water?

You’d be happy to know that the answer is Yes. Range Rovers are not just made for tricky slopes and rocky climbs. They can tackle flooded sinks and holes, too, thanks to their wade-sensing technology.

Read on to find out more about this unique feature.

What is Wade-Sensing in Range Rovers?

Range Rover’s wade-sensing technology provides the driver with an accurate gauge of the depth and topology of the water in front of them.

Built to handle up to 900 mm (3 ft) of depth, wade-sensing involves the usage of the old speed of sound technique, where it bounces soundwaves off of surfaces, measures their speed of return, and using this, collects a precise reading of the distance of the surface and its orientation.

On the other hand, typical vehicles can only handle depths of 1-1.5 ft.

What is Water Manoeuvrability in Range Rovers vs. Other Vehicles?

It is pretty well-known in the adventure community that Range Rovers are the first choices when it comes to difficult terrains.

These are some things that make Range Rovers stand apart from the rest of the crowd when it comes to wading.   

Range Rovers	Other Vehicles
Can wade into depths up to 3 ft with ease.	Typically limited to 1-1.5 ft of depth.
Come with an advanced navigation system that gives the driver a comfortable view of the water body ahead.	Generally have basic navigation features that use third-party applications, and cannot predict terrain.
Use quality Michelin tires for maximum grip and stability while on precarious surfaces.	You can use tires for city-driving and speed purposes.
Have better drivability underwater, owing to quality 4WD features such as electronic air suspension and descent control.	4WD does not imply auxiliary features
Models such as the 2020 Land Rover Range Evoque S utilize wade-sensing along with a variety of transmission modes, which improve comfort and handling while navigating deep waters.	Do not have wade-sensing and are limited to three transmission modes at most.

Clearly, Range Rovers have an advantage over their competitors in this regard. As a result, we can make an argument that these vehicles provide the best water driving experience out of all available options on the market.

What kind of surfaces can Range Rovers cross underwater?

This is a tough question because surfaces below water can be unpredictable. Range Rover vehicles are built to drive over a huge variety of surfaces.

However, we must first determine and predict roughly the level of traction that surfaces underwater can provide because it doesn’t matter how good the tires are if they drive over submerged sand.

The best way to determine this is to check the surface ourselves manually. If the vehicle must cross a body of water, do use a good pair of boots first to get an idea of the depth and rigidity underneath.

We don’t want to get into a puddle just for it to give away under the weight of these heavy vehicles.

What is the contribution of a powerful engine to wading abilities?

Built for sport and rough use, Range Rovers inevitably need to employ monstrous engines to function to their full potential.

The engines are usually capable of horsepower values ranging from 400-557 bhp. This makes Range Rover engines some of the best in the segment. So whether your car is stuck in a tough spot and needs some rev to break free, or you’re just looking to test out exactly how much torque the wheels can actually operate at, these engines will do the job.

Naturally, this extends to situations in wet areas too, where the ground is slimy and does not forgive regular vehicles. Thankfully, Range Rover engines come in variations such as Premium Supercharged V-8, electric, and others, and provide superfast 0-60 mph (96 kmph for the rest of the world) times of 5-6 seconds.

This, as experienced drivers know, is important to water driving. A good crossing requires considerable effort on part of the engine to ensure a smooth experience.

What are some precautions that one must note in this endeavour?

You might be an adventurous, free-spirited, thrill-seeking driver who loves to put their car through the mill. You might have even considered Range Rovers for this very purpose. Their reputation as off-roaders is stellar, after all.

Although they are meant to be luxury vehicles, they can handle a beating, and that’s what has kept them in the minds of buyers since their inception in 1978 and their development in the ‘80s. But all this does not take away from the fact that even the sturdiest of machines can only handle so much.

First, ensure that the water you are driving through is still. Driving through a large current can damage your vehicle’s suspension and not get you through to the other side anyway. The high water pressure will not help your components either, as there is the risk of internal flooding of the exhaust and other chambers through open orifices.

Waters flowing at high speeds also tend to be irregular. This can mess up the technology and confuse it into giving you incorrect data.

Always check your tires properly before use to ensure maximum traction and performance, and regularly fill them up with their specified gas. You can also inflate tires at home using products such as this: Slime 40050 Tire Inflator

Conclusion

Wade-sensing came to American Range Rovers in 2019 and has seen no signs of dying off since then. On the contrary, car enthusiasts and buyers have been extremely satisfied with the feature and are eagerly waiting for further development.

Future models will demonstrate even better flair in their trailblazing attempts. 2023 models will have a complete redesign of the wheelbase. There will be better and more powerful engines, and 4WD hardware like never before.

Their mechanical faculties can be assumed to be at their sharpest. In short, the Range Rover can breeze through water.