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While Land Rover’s sales have been flagging like almost every other automaker in this economy, it has been the company’s venerable Range Rover SUV that has held down the fort, maintaining its share better than any other product in the British automaker’s empire. This is a particularly impressive feat, as the Range Rover is the longest-serving model in the company’s off-road arsenal to go without a major update. Until now.

Not that you can tell from the outside terribly easily, mind. The outgoing model is something of a style icon, so you could forgive LR stylists for not wanting to futz unnecessarily with the styling. Still, changes are substantial yet modest - there are new headlamps, a new grille, a refreshed bumper cap, relocated fog lamps, and a triple theme to the sides and rear of the vehicle that includes three-section fender vents, ‘three-stripe’ LED side indicators, and new LED taillamps that incorporate the same ‘three-stripe’ motif.

Inside, the changes are more dramatic, punctuated by a new virtual gauge cluster that utilizes a 12-inch Thin Film Transistor (TFT) screen in place of traditional analog needle instruments - Current Mercedes S-Class owners enjoy a similar setup. Other interior adjustments include a raft of new switchgear, a revamped steering wheel with new multi-directional thumbpads, a new leather headliner and a much-needed upgrade to the navigation system. The new GPS system is hard-drive based touchscreen setup that also includes enhanced USB connectivity and a dedicated iPod port.