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Car Report: Luxury Range Rover adds more space and comfort

By Mike Parris

WASHINGTON — The big thing lately is to release stretch versions of large luxury
cars to appease those riding in the back seat.

Now the Range Rover Luxury SUV has done it, adding seven inches of space for
lucky backseat riders.

You’ll have to pay more for that extra space. The starting price: $105,300. My
tester came with $9,000 of extras.

And while I hoped to be driven around in those reclining, climate-controlled
rear seats, unfortunately, I had to drive. My daughter had plenty of space for
the ride to school, and for some longer trips, she had room for everything
without crowding the floor space.

The driver’s seat is still a good place to be though. The $4,150 four-zone
climate comfort package made sure of that. Front seats are heated and cooled,
but there’s also a massage feature that helps you forget about rush-hour
traffic.

The headrests were like pillows, making for a comfortable long distance
cruiser for anyone lucky enough to experience the Range Rover LWB.
The larger space in the rear also means larger rear doors, which make getting in
and out easier. Watch out when parking: The big doors take up a lot of space,
and parking spaces seem to be getting smaller.

The entire interior is top-notch and classy. It also feels very nice to the
touch — the leather feels great; the optional shadow walnut veneer trim really
brings the interior together. Even the rear-seat entertainment looks well
integrated, not an afterthought like on some vehicles.

However, I do wish the paddle shifters weren’t made of plastic. They feel cheap
in relation to the other nice amenities. Though the navigation isn’t the
quickest, it seemed to know where I wanted to go. The 825-watt Meridian premium
sound system sounds nice, too.

I last drove the Range Rover Sport, a sportier-driving SUV with a little more
engine noise that feels fast and a little naughty at times (in other words, my
kind of ride). The Range Rover LWB is a more understated drive with a pure luxury feel. Even with large 21-inch wheels, the ride was really good; only the bigger bumps are felt.

Even with 510 horsepower under the hood, I never felt the need to really open it
up. Instead, I just took my time and enjoyed the ride. Maybe the more relaxing
drive helped me a little with fuel economy, as I averaged 18.2 miles per gallon
of premium fuel over 300 miles, which doesn’t sound great, but the big Range
Rover is rated at 14 mpg city and 19 mpg on the highway.

I was skeptical of the larger Range Rover. You pay more, and it’s geared to a
more luxury SUV than I would usually like. But after a drive in the country, my
mindset changed.

With the large, panoramic sunroof open and watching the changing colors of the
season in pure comfort, I quickly realized that I was enjoying the sights more
thanks to the bigger Rover.

If you’re looking for a Range Rover with some extra space and even more luxury,
the new Range Rover LWB has you covered.

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Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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