Land Rover makes some of the best SUVs that are both luxurious and tailor-made for adventurous drivers. Land Rover isn’t the most dependable automaker, with repair and reliability issues abound. Still, supporters of the brand don’t let these flaws deter them from enjoying their vehicles.

Each Land Rover comes with an abundance of both standard and available features for expeditions off the beaten track. Essential features like air suspensions and dual-transfer cases are common enough, but what about wade sensing technology, according to WardsAuto? What does this feature do, and what’s the likelihood you’ll use it off-road?

All about wade sensing

Cars like the Land Rover Defender can ford rivers over 35 feet deep, even more than the Jeep Wrangler. Of course, it can be hard to judge the exact height of a body of water. The sensors located on the vehicle’s exterior mirrors detect the depth of the water and display it on the center touchscreen.

While this does make fording water relatively safer, drivers should still be mindful of their current situation. The sensors can only detect the water immediately surrounding the vehicle and can’t predict rising water levels. Additionally, wade sensing will deactivate if the car goes over six mph in the water.

Useful or a waste of money?

The wade sensing feature was mentioned in a Reddit thread about the most useless car parts. The user pointed out that not many people will risk taking a car so expensive into the water. Other users agreed with this statement, drawing attention to the high repair costs associated with Land Rovers.

Leaking water seals are also one of the most common issues reported amongst Land Rover owners. Even if the wade sensing works flawlessly, there’s still a chance that water will get into your vehicle and cause damage. It could be helpful in emergencies or while crossing very shallow streams, but too risky for regular use.

Other off-roading features on Land Rovers

A feature you’re more likely to need while off-roading is some sort of traction control. All Land Rovers have traction control standard, as well as drive modes for different types of terrain. The Terrain Response system has settings for grass, snow, gravel, and mud.

A good mud driving mode is extremely important, since mud can be unpredictably deep or slippery. The Terrain Response system also automatically raises the Land Rover’s height when it’s going over deep ruts in the ground. Depending on the model, Land Rover vehicles can have a maximum ground clearance of 11.5 inches.

Land Rovers also have a dedicated setting for rock-crawling. Going over rocks is fun, but it’s also one of the most challenging feats you can perform in a vehicle. You have to precisely adjust your speed for each trail and anticipate going over jagged, treacherous rocks.

The all-wheel drive on Land Rovers comes with a low-gear setting that makes rock crawling much easier and safer. The air suspension also detects how much height is needed for all four corners of the vehicle. Larger wheels, which boost a car higher over uneven terrain, are optional for all Land Rovers.

When you’re ready to head home, you can engage the hill descent control. After putting the car in low gear, even slippery slopes won’t give the vehicle much trouble. If your starting point is over unstable terrain, you can also turn on the Low Traction Launch.

A Land Rover is a great car if you’re craving adventure. Its solid construction means it can take a proper beating, but internal water damage is another story. Wade sensing is a nice perk, but we wouldn’t recommend taking your $100,000 Land Rover in deep waters.