MOM'S TAXI TEST - RANGE ROVER SPORT SUPERCHARGED V8:
I don't think I'll be buying one of these any time soon. Not at a starting price of R1 004 995.
Besides, although you probably could sleep in it (it's that big and spacious), it doesn't come with a sundeck or a kitchen…
It comes with almost everything else, though, as it should with that price tag. Big, bold, and very much a head-turner, even if you're not into that big boxy look, the Range Rover Sport Supercharged is “the most powerful, high performance Range Rover Sport ever created. It boasts more power, more torque, and better fuel economy, than ever before”, say the makers.
With its whopping five-litre, V8, 380kW engine, the vehicle delivers exhilarating performance, and I just loved that power under the bonnet when I put my foot down on pull-off. And despite being a big beast (3125kg), it still has a top speed of about 265km/h. Amazingly, although you'd think it would gobble up the fuel, because of its perfect power-to-weight ratio, you can expect a very moderate 14.9 litres per 100km on a combined cycle (but a gob-smacking, to the average working-class stiff, 21.8 for urban driving, which unfortunately is where many Range Rover drivers spend the majority of their travelling time).
Fitted with every convenience and luxury feature you'd expect, the Range Rover is brilliant, all round. Uber-comfortable, exceptionally smooth and quiet (the latter marred only by the unexpectedly noisy windscreen wipers, particularly when they're moving slowly), I was sorry I wasn't doing any cross-country trips with it.
We did a longish run up the Midlands where we meandered on some side roads and then back, and the next day it went through its paces when the heavens opened over the city, and diesel-slicked, wet roads were the order of the day.
Naturally the vehicle didn't put a foot wrong. But that's nothing, of course, when you consider the thing can climb mountains, ford rivers, circumnavigate the most dire and testing terrain on the planet . . . all while cocooning you in glorious hand-tanned hide and lacquered wood, and without losing any steam whatsoever.
Touchscreen technology, twin screens fitted into the front head restraints for the junior passengers in the back, and all the cup holders/stowage space a woman could wish for - oh, and a stop start button, ladies, to make life easier.
Must say though: although I liked the fact that the boot was nice and huge, and that the tailgate was split in two so you could either lift just the top half or the whole thing, when you did the latter, it was astoundingly heavy. Opening and closing it every morning outside school was a bit of an irritation: the damn thing weighs a ton!
But for sheer unadulterated luxury, opulence, performance (acceleration on pull off was awesome), the Range Ranger Sport makes the rest look pretty tame. Damned if I didn't feel a pang when it was taken away. Despite having to take out a mortgage on my house to feed the tank…