Range Rover 2010 Review

The 2010 Range Rover Supercharged is bigger, brasher, plusher and more importantly faster, writes Sony Thomas (courtesy Wheels)

Honestly, I don't get the concept of a luxury 4x4. To me it is the perfect oxymoron. It's like scuba diving in your finest Armani suit and a pair of patent leather shoes. It's just wrong.

A few decades back, the only places where you'd expect to see 4x4s were up craggy hills, steep sand dunes or miry ditches. And in those days no one made 4x4s better than Land Rover. They were rugged, capable and spartan, the essential qualities a customer would expect in such a vehicle back then. Those who were looking for luxury went for saloons.

But then, times changed and the Germans transformed 4x4s into luxury sports cars on stilts. Even the Japanese started bringing out SUVs with creature comforts earlier seen only in luxury saloons. Land Rover gave in to peer pressure and began padding up their SUVs with wood, leather and the latest gizmos. And the fact that Range Rovers are still considered the ultimate 4x4 status symbols is testimony to what a wonderful job they did.

Although I really don't see the point of luxury SUVs, I couldn't say no when I was offered the 2010 Range Rover Supercharged for a week. Would you?

Moreover, since I have driven the Sport, and rather liked its 5.0-litre V8 engine, I am curious to see how it works in the top-banana Range Rover.

Not much has been changed on the outside, but for new headlights, bumper and redesigned mesh grille and side fenders. But there are quite a few changes inside. The 2010 Range Rover replaces the conventional instrument cluster with a 12in TFT screen, which displays all essential information apart from the virtual instrument dials. It also features a ‘dual view' infotainment screen in the centre console, which allows the driver and passenger to view different images at the same time. So you can still enjoy the views of the kerbs and lane markings offered by the 360-degree cameras, while your passenger enjoys a DVD movie. The interior is awash in high quality leather, including pillars, door casings and even the headlining.

However, the best bit about the 2010 model is the new supercharged V8 that's good for a stupendous 510bhp. Even with its weight of around 2,700kg, the daddy Range Rover feels properly quick off the line and unrelentingly fast on the move. But there is more than an acceptable amount of wind noise at cruising speeds, as it's not the best of aerodynamic designs around. But that's hardly a surprise since this Range Rover is about the size of a small villa.

That apart, the ride is as supple on the road as any luxury saloon out there. Features like the dynamic stability control, sand launch control, adaptive cruise control and blind spot monitoring are new in the 2010 version.

Overall, the 2010 Range Rover Supercharged is a definite improvement over the previous version. It's slightly better looking, it's got lavish amounts of luxury features, it's a highly capable off road vehicle, with added technology aids, and as icing on the cake, it has a gem of an engine under the bonnet.

But, despite all this, there's one quality that was synonymous with Land Rover vehicles missing from this car. And that's ruggedness. If it's just a good looking, able off-roader with a lot of high tech features that you're looking for, why pay so much when you have the brilliant Toyota Land Cruiser or the inspired new Nissan Patrol? They're both great on the road and off it, and now come with all the goodies you get in this car. But, if it's a status symbol that you're looking for, and you have a stash of dirhams lying around in a corner of your room, go ahead and get it.

Specs & rating

• Model: Vogue Supercharged
• Engine 5.0-litre V8
• Transmission: Six-speed auto, AWD
• Max power: 510bhp @ 6,000rpm
• Max torque: 625Nm @ 2,500rpm
• Top speed: 225kph
• 0-100kph: 6.2sec
• Price: Dh425,000
• Plus: Comfortable and sophisticated
• Minus: Not roomy enough for its size, X5, Q7, Cayenne handle better, expensive