Safety comes at a price

The words “premium” and “luxury” are thrown around far too often about vehicles nowadays.

- Eyaaz Matwadia

You can get leather seats, big screens and just about every safety feature in the book for around R500 000, so what makes vehicles like the Range Rover Sport stand above every other SUV in a market that is flooded by them and why would consumers pay upwards of R2 million to get their hands on one?

The Mail & Guardian tested the Range Rover Sport. At first glance, it has the aura of a car that might be used by a James Bond villain.

As fitting as that is, British manufacturer Land Rover has thrown away all the frills in this SUV and given it a simple, mean look that still turns heads everywhere you go.

The door handles are retractable and add to the aesthetic of the exterior. In addition the vehicle sits on 23-inch alloy wheels, emphasising the menacing look.

The interior

When you get into this vehicle, you quickly realise that the word “sport” in the name refers only to the exterior design. The interior is not sporty at all — it is plush, comfortable and pleasant.

Land Rover has done a remarkable job of combining classic Range Rover elements with sleek finishes and the modern technology inside the vehicle.

You have huge leather seats, which are both heated and ventilated, in the front and back; a full leather steering wheel cover and dashboard; a digital instrument cluster as well as a huge infotainment screen where most of the driving options and the settings are included.

The thing I loved the most about the interior is that the pride Land Rover takes in giving you that luxurious feel is clearly visible. Even the door panels are fitted with leather and denim and the door handles are hidden in a very convenient place, meaning that you don't even have to lift a hand to open your door.