The Range Rover Sport Supercharged is big, square and buff – a beast that feels imposing enough to shift almost anything out of its way on the highway. But it did more than that when I drove it; it managed to shift my loyalties. Not to mention my kids', and even my wife's (and she hates SUVs).
The reason? For the kids there are these little touches that take it beyond the simply square.
The limited edition that I tested, badged the HST, was accessorised with a body kit that includes new front and rear spoilers, chrome aluminium side vents, tailgate fin, twin rectangular chrome exhaust tail pipes, chrome upper mirror caps, and a larger open-mouth front grille that gives it the look of a mean cartoon car.
Then there are the four-channel Bosch ABS anti-lock brakes beneath 20" alloy wheels. At first glance you may feel it's not much of an off-roader, and this feeling is reinforced when you drive the car and realise that it is pretty fast.
The speed is courtesy of the supercharged 4.2-litre V8 engine that delivers 390 bhp and, according to the Land Rover brochure, accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 7.2 seconds.
No competition to a sportscar certainly, but quick for its size. Though I didn't time it (and who would in an SUV?), it certainly felt very nimble, especially at the signals when you need to clip it to get ahead of the flashier cars.
Driving this behemoth is simply a matter of planting the right foot, hearing the muted roar of the angry V8 and feeling the car take off. The literature says the Range Rover Sport Supercharged HST weighs 2,500 kg. Hmmm. It felt featherlight while at the wheel.
What does 'supercharged' actually mean? It's a question that I asked myself. The boffins at the Land Rover office gave me the gen: a supercharger is a mechanical pump that sends compressed air into the engine. It's a simple equation: more air equals more power.
A supercharger is different to a turbocharger. A turbocharger uses exhaust gases to drive a turbine; the supercharger is driven by a belt that's attached to the engine.
Superchargers are better at delivering low-end power on demand – just what you need to get a big SUV up and moving. And the Range Rover Supercharged certainly moves. However, computers buffer all that weight and power so that you hardly feel anything at all. The driver is simply isolated from the speed and driving this car takes no effort whatsoever. The Range Rover Sport Supercharged devours the kilometres with absolutely no strain for the driver. This is where my wife fell for it.
So, if you are a driver's driver, it's not especially fun to drive despite its enormous torque. The almost seamless automatic six-speed transmission doesn't feel like any gears are being changed at all. If you're looking for driver involvement, look elsewhere.
It is remarkably refined, can take five grown adults anywhere without cramps setting in, the suspension soaks up everything the road can throw its way and it will simply roar between cities with no work involved.
The spacious, upright driving position allows a panoramic view of the cars all around, which is a godsend in a city full of cars. This then is where it is in its element, you think.
And you would be right, till you take it off-road and realise it does surprisingly well there too.
Equipped with Land Rover's Terrain Response system, the driver can select several off-road modes depending on where he or she is planning on heading into. Ruts, sand or rock climbing, Terrain Response has got a mode for you. But during the four days of driving I did – some of them along the dirt roads and sands of Dibba – I didn't feel much difference between the mud, snow, sand and automatic settings.
It was only in the Wadi Al Wuraiah beyond Khor Fakkan that I felt any need to change the setting to 'Rock Crawl' to navigate the huge rocks that had slid down during the earlier rain.
It also has a sophisticated air suspension system, which is accessible through a knob on the centre console.
You can match your suspension settings to road and off-road conditions. You can even raise or lower the air suspension for various reasons, like lowering the car in order to ease entry and exit, for example. Moreover, it has a hill descent control system.
The Bosch system provides sensing and power for the army of dynamic control systems fitted to the Range Rover Sport, including Hill Descent Control (HDC), Electronic Traction Control (ETC) and Dynamic Stability Control (DSC). It also incorporates Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and Emergency Brake Assist (EBA) that provides additional pressure to the braking system. And don't look for the parking brake lever in the Sport; it is fitted with an Electronic Park Brake, a little button beneath the gear lever.
The traction and stability control systems work well together. In slippery conditions, the car can spin its four wheels slightly before the electronic brains decide that it's time to step in. The four-wheel drive system is rear-wheel biased, which means you'll feel the rear wheels kick out of line under full throttle.
Thankfully, the systems aren't abrupt and don't shut down the power completely.
Land Rover claims that its unique integrated body-frame structure takes the best of monocoque and ladder-chassis technologies, to give the Range Rover Sport the rigidity of a precise-handling sports car and yet the strength of a tough off-roader. Taking the hype out of the statement, what I could feel was that out on the open highway the Range Rover affords a clear view and the reaction time a sportscar driver could ask for.
With time at the wheel you can start enjoying the drive as you get used to the fact that you don't have to watch the cars in the front with an eagle eye as you have about a kilometre of clear visibility in one eye with the other on the car in front. Whether the car directly behind you can see anything at all is debatable.
Usually the weight and suspension travel of a big SUV often weigh against it when it comes to safe driving, but when you drive the Range Rover Sport you get the feeling all's well with the world and nothing could go wrong. In this case at least, the benefits more than counter the dangers on the road. Despite the Sport's weight, it handles itself pretty well. The high centre of gravity means there is some body roll, but it never seems out of control.
The whole package is elegant, classy and screams quality. Stepping into the Sport's driver's seat is like slipping on a perfectly-fitted pair of leather gloves. The cabin feels like it is built around you. Solid comfort, rather like old money. Your tactile senses are rewarded with great material choices everywhere, from the smooth, leather-wrapped dashboard to the brushed aluminium accents and trim to the substantial steering wheel. It is easy on the eyes, too.
The centre console is very cleverly designed. Audio and navigation controls are on top, while air conditioning/ heat and seat heat/ventilation are below with a few miscellaneous controls. The vents wrap around the stack, holding it in place. It's a cool effect. The instrument panel is simple and unfussy, with white numbers over a black background on the gauges. The tachometer reminds you that you're driving a 'Supercharged', if you needed reminding.
The rest of the cabin is similarly tasteful and elegant. Sliding louvered doors cover the cup holders up front, hiding them from view until they are needed. The second row gets great leg and headroom, and heated seats with conveniently-located rotary controls on the back of the centre console.
Advanced technology inside the cabin includes a comprehensive in-car entertainment and information system, including the availability of a twin-screen DVD system. Other features include a Harman/Kardon 'Logic 7' digital surround-sound in-car entertainment system, a comprehensive navigation system including on- and off-road modes and bluetooth capability.
The different elements of the 'infotainment' system are connected by a fibre-optic MOST network for rapid data transfer.
The top-of-the-range sound system uses 14 speakers and is powered by a 12-channel digitally controlled amplifier. Each channel produces 50 watts to create a 'surround sound' stage within the vehicle. Ah well, you better get used to superlatives here!
Under the front centre armrest is a cooler that can hold a few cans of soda and keep them cold. The cargo area is accessible by opening the hatch or just lifting the hinged rear window.
The only real negative point in the Sport's cockpit is the power-window switches that are located on the top of the door panels, a little out of arm's reach.
Finally, what can we say against this gorgeous bit of automotive heaven? Nothing, except that it's not what a sensible person would buy. There's nothing sensible about a 2.5-tonne truck with 390 horsepower and a Dh383,500 price tag.
Then again, who wants to be sensible? I'd grab one any day I could afford it. And I have my wife's permission to do so. Life just isn't fair, is it?
