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What’s this world coming to? At the risk of sounding like the grumpy sod I’m slowly turning into, back when I was young all Landies were slow, noisy and pretty ugly. I know this because my first car was just such a beast and nothing like my latest review victim, Land Rover’s new Range Rover Sport.
It’s not often that I get the chance to compare two vastly differing models in the same range, so I’m grabbing a recent opportunity with both hands to present the top and the basic specification of Land Rover’s Discovery 4 range.
I’ve always thought that the Landrover Freelander looked a bit like the odd horse out in the Landy stable – it was just a little bit strange-looking and didn’t fit either the mould of the rough and ready Defender or the more luxurious Discovery. It seemed to hang in there like an uncomfortable third wheel. But no more.
Hoe méér dinge verander, hoe méér bly hulle dieselfde. Almal herken dadelik ‘n Land Rover Defender as hy (of sy) hom sien; of dit nou ‘n1950 model is of die jongste 130 met sy dubbelkajuit en groot bak met ‘n seilkappie agter, maak nie saak nie. Wat my laat dink aan die Bybelse gelykenis van nuwe wyn in ‘n ou wynsak!
Land-Rover was one of the first companies to identify and attack the SUV market, bolstered by its experience with no-nonsense bundu bashers and luxury brawlers. The Discovery was launched in 1989 to neatly fill the gap between the basic Defender and suave Range Rover.
Having recently had the pleasure of testing the big Range Rover Vogue, I am severely pleased that I don’t possess the bank balance to afford such a car. Yet. With the 2010 Range Rover Sport Supercharged taking up most of my driveway, I’m glad I don’t have to choose between the two.