Last year, the 31-year-old, who is currently a defender for Finland-based HJK Helsinki football club, acquired a Range Rover Sport, which currently costs at least N15m (but could be more depending on the trim level and added features). The car comes as an addition to his other cars, including the posh Audi car presented to him by Audi as the sponsor of AC Milan when he joined the football club.
The vehicle has an admirable balance of luxury and performance, offering a smooth ride, sharp steering, exceptionally athletic handling, top-quality interior, elegant styling, potent engines and excellent off-road abilities.
The Range Rover Sport can navigate family life as easily as it navigates rugged trails. It has the best combination of space, safety and reliability ratings and available family-friendly features in its class, and it’s rated as one of the 2015 Best Luxury three-row (if applicable) midsize SUV for families. Its spacious driver’s seat allows an expansive view of the road. Seat comfort is excellent in front, and the rear outboard seats are fully adult-friendly.
The Range Rover Sport has earned the name game-changer among heavyweight sport utility vehicles, with its confident handling and blazing V8-powered acceleration. If you’re drawn to the versatility and luxury of a Land Rover but you prefer the dynamics of a sport sedan, the Range Rover Sport occupies a very intriguing middle ground in this class.
Performance
The 2015 Land Rover Range Rover Sport is a midsize luxury SUV offered in seven trim levels: SE, HSE, HSE Limited, Supercharged, Supercharged Limited, Autobiography and SVR. Two-row seating is standard, with a two-passenger, power-folding third row optional on the SE, HSE and Supercharged.
The vehicle is available with one of three supercharged engines. It comes standard with a supercharged 3.0-litre V6 engine with 340 horsepower. A 510-horsepower supercharged 5.0-litre V8 engine is optional, while a 550-horsepower V8 comes with the newly available Range Rover Sport SVR. All models have an eight-speed automatic transmission and they are all equipped with full-time four-wheel drive, hill descent control and hill start assist.
Most reviewers say the 2015 Range Rover Sport’s base engine produces more than enough power to please most drivers and that the V8 models have an exceptional power delivery and spirited acceleration. Some automotive journalists also point out that the transmission is seamless.
The standard Terrain Response system features driver-selectable modes that optimise the vehicle’s power train, suspension and electronics for increased traction on various surfaces, while the available Terrain Response 2 variant (bundled with two-speed transfer case) includes an additional adaptive mode that automatically optimises settings while you drive.
At the Edmunds test track, a Range Rover Sport Supercharged sprinted from zero to 60miles per hour in a blistering 4.6 seconds, so the stronger SVR will likely beat Land Rover’s 4.5-second estimate. As for the V6, it needs 6.9 seconds to do the deed; an indifferent time by segment standards.
Environmental Protection Agency-estimated fuel economy for the V6 version are 17 miles per gallon in the city, 23mpg on the highway and 19mpg in combined driving, while the Sport’s standard V8 is rated at 14mpg/city, 19mpg/highway and 16mpg/combined.
Features
Standard features on the SE trim include 19-inch alloy wheels, xenon headlights, LED running lights, LED taillights, front and rear parking sensors, keyless ignition and entry, ambient interior lighting, leather upholstery, excellent visibility, power front seats and driver memory settings and dual zone climate. Also standard are a navigation system, voice controls, an 8-inch touchscreen, a rearview camera, Bluetooth (phone and streaming audio) and an eight-speaker sound system with satellite and HD radio and USB/iPod connectivity.
The HSE and the Autobiography step up to 20- and 21-inch wheels respectively, various other exterior styling enhancements, a front console cooler box, tri-zone climate control, surround-view camera system, blind spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert and a 19-speaker Meridian sound system.
The Supercharged, Autobiography and SVR trims are additionally eligible for a 23-speaker Meridian surround-sound system that’s also bundled with InControl Apps. Optional on all trims other than the HSE Limited and Supercharged Limited is a Driver Assistance package that adds a lane-departure warning system, a self-parking system (with both parallel and perpendicular capability) and 360-degree parking sensors.
Stand-alone options include 22-inch wheels; adaptive cruise control with automatic emergency braking that automatically applies the brakes if a collision appears imminent, a tow package (with a full-size spare tire in two-row models) and a rear-seat entertainment system.
Safety
The 2015 Range Rover Sport comes standard with antilock disc brakes, traction and stability control, front-seat side airbags, first- and second-row side curtain airbags, driver and passenger airbag, passenger airbag on/off switch, brake assist, auto-on headlights, daytime running lights, child safety locks, adjustable pedals, rollover protection system and auto-leveling headlights.
In Edmunds brake testing, a Range Rover Sport Supercharged came to a stop from 60 miles per hour in 124 feet.
The good: Astounding handling; powerful engines; available seven-passenger seating; great off-road capability and luxurious cabin.
The bad: Third-row seat is just for kids; unimpressive fuel economy and modest cargo capacity.
Source: Edmunds.com
