Jan 29 2010
2010 Range Rover Supercharged ……. Review by Jeff Weidel
2010 Range Rover Supercharged
Power: 5.0-liter, supercharged V8, 501 horsepower
Mileage estimate: 12-18 mpg
Price: $94,275
Standard features include: 19-inch wheels; adjustable air suspension; front and rear parking sensors; rearview camera; sunroof; tri-zone automatic climate control; leather upholstery; wood interior trim; heated front and rear seats; heated steering wheel; surround-sound audio system with 14 speakers, satellite radio, a glovebox-mounted six-CD changer, auxiliary audio jack, USB port and a separate iPod connection; electronically locking rear differential; high-performance Brembo brakes; automatic high beams; blind spot warning; traction control, stability control (with rollover control); hill descent control
By Jeffrey Weidel
Although not a big fan of heading into unchartered territory for an off-road excursion, I do have a great affinity for driving a vehicle that provides wonderful piece of mind in mountainous regions that are white with snow.
One of those difficult driving situations occurred during a January trip into the Sierra range for a ski weekend. During much of the journey into ski country the roads were slick with fresh fallen snow. The return trip was even worse with traffic backed up for miles and frequent extended stops on steep grades that tested one’s nerves and also the vehicle’s braking system.
Fortunately in this case, I was behind the wheel of the 2010 Range Rover, which provided great mental comfort as I drove the family home in a snowstorm. This luxury sport utility vehicle was seemingly designed for road conditions like these.
While it was frustrating to be stuck in one spot for such long periods of time with a vehicle that possesses so much horsepower, the reassuring aspect was that we felt so secure in the Range Rover that no one was too concerned about the snowy conditions. The Range Rover made a five-hour ordeal – for a trip that should have taken two hours – safe, comfortable and tolerable.
This year’s version of the Range Rover comes with some definite changes. The most noticeable is the V8 engines, which have significant increase in power. Driving the Supercharged model was incredibly fun in normal conditions. Who wouldn’t like to have a 5.0-liter, V8 with 501 horsepower at their disposal? Land Rover says the model can go from 0-60 mph in 5.9 seconds, which I totally believe. The base model is a 5.0-liter, V8 with 375 horsepower.
Other improvements include new instrument panel and navigation system, a 360-degree parking assist camera, revised automatic transmission, and several other cool enhancements.
For the off-road lover, the Range Rover has low-range gearing and maximum ground clearance of up to 11 inches. A standard terrain response system means the driver can set the parameters for powertrain, suspension, traction systems and has five off-road choices (general, grass/gravel/snow, mud/ruts, sand and rock crawl).
Offering a luxurious cabin with a ton of great standard features, the Range Rover provides one very comfortable ride. It handles tremendously, grips the road with terrific assurance, and handles more like a smaller SUV. The braking capability is another big plus.
The Range Rover, which weighs three tons, has a top towing capacity of 7,700 pounds, a very impressive total. Not so impressive is the 12-18 mpg. And another set of numbers that will scare away potential buyers is price. The range is from $78,425 to $94,275 for the Supercharged model.
Weidel on Wheels is a regular weekly feature in Gold Country Motoring.
