BY ROWAN BENN
The Sports Utility Vehicle market is exploding with new levels of opulence, luxury and speed. Lamborghini and Rolls Royce are both developing their 4x4s, Bentley has already sold out and the Jaguar sales are racing away as fast as they can make them. Meet the new luxury SUVs who are transforming the 4×4 workhorse into a first class experience for the family.
Jaguar F-Pace
Seriously stylish looks won Jaguar 2,500 pre-orders before anyone had driven it. Sized between a Cayenne and a Macan, there is plenty of room for five adults and a big boot space to suit most needs. Inside you have some great gadgets. The eight inch infotainment system which comes as standard is intuitive to use, or upgrade to the Touch Pro to get a 10.2 inch touch screen. An app lets you remotely start the engine, check its vital statistics and preheat the car. A clever waterproof bracelet ‘key’ so you can go adventuring with your main key fob locked safely inside the car. Supreme comfort, stylish and competitively priced, the F-Pace is one smart drive.
Evoque Convertible
Following the runaway popularity of the Range Rover Evoque, it now has a baby brother who could be more fun. There is no mistaking it for anything but an Evoque. Its reputation for being refined, stylish and luxurious is intact although there seems to be some compromise on the comfort levels as space in the back seats has been reduced making it a bit of a squeeze to get into the back, and once there, not everyone is convinced they would want to ride in the back for any length of time. To accommodate the folding roof, the boot space has halved provoking questions about practicality.
Off road, the car benefits from the Range Rover heritage. It has been designed to crawl up 45-degree slopes and copes well in both sand and mud. Just remember to put your roof up before you send the mud flying. The Evoque Convertible will certainly command attention on a busy street, a real head turner. This car scores big on style points. But remember you need to gloss over some underlying flaws and pay more money for a car that’s heavier, slower and not so comfortable.
Maserati Levante
The Levante feels like a ‘first class lounge’ with a roomy interior swathed in plush materials. Choose from two separate shades of leather or go for the Zegna edition with actual silk for the seat facings and headlining. This car elevates the SUV into a new level of luxury. The interior space is plentiful because the car is 5m long and just over 2.1m wide. The bulky body is styled with the familiar Maserati curves to lend it an accomplished elegance as it cruises the streets.
Inside, alongside the familiar instrument cluster and oval analogue clock sits the Touch Control Plus infotainment system, controlled by an 8.4-inch touch screen in the centre console. Standard features for the Levante include heated and ventilated leather front seats, an eight-speaker stereo, keyless entry, a powered tailgate, dual-zone climate control, cruise control, and automatic wipers. Interior options are plentiful to make your Levante your own. Choose between the Sport pack and the Luxury pack to give your car a more sporty or luxurious feel.
And from your first class lounge you will experience both impressive off-road capability and an exciting high-speed handling. The Levante has shaken off the typical flaw of underscoring on one of the two terrain types and displays a gutsy strength, accurate handling and balance.
Mercedes GLE Coupe
From the Mercedes stable, the GLE coupe was launched late last year. For those whom only a Mercedes will do, this will fit the bill. Choose between two trim levels; the entry-level AMG Line which has heated, auto dimming and folding mirrors, parking sensors, reversing camera, heated front seats, climate control and a DAB tuner, or the designo Line spec features a panoramic sunroof, 360 degree camera, heated, cooling and massaging front seats, heated rear seats and a Harman Kardon surround sound system.
The GLE Coupe comes with a choice of two engines, the 3.0-litre V6 diesel or V6 petrol which has a new nine-speed torque converter automatic gearbox. Use Sport mode and the Comfort mode to change the steering, suspension and acceleration to your terrain. It’s a predictably reliable drive.
Inside you will enjoy the lavish finishes and a well thought through layout to let you know you are being indulged. The space is sufficient for most, although taller passengers may feel a little squeezed. All in all the GLE Coupe is an understated and luxurious SUV without the flashy nature of some of its recent rivals.
Bentley Bentayga
For heart racing opulence and speed, the Bentley Bentayga is your dream come true. Bentley describes it as ‘the fastest, most powerful, most luxurious SUV in the world’. Powered by a new version of Bentley’s 6.0-litre W12 injection engine it accelerates the 2.2 tonnes of metal from 0-60 mph in a breathtaking 4 seconds flat!
The bespoke feel of the interior requires 130 hours from 53 artisans to handcraft the leather, wood and chrome. Add your own perfectly designed picnic set for just £21, 000 which sits snugly in the boot, the Breitling Tourbillon dash clock for a mere £110, 000 and infinite personalization options and you have an unsurpassed level of opulence for an SUV.
The attention to detail is awe-inspiring. The close of the door squeezes flush shut with a motorized click. The cabin retains the signature near-silence no matter what speed you reach. Bentley boasts the Bentayga ‘establishes a new class of car…’ The 5,000 buyers who have already placed their orders are clearly in agreement. Only these lucky few will be able to enjoy this unsurpassed level of driving pleasure for now. If only we could accelerate the launches from Rolls Royce and Lamborghini. They are guaranteed to entice us with equally lavish interiors and an awe-inspiring driving experience.
By Rowan Benn, Marketing Director, MHH International Ltd.