High-class beauty with balls

The Range Rover entry-level Sport is an oasis of luxury. Photo / Jacqui Madelin

Pass me the pills; I don't know if I'm Arthur or Martha, and it's sending me nuts.

I'm driving a leather-lined oasis of top-end luxury that'll take me to the theatre in cosseting comfort, or launch an attack on a set of bends. It's also an off-road bush-basher that'll beat most terrain into submission - albeit one you wouldn't hose out afterwards.

This is Range Rover's entry-level Sport. Based on Discovery 4 underpinnings, it's a better bet on-road than its upmarket and far pricier Vogue sibling, while giving away as little off-road talent as possible.

That means it has the Terrain Response dial which lets you choose road, gravel or snow; sand, ruts or rocks at the twist of a wrist, automatically locks or unlocks diffs, and alters the suspension, throttle and electronic nannies to suit.

It has low- or high-range six-speed auto transmission at the touch of a button. And air-suspenders that lower the car for high-speed road work, or lift it when ground clearance is key.

Its 3.0-litre V6 engine is a twin-turbo unit that packs a mighty wallop, its 180kW overshadowed by a 600Nm torque figure that all but matches the V8's 640Nm, while drinking less fuel. Not that a 2.5-ton SUV is frugal, mind. She's efficient enough on the highway, but my hilly commute netted an 11.1l/100km thirst. Fortunately the air con disengages when not in use, and there's a low-rpm idle - so it could be worse. It could drink like the V8...

Either vehicle features cross-linked electronic air suspension with auto load levelling, part of the ride/comfort equation that cushions you on-road and reduces body roll round corners - or over rocks.

Both feature hill descent control with gradient release control to harness that momentary "runaway" feel as you tip over the edge. Both deliver power and speed-proportional steering to ensure no matter what you're doing, even granny could turn that wheel.

Both over-deliver; they're Range Rovers, that's what they do, and even this entry-level $134,990 V6 goes the extra mile.

Forget auto-wipers, they're so passé - what about a heated, acoustic windscreen? The cabin really is quiet, though the super-fine lines are distracting if driving through fog.

The beautifully stitched, premium leather seats are heated both front and rear. The dash-mounted screen shows you what the wheels, the lockable diffs and steering are doing-mounting the kerb has never been so interesting.

One could go on and on...

Of course, this car wouldn't be as talented if it weren't for the electronic trickery; the active anti-roll bars and ESP, the air suspenders and dynamic response - which checks progress 500 times a second and reacts to suit. No wonder it's such a cosseting ride.

But for all that it seems to flout the laws of physics on road and of gravity off it, why have one? The convoys cruising Remuera may be bought for their 3.5-ton towing power; because they're the best blend of rough and refined and will do the opera or the outback.

Yet those owners are making a compromise - dirtying their luxury conveyance, or surrendering true sportsedan handling. That compromise may be as small as money can make it, but it'll always exist.

RANGE ROVER SPORT

We like: Able to tackle opera or outback with equal aplomb; almost the grunt of the V8 with lower thirst, better handling than the pricier Vogue

We don't like: A brilliant compromise is still a compromise; an SUV is still overkill around town

Powertrain: 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6, 180kW at 4000rpm, 600Nm at 2000rpm, sixspeed auto with low range drives all four wheels

Performance: 0-100km/h in 9.3 seconds, 9.2l/100km (claimed)

Safety: ABS, EBA, EBD, dynamic stability and cornering control, roll stability control, electronic diff control, understeer logic control, trailer stability assist, six airbags

What it's got: Cruise control, 19-inch alloys, heated leather seats front and rear, dual-zone climate control air con, 14-speaker sound system, phone integration, satnav

Vital stats: 4783mm long, 958/2013-litre boot, 84.1-litre tank