Spent the morning in an SDV8 Pre-production, causeway grey tinted glass Vogue SE with plenty of toys eg power recline...

The centre was very good, and Charlie, my instructor, was brilliant: very knowledgeable and easy going. Equally, the scenery was spectacular. Sadly the extreme 'quarry' course was undergoing renovation, but I still had a great time, the tracks are great fun and the car took it all in its stride.

Now the car:
I liked:
It drives like a proper Range Rover, with light steering and quick responses.
The brakes were pin sharp.
The SDV8 makes a lovely growl under throttle, and is very quick.
The TFT screens are something to behold for this MY.
The refinement has been taken up a notch: amongst the quietest cars I have travelled in, even over rough terrain.
The toys were fun, e.g. dual view, electric towbar, rear seat recline, mood lights etc.
The sound system (stock one) was excellent, crystal clear quality above all.

I didn't so much
The car had a couple of issues, e.g. camera failure, and the instructor got locked in by his door! I can only guess that this is due to this being a pre-prod car, so won't judge!
It also felt a bit like a big evoque inside, which left me a bit miffed as it is over double the price of an Evoque!
The rear doorbins should really open like in front, would be good for ipads etc.
And problems with design, which you have all heard me rant about already

So conclusions are that it drives like a proper range rover, and is a mightily impressive luxury car, however they could have made the interior feel a bit more special, and its still a big, ugly brute!

Questions?

Nope, you've said it all Still a big, ugly brute!!


JJ

now now
tbf came out of it with the overall impression that it is a car to be respected, but not nescessarily liked

So why buy it then?

because its an impeccable luxury car, the BRIC countries won't care, for as a status symbol it still works in a more vulgar sense