Money Australia – July 2017

$90,900-

$196, 800

Range Rover

Sport

The quintessential

“posh SUV” is an excel-

lent off-roader. It fea-

tures a range of

powertrains, including

a twin-turbo V6 diesel,

hybrid and a super-

charged V8, across 13

variants, some of which

have been modified to

perform more like

Usain Bolt than Bear

Grylls, albeit in style.

Pros: The cabin feels

special, most variants

will take you anywhere.

Cons: Third row seats

are tight.

landrover.com.au

$96,855-

$153,616

Audi Q7

The big SUV shares the

same underpinnings as

Bentley’s Bentayga

4WD, seating seven in

a roomy cabin. It brims

with safety technology.

The V6 turbo diesel

models are remarkably

fuel efficient, as is the

range-topping SQ7,

which shares a tri-

ple-turbo V8 diesel

with the Bentayga.

Pros: Sublime ride

on air suspension and

lounge-room luxury.

Cons: Rear cargo

space tight with

third row down.

audi.com.au

$87,900-

$186,600

BMW X5

The American-built X5

has nine five- or sev-

en-seat variants featur-

ing a range of

powertrains including

petrol, diesel and the

plug-in hybrid xDrive

40e. The sharp end of

the range includes the

triple-turbo V6 die-

sel-powered M50d and

twin-turbo V8 M that’s

capable of 0-100km/h

in 4.2 seconds.

Pros: Huge cabin,

excellent handling.

Cons: Feels heavy and

is styled for the Ameri-

can market.

bmw.com.au

EXTRAVAGANCE

O

ur love of SUVs has extended to

the prestige market. The growing

$70,000-plus large SUV segment totalled

1811 sales in May, just 30 less than the

number of Holden Commodores sold.

Land Rover has yielded its long-held

reign over the segment to the German big

three, whose expanding range of premi-

um SUVs often outsells their similarly

equipped sedan siblings.

Models priced either side of six-figures,

such as the Audi Q7, BMW X5 and

Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class, are also more

popular than relatively affordable small

premium crossovers such as the Audi Q2,

BMW X1 and Mercedes GLA-Class.

The BMW X5 led the segment in May,

ahead of the Q7, with the GLE-Class and

Range Rover Sport not too far behind.

The X5’s 320 sales were almost as

much as the BMW 3 and 5 Series com-

bined, while the Q7s 291 sales made it

the second most popular Audi in

Australia after the A3.

DAVID BONNICI, WHICHCAR.COM.AU

Here’s one for

the record

Listen to your tunes the

traditional way on the

Thorens TD 2035 turntable.

How much: $8790

Where to buy: aussiehifi.com.au

WINE

SPOTLIGHT

Here’s Tim Adams

with his Clare

Valley take on

this indigenous

variety from

Sardinia. It’s

fresh, bright and

lightly aromatic,

savoury rather

than fruity in

flavour, crisp

and clean to

finish. Upliftingly

refreshing to

begin a meal

towards the

end of the day,

or over lunch.

SPLURGE

2014 Langmeil ‘The

Freedom’ Shiraz $140

2016 Mr Mick

Vermentino $18

DRIVING PASSION

Big SUVs

take over the

luxury lane

I was lucky

enough to taste

10 vintages of

this amazing

shiraz made

in tiny

quantities

from vines

thought to

have been

planted in

1843. The
      2014 has
      floral aro-
      matics, deep
      brambly fla-
      vours, plush,
      sumptuous
      texture, and lingers
      forever. Out of stock
      at the winery but
      should be available
      from good retailers.
      PETER FORRESTAL