OKWUOTO EKELE EZE (1)

Since this blog started, we have really not gone through any SUVs so yeah its about time, i know ok. So to be very honest these vehicles are BIG and STRONGER than your usual sedans, hatchbacks and minivans. This is because it was 'originally designed for off-road usage' (did u read that? offfff - roooaaad, as in not on the road). Anyways car manufacturers have gradually adjusted these vehicles to suit every day needs. So today we would go through what is new and what we are to expect in the SUV world this new year (basically if you have the money, go order yours and show off to your friends ).

2013 RANGE ROVER (4^th generation)

 This don’t come very often, the last one came 10years back, the all new range rover. The frame is the same, but the design has changed. I am honestly not too impressed with the new design, they used a youthful design on a bold classic, like my 90year grand dad having a nice cut Mohawk, just doesn’t work (it’s exciting and has great detailing, but it would take time getting used to). They made it wider and 1.5 inch shorter (looks more balanced). It also has an extended wheel base (distance between tyres).420kg lighter due to aluminium body,

On the inside, they did well (almost like the Bentley and Rolls Royce), to reduce the buttons on the dash, keeping it all simple and plain (at such stage of life, you can’t be bordered to want complexity). Still like the Bentley and rolls, they have a 4 seater version, so chauffer driven with controls from the back (a nice scam, moving away from ordinary SUV to prestige). About 4 inch more leg room, but its still not fantastic at the rear. All seats are powered and recline able. 5 cameras round the car.

Led dashboard screen, comes up when powered (that’s something nice to look at, (but cannot programmed)

It would respond according to your will in any driving condition. Air suspension. You do not need talent to be a getaway driver (if you commit a crime and need a getaway car, this is it), the car adjust itself to suit the terrain. It could drive through a flooded area about 900mm (above its bumper) deep.

So, once the doors come in contact with the frame, it shuts itself. That is cool, but would be better if it could close entirely itself with the touch of a button. Think about it, it would take time getting used to not shutting the door yourself (although now, it solves the issue of a partially shut door).

5.0l v8, 8 speed auto gear box
Top speed (mph)	130 – 155mph
Acceleration (0-60mph)	5.1 – 6.5seconds
Fuel economy (city / highway)	13-14mpg/19-20mpg
price	$83,500 - $130,950

Price has gone up about 40% but also that kind of covers for the increase in performance and technology. Ordinarily would have said it’s too pricy, but considering you wouldn’t get outdated for the next 10 years, that’s great value for money. Just get it 1^st before it loses its prestige (basically anytime before idris abdulkarim or ALI G).

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2013 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class 

 

This is the redesigned GL-class, and from the very first one I have loved it. The exterior is just beautiful all round (although the rear lights have this BMW feel, that’s weird). Now 55lbs (do the conversion to kg yourself) lighter, even though it is higher, wider and longer than the previous one.

 

It has a 7 seat capacity (its competitors like the Lexus has 8, yeah, the coach, his wife and son would like to carry his basket ball team everywhere.). It’s supersize, so there is enough head and leg room for everyone. It has the usual Mercedes tech like attention assist and all, but guess what semi-blind people?, It can park and also pull out from the parking position for you (hmm I should have had that for my driving test).

 

SUVs are all about performance, and this has the terrain monitoring system, air suspensions and could raise itself 300mm to go easily through rough terrain. It could tow 7500lbs. 

3.0l - 5.5l, v6 - v8, 7 speed auto gear with paddle shifters
Top speed (mph)	155
Acceleration (0-60mph)	4.8 - 8.3
Fuel economy (city / highway)	12-17mpg/ 17-21mpg
price	$62,400 - $116,925

  

Something useful: to enter the back end, you press a button and the middle row folds and opens up space for easy entry and access to the rear (this is a clean and straight statement; do not interpret any other way). Yes, another increase in price, but not so much, and I believe it’s due to these entire new techs. Fairly good value for your money. Lets not forget it's a benz.
 

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2013 INFINITI JX

 

The JX has this subtle gentle looks. Face it you gotta loves her bumps and humps too, like a sexy housewife.

 

So on her inside, it is all nice premium quality and finish, although the dash board has hard finish (quite disappointing). The middle row slide 5inches and recline but the last row seats also are a little too close to the floor and have little head room, although this is common in SUVs of this kind (its basically for the very little kids who cry and whine ’are we there yet’, now we know why they are in a hurry)

touch screen and nub controlled media, preety unique

Hmmm, this is not just something cool, but when I said house wife, I mean she has sooo much to offer and so little to take: adaptive laser guided cruise control, lane assist, driver and attention assist drive control (assisted acceleration and braking) cameras round the car with moving object detection, linking your Google calendar with the satnav. Teenagers are going to hate this, but you can put a speed limiter on it, and you can map out an area, so if your kid drives out of that area, a message is sent to you. Yaaay for parenting techniques of the future.

 

When backing up (reversing/going back), if there is a moving object too close, it alerts you then brakes, then releases the brakes when there is no other obstruction (I thought about reversing into roads with traffic, basically unless someone stops, you are going to be there for a looooooooong time).

3.5l v6 continous variable transmission 6 speed
Top speed (mph)	121
Acceleration (0-60mph)	7.9sec - 6.9sec
Fuel economy (city / highway)	18/23-24mpg
Price	$41,250 - $57,190
Optional entertainment system	$1700
Optional 4Wheel drive	$1400

In a way, this vehicle is complete. It’s cheaper than the two above but give almost the same amount of luxury and tech functions. Very good value.

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2013 Audi Q5

isn't she lovely

 So if you have just one kid, or you are single, but you want to ride high and in style, this comes in. It looks like a proffessionally made up super model, no extraordinary curves, just simply lovely.

On the inside, you can be rest assured that the best quality materials have been used, and unlike the q7, the design of the dash is an eye candy. There is good enough leg and head room for a 6feet bloke. Also comes with a nice panoramic moon roof. I think this has become a norm so I would stop saying it, but it has a rear cam

Has lane assist, adaptive cruise control, adjustable steering, handling and suspensions. Although, probably because its geared toward sport rather than utility, the suspensions are tightened leaving it with room for improvement in ride comfort. It comes in 4wd and has hill decent control.

I must say that as an SUV its off road capacity is not fantastic (then again less than 30% of buyer go off-road), but bring it down to race, then you see it’s full endowment.

2.0 - 3.0l v6, 8 auto speed gear. with paddle shiftters
Top speed (mph)	139.81
Acceleration (0-60mph)	5.9sec – 7sec
Fuel economy (city / highway)	17-24/23 - 32mpg
Price	$35,900 - $51,000

The issue is, this is a car for those who have gotten rich (not those still trying or have died trying). This is because for this kind of car the base version does not give you a lot of tech and functions (no Bluetooth, no iphone hook-up, no keyless start, WHAT!!!, this is the height of stinginess), so you would have to spend more and more to get value for this. So value, not so much (except you are $$$millionaire, then who cares about $51,000).

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2013 acura rdx

I HATED the old RDX, was just not appealing.  The people at Adura (yes oo, the person responsible for the name made a typo, and I told them it’s alright that Acura sounded almost as cool as Adura) worked on this, and the RDX is a pretty looking car, from all sides.

It used reasonably good quality materials on the interior. Oh and the seats are heated aaand ventilated. The cabin is quite and serene even on high speed. At the rear, its dull as no climate control or power input and the seats can’t recline.

The drive comfortable and it turns out if you want to go off-road, it would easily handle the challenge. As to being sporty, not so much.

Tech wise, the base version has good amount of tech in it and obviously the full option has more (err that’s no brainer). Comes with standard push to start, rear cam (I know I said I would not say it again, but just this 1 time) with three different views. Things it lacks as a new car are blind spot assistance and assisted cruise control.

3.5l v6, 6-speed auto gear with paddle shifters. AWD or FWD
Top speed (mph)	135
Acceleration (0-60mph)	6.2sec – 6.4secs
Fuel economy (city / highway)	19 – 20mp /27 - 28mpg
Price	$34,320 -$39,420

This segment has basically covered 'luxury' Large, medium and small sized SUVs. In general you would observe that they have si,ilar features and technology, what would differ would be in performance, build quality and badge. A few luxury super SUVs are set to come out further this year, i would keep you posted (woow, like how serious i sound at the end init?, but im a very serious person though, seriously, no seriously, believe me).

A part 2 of this would be out soon, it would cover regular (not luxury) SUVs for 2013. Take care and drive safe.