Land Rover Discovery – outstanding in any field

It’s not a trait to be proud of, admittedly, but it gives you an idea of what driving a car such as the latest Discovery can do to a person.

It’s all I can do to stop myself driving straight down to the nearest gentleman’s outfitters, bedecking myself in all manner of green and brown country attire and shouting the likes of ‘you there’ and asking directions to the nearest branch of Waitrose.

It’s 25 years since the Discovery was launched and it has fared much better than I have - holding its own against numerous younger and – it could be argued - funkier upstarts in what is now a flooded SUV market.

She remains a big beast and you can feel all of the 2.5 tonnes as you set off, but with a three-litre turbocharged diesel engine at your disposal progress is not hindered.

The Disco’s height means there’s a bit of body lean, but nowhere near as much as you might expect, while the ride is up there with many executive cars.

On the inside: THE Discovery strikes a perfect balance between luxury and functionality when it comes to the interior.

The seating is incredibly comfortable and you really do feel like ‘king of the road’, given the view you are afforded.

Massive windows mean it’s like sitting in a conservatory on wheels.

Land Rover has not forgotten the origins of the brand and the Discovery retains a reassuringly utilitarian side.

All the buttons and switches are chunky and durable, while alongside the expensive finishes the mix of less glamourous plastic means you can get down and dirty without worrying about how and if you can clean up afterwards.

What do you get: OUR HSE Lux spec car came fully loaded. Standard features included 19ins alloys, Xenon headlamps, powerfold mirrors, Ebony leather seats, eight-speed automatic gearbox with intelligent stop and start, hill start assist, electric parking brake, electronic air suspension and Terrain Response and front and rear parking aids.

On the inside there was mood lighting, steering wheel mounted controls, automatic climate control, satellite navigation, Meridian sound system and Bluetooth phone connection.

We also got satellite television and two rear TV screens, a lifesaver when a two hour journey with two kids turned into a five hour slog.

Among the options we benefited from a Vision Assist Pack, Exterior Detection Pack, cooled cubby box, tow park and Land Rover’s Park Heating which enables the car to be remotely warmed or cooled prior to setting off.

How practical is it: THE Discovery scores highly when it comes to practicality. With five seats in use you have a 543-litre boot to play with or if you need carry seven then you can utilise the two extra seats. Best suited to the smaller among us, they are nevertheless immensely usable.

The boot itself has a split gate, the bottom half able to withstand the weight of a person sitting on it.

In terms of driving practicality, the Discovery can handle itself in almost any situation. It may well spend much of its time on the school run, but if put to some proper work it can tackle the worst of what the country has to offer, be it climbing hills, wading rivers or towing machinery.

Running costs: A RETURN of close to 37mpg on the combined cycle might not be viewed as economical by some, but it’s not bad for a car of this nature. Emissions are perhaps best whispered though, coming in as they do at 203g/km.

In the past Land Rovers have been mocked for their poor reliability, but I have seen nothing in recent times to suggest that that remains the case today. The interior should be able to stand up to the rigours of kids and pets and there’s enough body armour on the exterior to limit the amount of damage it might otherwise sustain while going about its business.

Verdict: AT home on sweeping gravel drives or mountain passes, the Discovery is still going strong.

Alternatives: BMX X5, Porsche Cayenne