FOR the lucky, the wealthy and those blessed with good taste, there are many luxury cars to choose from, but there aren’t many that are so universally loved and sought-after as the Range Rover.

It sits in a class of its own, and rightly so, as a car that combines hushed cruising in opulent surroundings with the ability to wade through rivers and climb hillsides.

Choose your territory - Mayfair, motorway or off-road on the North York Moors - and the Range Rover will feel and look at home.

There’s very little in this latest Range Rover that isn’t new. By using a new aluminium platform it is significantly lighter than the old car and a clever new suspension set-up gives an even smoother ride but without wallow or hurting the essential off-road ability.

And now we have an even bigger version, because this fourth generation Range Rover is available in long-wheelbase form to compete in a market dominated by saloon cars.

That means extra legroom in the rear - where you can opt for just two executive seats or choose a three-seater bench - and the top Autobiography and Autobiography Black specification only.

Add in the supercharged V8 petrol engine and you have Bentley-like luxury linked to high performance.

This is one of the most spacious cars money can buy. Up front you have all the head and legroom you could possibly need while in the rear it’s a struggle to actually reach the seat in front of you.

It's true that the majority of Range Rover buyers will opt for one of the two superb diesel options - a 4.4-litre SDV8 or 3.0-litre SDV6 hybrid- but the supercharged V8 petrol has an attraction all of its own. That a car of this size can be propelled to 62mph in 5.5 seconds has to be experienced to be believed.

It’s wonderfully comfortable of course, making the prospect of a long journey a particularly enjoyable one.

And there is an abundance of luxury kit to make you feel like royalty, whether you’re in the front or rear seats.

The first Range Rover long wheelbase in 20 years, this new model will cater for a growing group of consumers looking for the ultimate SUV, and a unique alternative to the traditional saloon cars in the segment.

Clever packaging has increased the rear legroom by 186mm for rear seat passengers, while the executive seating package - which includes a massage function - provides enhanced comfort and space and an increased seat recline.

This package offers the ultimate in rear seat luxury with two individual fully adjustable seats and a re-designed full extended centre console to offer supreme comfort and functionality. Large 10.2-inch rear screens are fitted to the rear of the front seats, which together with Meridian Audio provides passengers with what the PR people call "a fully immersive experience".

That experience also includes powered side door blinds and a panoramic sunroof as standard, so you can decide on how much privacy and light your little heart desires.

The designers at Range Rover have redefined good taste and modernity while retaining a visual style that links it to Range Rovers of the past. Despite the long-wheelbased Range Rover being significantly longer than the standard car at 5.2 metres long, the extra length blends in seamlessly.

In the front, you expect to be spoilt for room, but passengers entering the rear are prone to bouts of laughter as they contemplate the hilarious amount of space. Think business class seats on a plane.

The steering is light but accurate, the suspension flows beautifully over broken surfaces and the refinement is superb, as you might expect. It encourages a wonderfully relaxed driving style that certainly contributes to a slowing of your pulse.

Value in respect of luxury cars is a difficult thing to measure. It’s a given that anything at this price point will be groaning with toys and luxuries, but there’s more to it than that. The materials feel superb, the fit and finish is excellent and of course it has that impeachable image. Yes it’s expensive, but you get a lot for your cash.

The Range Rover in LWB form is a car for someone who might want to take the wheel occasionally, but is just as happy taking the back pew and letting the massage seats work their magic.

What's not to like about the V8 petrol LWB? Well, the £105,830 price tag is, shall we say, prohibitive, and the average fuel consumption of 22.1mpg combined with CO2 emissions of 299g/km mean you will be shelling out large amounts to the taxman and filling station owners.

What would I change? A head-up display would be a useful addition to its armoury.

But for those with big enough pockets this is as good as it gets in the SUV market.


At a glance

Range Rover 5.0 V8 Supercharged Autobiography LWB

Price: £105,830

Engine: 5.0-litre supercharged petrol unit producing 510bhp

Transmission: Eight-speed automatic gearbox driving all four wheels

Performance: Top speed 140mph, 0-62mph in 5.5 seconds

Economy: 22.1mpg combined

CO2 emissions: 299g/km