IF you are going to supply a vehicle in Rio Gold then it has plenty to live up to - and the Range Rover powered by a mighty 4.4-litre 339bhp V8 diesel engine does just that.

Costing £100,950 (not including the £21,000 worth of optional extras), this go-anywhere model not only offers all the off-roading capabilities associated with the Land Rover name, but it also delivers a certain refinement, sophistication and elegance that is lacking in most rivals.

And when it comes to performance, the Range Rover is no slouch either, blasting its way to 60mph from a standing start in a rapid 6.5 seconds and onto a top speed of 135mph.

But as I mentioned it is refined and it's the manner in which it eats up the road or traverses rocky terrains that cannot fail to impress.

On the open road, it glides along with the highly efficient suspension system absorbing all the bumps and dips along the way.

The acceleration through the automatic eight-speed transmission is blisteringly quick yet very smooth and the level of power at your disposal seems endless. There are paddle shifts if you fancy taking a little more control over the gear changing.

Despite its larger-than-life dimensions, the Range Rover can be driven with confidence.

Admittedly there is a little body roll if pushed enthusiastically into bends, but it feels exceptionally composed and safe. And no matter how hard it is driven, the cabin remains beautifully insulated against any engine, wind or road surface noise.

In urban areas the Range Rover shows off its softer side and is deceptively agile and easy to manoeuvre for such a large car.

But should Mother Nature have a horrendous mood swing, this full-sized 4x4 SUV can cope with the unexpected.

It has a wading depth of 900mm - that's almost three feet - and it can conquer unbelievably testing angles to get from A to B if necessary or just for the hell of it. All these off-road systems are accessed via a terrain response set-up that does almost everything apart from steering the vehicle for you.

During my drive, I stuck firmly to the Tarmac and the car was an absolute delight.

It looks amazing, not just because of the striking two-tone black and gold paintwork, but also thanks to 21-inch alloys, sweeping light clusters, a panoramic sunroof, privacy glass and an imposing, upright design.

The interior oozes luxury with a whole host of techno treats to explore.

Creature comforts include a head-up display, rear seat entertainment system with 10-inch screens, a heated wood and leather steering wheel, an easy-to-operate touchscreen with sat nav plus dual screen function so the passenger can watch a movie while the driver sees the standard read-outs.

Other features included a gesture control tailgate which is very useful when returning laden down with shopping bags, an electric deployable tow-bar and the most comfortable seats imaginable complete with massage function. I particularly liked the winged headrests (front and back) that are similar to those on a plane ... only better.

The comfort levels within the car are outstanding and back seat passengers will not be complaining either as they are treated to oodles of leg, head and shoulder space and, of course, have their very own entertainment system along with adjustable, heated and massaging seats.

And as one would expect, Land Rover has packed a whole host of safety features into the vehicle. As well as the more standard features, the car also boasts blind spot assist with reverse traffic detection, traffic sign recognition and intelligent speed limiter, adaptive cruise control with queue assist and intelligent emergency braking.

All in all, the Range Rover is the ultimate in luxury, but also offers that unmatchable off-roading capability (if anyone actually dares to risk scratching their pride and joy).