THE world seems to have gone mad for packaging.

The reason I say this is down to a recent house move which in turn meant buying some new furniture.

But when the new items were delivered I was left with a front garden stacked with cardboard and polystyrene - there was almost enough to make another house.

Luckily, for once my timing was perfect and I was driving a Land Rover Discovery which swallowed up the debris. A couple of trips to the tip later, the front of the house no longer bore any resemblance to Steptoe and Son's courtyard.

While the fifth generation Discovery is to be introduced later in 2017, it seemed like the ideal time to check out the outgoing model, which has gained such a loyal fanbase over the years.

Admittedly, the Discovery is not perfect. After all, it's quite thirsty and relatively high on emissions, but few beefed up SUVs can get close to matching the vehicle when it comes to off-road capabilities, practicality and comfort.

Some are pure workhorses, others fall short when facing tough terrains, but the Discovery seems to cope whatever the challenge.

This car was priced at £55,995 (£58,105 with options fitted) and featured a 3.0-litre SDV6 256bhp diesel engine mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox.

The Discovery can move from 0-60mph in a very impressive 8.8 seconds and topped out at 112mph.

According to official figures it can deliver combined fuel economy of 36.7mpg with carbon emissions of 203g/km.

From any angle, the Discovery looks pretty awesome with its square, upright appearance designed for practicality rather than aerodynamics.

It features 20-inch alloys, roof rails, silver bonnet and tailgate badges, distinctive black fender vents, grille and mirror caps, a sunroof and the word ‘DISCOVERY' sitting proudly on the bonnet.

Move inside the seven seater and there is a certain luxurious feel to the car with stacks of technology to be explored.

There are premium leather seats with electrical adjustment along with heat and memory settings, mood lighting, and there is even a rear seat entertainment system with headphones.

The car boasts all the latest connectivity capabilities and comes complete with a DAB radio, Bluetooth, sat nav and a pitch perfect Meridian sound system.

And when it comes to performance the Discovery is a legend in its own right. It does feel quite heavy at times, but the pace through the gears is really impressive.

The road-holding is flawless and the steering lovely and precise with paddle shifts on offer if you fancy taking a little more control over gear changes.

In town centres, the elevated driving position results in great all-round visibility and out on the motorways, it can easily keep pace with fast-moving traffic.

A simple dial allows the driver to switch to various off-road settings, and with a wading depth of 700mm there is very little Mother Nature can do to stop the Discovery from getting from A to B.