IT always amazes me that a car the size of the Range Rover Sport can handle so well.

After all it weighs more than two tonnes, can carry up to seven people, has all the off-roading capabilities associated with the Land Rover name, yet it can sprint from 0-60mph in a very brisk 6.8 seconds.

The Range Rover Sport looks impressive from any angle thanks to its bold, upright stance with sporty styling.

Eye-catching features include 21-inch alloys, a sliding panoramic roof, twin tailpipes, front fog lamps, sweeping light clusters with xenon headlamps, plenty of special badging and neat puddle lamps that display a mini Range Rover outline when the front doors are opened after dark.

Inside there is a wealth of technology to be explored, including all the connectivity options you could wish for. There is an eight-inch high resolution touchscreen with dual view so the passenger can watch a movie while the driver sees the usual read-outs.

Also included is a Meridian sound system with radio and CD player, MP3 and file compatibility with 17 speakers and subwoofer.

Comfort levels are sublime with the finest leather upholstery, heated powered seats, a heated steering wheel, two-zone climate control, tri-colour ambient mood lighting, a head-up display and plenty more besides.

Another plus-point is the simple way the seats can be raised and lowered automatically.

The driver benefits from an elevated driving position which means the all-round visibility is excellent and when it comes to performance the Range Rover Sport lives up to all the hype too.

This car was powered by a 3.0-litre SDV6 diesel engine mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox.

It is certainly fast out the blocks and has a top speed of 130mph. According to official figures, it can deliver combined fuel economy of 40.4mpg with carbon emissions of 185g/km.

Despite its size, the Range Rover Sport is beautifully agile and the ride quality is outstanding.

The car features the company's Adaptive Dynamics system which alters the vehicle's air suspension according to the road conditions.

The acceleration is smooth and constant and there is very little body roll, which means the car can be thrown enthusiastically into tight bends. There are paddle shifts so the driver can change gear manually if required and all the controls and readouts are perfectly positioned for ease of use.

On motorways, road and wind noise is kept to a minimum thanks to the highly effective insulation and the engine noise is also low even when the vehicle is pushed hard.

In town centre traffic, the Range Rover Sport was nimble and easy to manoeuvre and the camera and sensors help to make light work of any parking issues.

Storage facilities are excellent with a boot capacity that ranges from 489 litres to 1,761 litres depending on seat positions.

There are also a number of handy storage options scattered throughout the car including a generously-sized glovebox, deep central bin and cup holders.

Of course, coming from the Land Rover stable, the Range Rover Sport is a very accomplished off-roader too and is considered by many experts as the leader in its class.

Features include automatic Terrain Response which adapts the car's settings to the conditions, wading sensors and plenty more besides. There is a comprehensive array of more traditional on-board safety features too.

All in all, the Range Rover Sport is the complete package.

It looks great, drives beautifully, is packed with the latest technology and will not be thrown by a change in the weather conditions. Admittedly, it's not cheap.