Why does someone buy a Range Rover? Is it because of Land Rover’s legendary off-road heritage, whereby all their cars are exceptionally capable when the going gets tough? At one time that may well have been the case, but with a steady push upmarket, this is now much less likely.

This, and more burning questions, I asked myself during a week-long loan of a top-spec Range Rover Sport Autobiography. Resplendent in ‘Velocity Blue’, it certainly ensured I got noticed. It was a busy week which saw me cover almost 1,000 miles, visiting family and attending a car launch in the South of England.

My first stop was London and a night in the suburbs. My usual 4-star hotel was fully booked, so it was a night at the Premier Inn in Edgware. The Range Rover looked a tad out of place amongst the more workaday vehicles, so I hid it in a far corner of their car park.

The following morning I breakfasted at my favourite café on Hampstead High Street, the shiny Sport looking far more at home in this distinctly upmarket locale. I doubt anyone even gave it a second glance, save for the parking warden hovering around.

Next stop was Bognor Regis to visit a cousin, and my travels round the M25 were in the most appalling conditions. No matter, as with seats more comfortable than your favourite armchair and soothing sounds emanating from the Meridian 3D surround sound audio system, I completed another journey quite unruffled.

My final destination was a car launch near Hastings. An interesting morning was spent driving a new car from Chinese manufacturer Chery, and very nice it was too. All too soon it was time for the 350-mile journey back to Yorkshire. It would have been hard to think of a finer way to travel. Apart from a brief refuelling stop (the car not the driver), I spent some six hours or so behind the wheel.

The Range Rover Sport made light work of yet more challenging conditions. The raised driving position clearly helped, offering an excellent view out and being high enough not to be dazzled by the increasingly bright headlamps which now seem to proliferate.
I had plenty of time to think about the two cars driven that day. The cheery newcomer from Chery offered comfortable seating for all its passengers and a huge amount of standard kit and yet you could buy three of them for the price of my Range Rover test car.

This of course misses the point, as the Range Rover has a certain cachet and one which is much sought after by many. Cars from the extended Land Rover family say something about the owner (upmarket country vibe?) and owners tend to be loyal even when reliability is sometimes called into question.

Prices over £100,000 seem to be no deterrent, and there are many examples around in my rural neck of the woods. Most will be company cars or private buys on a PCP deal.

A new Range Rover Sport will conquer even the most challenging terrain, though most owners are highly unlikely to use even a quarter of the car’s capabilities. Knowing you can is enough, I suspect. It is undoubtedly all about the luxury, and my test car did that rather well.

High-quality materials abound, and the smell of the fine leather is there to greet you each time you clamber aboard. Equipment – everything you could conceivably want and more besides. Performance – the turbocharged six-cylinder engine (with battery propulsion) was never found wanting and endows the car with sportscar-like performance. The 0-60mph sprint time is less than five seconds.

Does it live up to the Sport name when it comes to handling? Not really. Yes, you can cover ground quickly, but the Range Rover is a big heavy car, and you will feel it in the corners, even in its most dynamic suspension setting. It majors more on comfort, and even with the optional 23-inch wheels, ride comfort is excellent. It’s a car to cover vast distances with ease.

Being a plug-in hybrid, this Sport is capable of travelling up to 70 miles on battery power alone, ideal for the urban environment. Away from home, with no opportunity to charge, I recorded a tad over 30mpg once I had depleted the battery.

I was sad to see the Range Rover head off back to its maker. It had slotted into my life rather well, and I can see why many succumb to their charms.

Fast Facts (as tested)
Range Rover Sport Autobiography PHEV
3.0-litre twin-turbo 6-cylinder engine
550PS and 800Nm torque
0-60mph in 4.7 seconds
Top speed 150mph
Emissions 19g/km CO2
Up to 70 miles electric range
Price £113,995 (£133,350 with options)