NO OTHER 4x4 quite has the aura of a Range Rover.

Hi-tech challengers may come and go, but the original luxury off-roader is still the motor top people choose to whisk them off to their country estates - you can't imagine the Queen turning up at Sandringham in a BMW X5, can you?

Over the pond, the Rangey competes only with the Hummer for the affections of rap stars and record producers, representing, as it does, the "old money" alternative.

That's the petrol versions. The underpowered diesel variants were purchased only by country types who drove everywhere with a horsebox on the back or farmers who could legally run them on red diesel. Who else would want a £60,000 slug?

Finally, though, the latest Range Rover has a decent diesel engine - and it was well worth waiting for.

The new TDV8 diesel is nothing less than a masterpiece. Smooth and almost silent in this installation (but mellifluous in tone on the odd occasion you do hear it), the twin-turbo derv unit punches out 272bhp and a fat 472lbft of torque. That's a 54 and 64 per cent increase in power and torque respectively over the old six-cylinder motor that preceded it, while maintaining about the same fuel consumption (25.1mpg combined).

This makes the hefty beast no less than four seconds faster in the nought to 60mph dash (at 8.5 seconds) and gives it a respectable top speed of 124mph.

The new diesel comes with the latest "intelligent" six-speed auto box, which offers a "manual" change function if you slide the lever to the left.

The resulting combination of monster torque and seamless gear changes is a car that surges forward with usable acceleration like no other diesel Range Rover before.

Spec check Range Rover TDV8 Vogue
Price: £61,295
0-62mph: 8.5 secs
Max speed: 124mph
Engine size: Twin-turbo diesel V8
Max power: 272bhp
Insurance group: 16
Features: DVD/TV/DAB/rear-view camera/SatNav system, full leather and wood upholstery, electronic air suspension with adjustable ride height, one-touch demisting, VentureCam (wireless video camera)

Land Rover claims that the new diesel model is some 75 per cent quieter and you can well believe it.

The diesel Range Rover is now imbued with the same genteel air of refinement as its petrol V8 siblings.

While other 4x4s may have come down either side of the on-off-road compromise, the Range Rover has never lost sight of its roots as a quality mud-plugger.

To aid its off-road activities, the Range Rover now gets the clever Terrain Response system that was already in the Discovery. This allows the driver to select a pre-programmed setting on a rotary knob, optimising the electronic rear and centre differentials, the suspension, ABS, traction control and other parameters for general driving; grass/gravel/snow; sand; mud and ruts, and rock crawling.

The new Range Rover gets an electronic handbrake, which automatically releases itself if you drive off with it engaged.

The '07 Range Rover also exhibits a couple of non-powertrain improvements, such as a redesigned dashboard, new seats with cooling (as well as heating) function and a new twin glovebox.

Build quality (unlike some earlier Range Rovers) is now exceptional - as you'd expect for more than £60,000.

Land Rover has been a little later than the competition in giving its flagship a decent diesel engine, but now that it's here, the new TDV8 should quickly become one of the best-selling models in the range.

  • For more information, please contact Webbers Land Rover on 01256 300615.