It's good to know Land Rover is still making the real deal. It's called the Discovery 4 and, in recent times, Land Rover has gone even further towards making an already peerless all-round package more luxurious, powerful and economical.

What hasn't changed is the Discovery 4's jaw-dropping abilities on terrain that would have some rival 4x4s slithering to an ignominious halt. From the driver's seat, it's the enhanced feeling of effortless, on-demand thrust that impresses most, aided in no small way by the peachy-smooth shifts and quick responses of the ZF auto.

And the idea that 'proper' 4x4s don't handle on road? The latest Discovery emphatically puts that one to bed. The precision with which the big Land Rover steers is surprising enough but it's the way the suspension system quells body roll through faster bends that sets it apart. Add in superb refinement and strong brakes and you have a vehicle that gives away little to a more orthodox luxury saloon.

Off road, the Discovery is more formidable than ever. Enhancements to Land Rover's patented Terrain Response system add a launch control function designed for deep sand as well as improvements to the Hill Descent Control and the Rock Crawl mode to ensure tricky manoeuvres are made that bit easier, giving you more time to admire the scenery. Simply brilliant.

No, the entry-level GS isn't the most desirable model in the Land Rover Discovery range. But it is, by a fairly sizeable margin, the most affordable and, therefore, in a position to lure customers into the Land Rover fold who might, ostensibly, have been shopping for a smaller, less capable (off road) Audi or BMW. But even if you discount the Discovery's magical ways with mud, it still makes an extremely convincing luxury 4x4 for on road duties. It's swift, comfortable, refined and handles like a dream considering its size. Truth is, if you're willing to forsake a few frills, the most affordable Discovery really does take you to another level that can only be bettered, in some respects, by the Range Rover. As such it's something of a bargain.