Michael Gregory- a director of Preston- based public relations firm Freshfield- gets behind the wheel of the new Range Rover Sport.

When I found out I'd been testing a Ranger Rover, I thought id better look the part, so I went out and bought a Barbour wax jacket, Hunter wellies and borrowed a friends Labrador (for research purposes only, you understand).

The Range Rover certainly has the perception that it is the carriage of choice of the landed gentry, relocating oil sheiks and Hackett- wearing players who enjoy nothing more than than tearing up the countryside. The new Range Rover Sport, however, kicks off this tweedy image with gusto- so out went the Barbour and the Hunters and Fido was returned to its rightful owner.

Instead, I turned into that rare breed of Homo Sapien known as Top Gear Presenter (but not the small one with the hamster looks). Suddenly, I found myself planting my foot on the accelerator, listening to Driving Rock Ballads 2 and making lots of comments such as "Lets drive!", and It's aaa monstaaaa!".

For me, the Sport certainly lived up to its moniker. Combined with its commanding road presence and (as a chum of mine said) its "road shagger" looks, I spent a good deal of time breathing down the necks of boy racers in silly looking Corsas.

However, if (like me) you've got three sprogs to take care of, you'll be reassured by Range Rover's commitment to safety. I did have fears about its ability to corner above speeds of 20 mph but that was due to previous reports of much earlier models 'falling over' at speed.

Times have changed under Ford's ownership, though, as new technologies such as the Active Roll Mitigation system (which brakes to stabilise the car in a fast corner) have been introduced. Dynamic Stability Control (which addresses over-steer or under- steer) and the reassurance of permanent four wheel drive gives one the sense of being safely cocooned.

Behind the wheel, the cockpit was well decked out, with high-grade materials and a thoroughly modern design creating a feel good factor.

Although there are lots of controls, they are well laid -out and not in the slightest bit confusing.

Surprisingly for a car of this size, visibility was good due to the large glass area. The amount of space was also reasonable; although I have to say there was not as much room as expected. Still, it was a joy to drive and it ate up the miles, making it a good long distance cruiser.

The model I had was well equipped but I found out that you would have had to shell out for the optional extras which I thought may have come as standard. These include leather seats (a necessity if you have young kids) reversing sensors, fog lamps, and a CD changer. And unless you go for the HSE or the supercharged models, you wont get all- important satellite navigation system.

I didn't get a chance to take it off-road but then again I'm not sure the good people at my local Hillendale dealership would have appreciated the dents and scratches that would have occurred as a result. I loved the car and it certainly gave me a big smile when seeing it parked on the drive. The only downside was handing it back and returning to our dull- as -ditchwater MPV.