There are some very good cars in the heavyweight category this year, but another win for the Land Rover Discovery never looked in serious doubt.

It’s a very compelling all-round car, as satisfying to drive every day as it is to tow with. There’s a calm assurance to everything it does which makes driving the Land Rover relaxing and enjoyable.

Our test car was one of the last Td6 models, with 254bhp and 443lb ft of torque. That’s enough muscle for a 30-60mph time of 10.7 seconds.

Order a car now and it will come with the Sd6 engine with more power and pulling power, so expect the latest Discovery to get up to speed even more quickly.

There are faster cars in this class, including the Range Rover Velar and Mercedes-Benz GLE. But the Land Rover never feels short of brawn, and it’s refined and quiet as well as quick.

At speed the Discovery feels extremely secure. It’s the kind of tow car that makes 60mph feel more like 40mph, and we were happy to drive at 70mph on the test track.

The big Land Rover was imperious in the lane-change test, staying firmly in control at all speeds. Quicker steering would have made the Discovery even more adept at this manoeuvre.

In the hill-start test, the 1-in-6 slope was no test at all. In fact, the Discovery handled a start on a 1-in-3, something we wouldn’t even consider in the vast majority of cars.

Leave the caravan behind and the Discovery will be equally at home on the daily commute or a long motorway drive as it is off road – the breadth of the car’s abilities really is exceptional.

It’s a fine car to travel in as well as to drive, with a roomy and beautifully made seven-seat cabin.

With the third row folded away luggage space is huge – easily big enough for a full load of holiday bags.

There’s also a full complement of towing friendly features, including self-levelling suspension and trailer stability control. In fact, the Discovery earned the second highest practicality score of any car tested this year.

Model pictured: HSE Luxury