RANGE ROVER SPORT

A few weeks in the V8-powered SV proves that our PHEV model is the sweet spot in the range

- Paul Barker [e-mail]

AUGUST is known in media circles as silly season because everyone is on holiday and nothing serious is happening. Therefore the TV, papers and internet are filled with the kind of stories that wouldn't see the light of day in more sensible months.

So, it seemed like the perfect time to manifest the 'go crazy' principle on our long-term test fleet, and spend a couple of weeks in something silly.

Sitting at the top of the Range Rover Sport lineup is the barmy SV version, with your £139,995 buying a 626bhp super-SUV that's ridiculously capable at everything from family outings and motorway trips to rapid cross-country runs. And using unleaded. It's really, really good at that.

The point of the swap was to see what the SV gives you over our regular plugin hybrid Range Rover Sport, which costs £25,000 less. First of all, the SV's 4.4-litre V8 comes to life with a raucous bark - too much so for some; my wife was pleased to see the back of the SV because of its consistent ability to wake the neighbour's small children.