Have you ever seen Long Way Round, the TV series in which intrepid Pom Charley Boorman and his film star mate, Ewan McGregor, ride motorcycles 31,000km from London to New York?

I’ve always wanted to do an epic trip like that – in a car. However, the only machine I thought capable of copping such punishment is something like a Toyota Landcruiser. I’d rather ride an old donkey 31,000km than take that option.

But after a day driving around Tasmania, I rolled out of a new Range Rover Sport and had an epiphany. This is the car I could confidently traverse the Mongolian wilderness in and, if I happened upon a bit of blissful bitumen, could easily use for a bit of gleeful driving.

Range rover sport rear

Select Dynamic mode (available in the more powerful models) and engine, throttle and gearbox get angry and the air suspension hunkers down. Active, hydraulically-controlled sway bars and active dampers (again in the gruntier versions) vanquish body roll in the 2310kg V8 Sport, helped by a new aluminium monocoque that is up to 420kg lighter than the previous model.

Range rover sport engine

And punch it does. The 375kW/625Nm 5.0-litre V8 summons 100km/h in 5.3sec, with an exhaust note that sounds like a track off Satan’s latest album. Off road? The drive selector also unlocks an arsenal of bush-friendly settings, too many to list here. Ride height can be raised 65mm, there’s a 2.93:1 low range and 900mm wading depth; all adding up to impressive mud-raking ability.

Range rover sport turning
Range rover sport interior

And that blown V8? That’s $182,400 in range-topping Autobiography trim. There’s also a 250kW/700Nm 4.4-litre turbodiesel V8 coming in early 2014 but the supercharged V8 is the one you want. And the one I’d happily spend 31,000km in.

Range rover sport range
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4/5

Specs

Engine: 4999cc V8, DOHC, 32v, supercharger Power: 375kW @ 6000-6500rpm Torque: 625Nm @ 2500-5500rpm Weight: 2310kg 0-100km/h: 5.3sec (claimed) Price: $182,400 (as tested)