Range Rover 4WD SE

I haven't actually towed anything with the latest Range Rover, so I can't tell you how well it performs. Problem is, they're as scarce as honest politicians. Supply from the Solihull plant in the UK is hungrily hoovered up by European and US buyers, so there's very few actually trickling down to Oz. Those that do are going straight to eager owners, and only one has wandered within reach for us to test, and, of course, it didn't have a tow bar fitted.

Don't worry, I won't be making a habit of this Clayton's tow test, but between you and me the all-new Range Rover is simply too important a vehicle to pass up.

So, let's take a look.

Totally new from the ground up, the more-British-than-Corgis Range Rover is actually a product of German carmaker BMW. Developed when Land Rover was owned by BMW - though Ford owns it now, through its Premier Automotive Group subsidiary which includes Jaguar and Aston Martin (long story) - the Range Rover was pieced together with quite a few BMW parts in mind, including a fair share of the $2.5bn overall investment.

Proof that the flow of ideas was two way is the BMW X5, which gained Land Rover's hill descent control and a version of the Rangie's adjustable air suspension system, among other technologies and ideas from the once British 4WD maker.

Perhaps the biggest change on the series three Range Rover is the switch from separate chassis to monocoque design, which usually reduces the vehicle's overall weight, along with restricting tow capacities and offroad ability. Not this time. Range Rover treads the earth with a 2440kg thump that's worlds better than before, and equally as able on the tow.

It's rated to tow a braked trailer up to 3500kg, and the BMW-sourced 4.4lt V8 petrol engine - with 440Nm of torque - hooked to a five-speed automatic transmission, has the numbers to do the job. Unlike the mechanically similar BMW X5, a low range transfer case is standard on the Range Rover.

Land Rover is also offering a 3.0lt turbo-diesel six-cylinder engine in the Range Rover - another BMW sourced donk - and it's perhaps a little underwhelming on paper, with only 130kW of power and 390Nm of torque. Diesel engines typically have strong torque delivery, which means a trailerboat on the back will impact little on overall vehicle performance.

Prices for the range of Rangies kick off on the other side of six figures, $114,900 for the SE to be exact. For that not inconsiderable spend, punters can expect leather interior, electrically adjustable seats and steering column, fast glass and electric mirrors, climate control air-conditioning and six-stack CD player.

Spend up big on the $155k Range Rover Vogue and the spec list grows exponentially. Rain sensing wipers, 19in alloys, parking radar, high-powered bi-xenon headlights, heated seats and steering wheel, satellite navigation, DSP-equipped 12 speaker stereo - mud-plugging luxury at its most decadent.

Mechanically, the Range Rover is a veritable tank. Four-stage air suspension is standard, as is permanent four-wheel drive, electronic traction control and four channel anti-lock brakes. The Range Rover is equipped with a plethora electronic stability and braking aids - probably more electrics than the first shuttle launch - so this 2.5 tonne luxury wagon isn't going to put a foot wrong, even in the slipperiest of conditions.

Which has got to be good if you find yourself hauling a large trailerboat up a mossy boat ramp in the dead of winter. The Rangie's 18in tyres provide plenty of smooth riding grip on the bitumen. They're also surprisingly good in the dirt for what is a road-biased tread.

This little black duck spent three days and 1600km in a Range Rover one long weekend, driving from Melbourne to Perisher in the middle of winter. Three things impressed us about this third generation Range Rover - its unrivalled on-road manners and stability (better than any other large four-wheel drive), its luxurious, easy to use and extremely comfortable cabin, and the amount of fuel it drinks. Jeezus! Moving a five by two by two metre box weighing 2.5 tonnes is obviously thirsty work. Better be on good terms with your local service station attendant if you're thinking the Best of British for your next tow vehicle.