It wasn’t just my 10-month-old baby drooling when the latest Range Rover Sport arrived for my week-long test drive.

We were all in awe and I’d go as far as to say that this was love at first sight. It’s lighter than its predecessor yet bigger inside, with incredibly comfortable seats – this is very much like travelling business class.

There are three engines available – TDV6 and SDV6 3.0-litre diesels and a supercharged 5.0-litre V8 petrol, all with eight-speed automatic transmission and stop/start technology.

I drove the SE trim, which came with a sliding panoramic roof, leather upholstery, DAB digital audio, two-zone climate control, much-needed heated seats, HD navigation, Terrain Response and Say-What-You-See voice control.

The rear seat entertainment is a godsend if you have kids – the days of playing ‘I Spy’ are thankfully long gone.

We went up to the Lake District for a few days and the car easily accommodated three adults, two young children and all associated luggage – although I did use every spare inch of space.

If needed, there is a third row of seats allowing you to carry up to seven people, although this is a £1,500 option.

The high driving position gives a sense of natural superiority, and the steering feels light. Handling was excellent, and the drive was simply brilliant.

The little off-roading that I did do was exhilarating – Land Rover vehicles are acknowledged as setting the standards for others to follow.

Maximum ground clearance has been increased, and with the Sport’s new upgraded air suspension system it automatically varies between two ride heights to suit the terrain that the SUV is currently on.

So although it’s great off-road, on the motorway and on country roads, it’s not really a car for city folk – you won’t go squeezing into any small spaces in this.

There is an array of airbags, as well as options of blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning, radar cruise control and traffic sign recognition.

This is by no means a cheap motor, but I imagine most Range Rover Sport drivers won’t be too concerned about this – there’s no denying that it’s something of a statement car.

But I’m perfectly happy to get on board – in fact, I’ve penned my letter to Father Christmas already. Let’s hope he delivers.

Fact File:
Car: Range Rover Sport 3-litre TDV6
Price: £51,550
Top speed: 130mph
0-60mph: 7.1 seconds
Fuel: 38.7mpg (combined)
CO2 emissions: 194 g/km