We review the Land Rover Discovery Sport HSE Luxury from price to economy and all its features

I'M in Iceland and I can't find any frozen battered prawns on a stick.

But I did spot the all-new Land Rover Discovery Sport in the big freezer.

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It's -4C in Cold Valley, somewhere north of Reykjavik between a glacier and a volcano, and I've just driven in darkness through a snow storm to get here.

No other car firm would set up a road test as extreme as this — and no other family SUV could handle it. Put simply, the British-built Discovery Sport is in a league of its own. Nothing bothers it.

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It will crawl up a 45-degree slope — a ski jump is 36 degrees for the record — and stick to a set speed going back down again.

It will wade through a river crossing two-feet deep. Just don't open the doors.

Then, when you finally arrive at the school gates, it will turn heads for its looks. Check out those cool compass-inspired lights.
[youtube //www.youtube.com/watch?v=9H38vP-ZG8o];

Icelandic adventure... I drove through a snowstorm to get to Cold Valley

The 4X4 Discovery Sport launches next month with the 2.2-litre SD4 diesel priced from £32,395 — or from £299 a month on finance.

The official stats say it will do 44.9mpg — that's miles better than the Freelander it replaces — and I got close to 30mpg in these severe conditions. A cleaner, more efficient Ingenium engine will follow shortly, as will a two-wheel drive eD4 turbodiesel (119g/km) priced under £30,000.

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All models feature a pedestrian bonnet airbag and autonomous emergency braking. The roof will take 4.5 times the car's weight and it will tow up to 2.5 tonnes.

Work in harmony Back to the test. Yes, my Discovery had studded tyres but this car is so capable it fills you with confidence on roads you couldn't even walk on.

All the clever electric systems like traction control and stability control work in harmony to make driving effortless. Up the pace on fast A-roads and Halewood's new hero smooth, refined and quiet as glides through the nine-speed box.

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The Discovery Sport is shorter than the BMW X3 and Audi Q5 yit floors them with its Tardis-like interior. It's got more load space, two extra seats (5+2 stadium seating is standard) and leg room is only 9mm shy of the biggest Range Rover.

More importantly, it would keep my family safe, comfortable and quiet on a long trip, especially with six USBs for charging gadgets.

The cabin oozes quality — nothing radical — but clean, simple and airy Even the entry SE trim has heated half-leather seats, an eight-inch touch-screen, climate control, DAB radio, Bluetooth and rear parking sensors.

Land Rover has had 2,500 advance orders from Brits who haven't even seen the car, let alone driven it. And three out of four have gone for the top spec HSE and HSE Luxury.

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The £39,395 HSE adds panoramic roof, reversing camera, Xenon/LED lights and bigger wheels.

My HSE Luxury also had heated and cooled front seats, heated middle seats, heated steering wheel (a nice touch in Iceland) and hands-free parking. For that you need £42,995. For another £100 you can fill the boot with battered prawns from Iceland.

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VERDICT: School run or ski run, this is the most capable family SUV. Another star from JLR.