I have to admit, I was never particularly fond of the original Bentley Bentayga. For me, it was a car that never quite seemed sure of what it wanted to be. Was it a performance car, a proper 4x4 or a luxury saloon on stilts? Of course, the answer was supposed to be all three. But somehow, the combination never entirely worked.

The latest Bentayga Speed, which I recently had the pleasure of driving, is a very different proposition. Here is a car that finally seems to know exactly what it is. More refined, more accomplished and, perhaps most importantly, far more entertaining than I had expected.

For years, I have been convinced that Range Rover would always reign supreme in this particular corner of the automotive world. There is something about the strength of the brand, its royal associations and that unmistakable silhouette that makes it incredibly difficult to compete with. But with the price of a fully specified Range Rover continuing to climb, you could certainly forgive a prospective buyer for considering something a little different. And that brings us rather neatly to the Bentayga Speed.

If I had to describe this car in one word, it would be fun. In fact, the performance is quite frankly bonkers. Beneath the bonnet sits a 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 producing 641 bhp and 850 Nm of torque. That's enough to propel this 2.5-tonne SUV from 0–60 mph in just 3.4 seconds and on to a top speed of 193 mph with the optional carbon ceramic brakes. Extraordinary figures for a car of this size.

But what really surprised me wasn't the straight-line speed. It was the way the Bentayga handles corners. Thanks in part to Bentley's sophisticated active anti-roll system and all-wheel steering, there are moments when it genuinely doesn't feel a million miles away from an Audi RS6. Which is quite a statement for a luxury SUV.

Of course, the Bentayga is still a Bentley, and that means it must deliver on comfort and refinement as well as outright performance. Thankfully, it does. There is a wonderful sense of occasion to the interior, with the sort of craftsmanship and attention to detail that you would expect from Crewe. It manages to feel both reassuringly luxurious and surprisingly sporting, without one characteristic overwhelming the other.

I'm still not entirely convinced by the exterior styling. There are certain angles that work better than others, and I suspect the Bentayga will never quite have the effortless elegance of a Range Rover. But the design is growing on me, and Bentley has made enormous strides since that first generation. It makes me wonder what will come next.

Then there is Mulliner, Bentley's bespoke division, which offers some genuinely wonderful opportunities to personalise the car. From unusual colour combinations to beautifully considered interior details, there is almost no limit to what can be achieved. Our former cover star, Gstaad Guy, has even taken the opportunity to create his own bespoke Bentley through Mulliner, demonstrating just how personal the process can become. And frankly, when you are spending this sort of money on a car, why would you want yours to look exactly like everyone else's?

Bentley, like so many automotive manufacturers, has some considerable headwinds to navigate over the coming years. Changing customer expectations, electrification and an increasingly competitive luxury market are challenges that cannot be ignored. But driving the Bentayga Speed reminded me of something rather important: luxury cars should still be enjoyable. And this one certainly is.

In fact, I would go as far as to say that the Bentayga Speed is the most entertaining luxury SUVs I have driven this year. That is not something I would have expected to write a few years ago.

So, if you are considering a car in this category, I would strongly recommend giving the Bentley serious consideration. You might still end up buying the Range Rover, but I suspect the Bentayga will make that decision rather more difficult than you imagined. And at the very least, it will put a rather large smile on your face.