WHAT'S in a name? Quite a lot, actually...especially if we are talking cars.

Without getting bogged down in anorak stuff such ‘market positioning' and ‘brand awareness', the management suits at Jaguar Land Rover proved pretty smart when they introduced the new Discovery Sport.

In reality, it is a replacement for the much loved Freelander, but by tagging ‘Discovery' the new model became elevated into a higher class. And to reinforce its status it's available with seven seats, making it a true family holdall.

With sharper lines and a more rakish stance, the Land Rover Discovery Sport actually appears more closely linked with prestigious Range Rover.

In fact, its underpinnings are borrowed from the stylish, if smaller Evoque, as is the 2.2 turbo diesel engine driven here. It also inherits the excellent new nine-speed automatic gearbox.

Main rivals to the Sport, priced £35,695 in SE Tech Spec form, are the Audi Q5, BMW X3 and soon Mercedes' new GLC

The established 187bhp, four cylinder diesel is an easygoing diesel with plenty of torque (310lb/ft at 1,750rpm), enabling 62mph to be reached in competitive 8.9 seconds. Top speed is 117mph.

But the Landy is much more about long-legged cruising and comfort than sprints and speed. The cabin is spacious, beautifully finished and more characterful than its German rivals.

For a large vehicle it is surprisingly nimble and athletic to drive. The steering is quick, light and sharp with a reasonable amount of feedback and cornering roll is well controlled. It's much happier being hustled around bends than its big brother, the Discovery, and remains composed and assured. Inevitably though, it lacks some of the hot-hatch feel of the more compact Evoque.

The four-pot diesel sounds a bit agricultural at start-up but quietens down and smoothes out as speed mounts. There's little wind noise or mechanical vibration to mar a genuine air of calm. Road noise is also well muted.

If weather or conditions turn hostile you have a choice between mud, sand, snow and rock modes as well as a hill-descent control to get you out of difficulty. It's the most complete armoury of any similarly priced SUV.

Luggage space in the rear of the Sport is massive. With the two small seats that form the back row folded, there's room for no less than 981 litres of luggage. Fold down the second row of seats and this expands to 1,698 litres. Storage boxes, bottle holders and map pockets abound, making it an easy environment for family travel.

With emissions of 162g/km, the Discovery Sport proves reasonably frugal but not as miserly as some competitors. My average was 38mpg, while the official combined consumption is 44.8mpg.

Standard kit on the SE version includes heated windscreen, heated front seats, powered tailgate, climate control and front parking sensors. The one extra I would specify is the glass panoramic roof - price £950 - which brightens up the cabin, though it's a shame it doesn't slide back to let in fresh air.