LAND ROVER'S Discovery Sport replacement for the Freelander compact 4x4 is without doubt a clever move.

The Discovery Sport drives the 'entry level' range to new horizons with a family friendly compact SUV with seven-seat capability that is based on the Range Rover Evoque underpinnings.

It combines its stylish looks with some impressive driving dynamics, not forgetting the world famous Land Rover four-wheel-drive system.

What it does rather well is to combine this off-road pedigree with some fine handling which makes it into something of a driver magnet.

And to gild the lily Land Rover has added its innovative Ingenium diesel engine - made in Britain at the company's new multi-million pound powertrain plant in Wolverhampton - to the range.

The 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine is designed to deliver class-leading torque and power outputs, combined with excellent refinement, reduced CO2 emissions and lower fuel consumption.

The Discovery Sport's EU6 compliant Ingenium engine is available with two power outputs, 150ps and 180ps and I drove a TD4 180ps in its standard 5+2 configuration. It delivers 139g/km and 53.3mpg on the combined cycle which is impressive in a vehicle of this size.

The arrival of these cutting-edge engines ensures the Discovery Sport is one of the most efficient premium compact SUVs that both private, fleet and business customers can buy.

The new aluminum engine features lightweight construction, with stiff cylinder blocks and decoupled injectors, which ensures low levels of vibration and noise intrusion, further enhancing the driving experience.

The Discovery Sport is equipped with a range of class-leading safety features, such as a first-in-segment pedestrian airbag, autonomous emergency braking (both standard) and a suite of driver assistance features; all of which has led to the Discovery Sport being awarded with a five star Euro NCAP rating.

This car which would set you back £43,000 featured Land Rovers slick nine-speed auto transmission which handled the 180ps output with a high degree of competence. Power steering with just the right amount of road feel added greatly to the package.

Customers opting for the latest 2017 models will enjoy the availability of the world-first integration of Tile's advanced 'forget-me-not' tracking app.

The Discovery Sport is the first vehicle to incorporate the pioneering technology which is designed to make forgotten wallets and missing bags a thing of the past.

The app uses Tile tags, tiny Bluetooth trackers that can be attached to important items and used to track their whereabouts using smartphone technology.