FOR those who see SUVs as the future shape of family motoring, few models could be more aspirational than the Evoque.

The baby of the Range Rover line-up ploughed its own furrow - almost literally - eight years ago notching up no less than £17.6bn in foreign orders on the way.

Now the high-rider with added style has been reborn with more luxury, extra tech and more efficient engines to combat a wave of rivals that are fighting for supremacy, including the Volvo XC40, BMW X2 and Jaguar E-Pace.

Despite being almost the same length as the original, a 20mm longer wheelbase has allowed more rear legroom and a 10 per cent boost in boot space - you can now fit in your golf clubs.

It's still not exactly spacious for backseat occupants, but noticeably better than before.

All four-wheel-drive Evoques are mild hybrids boosting acceleration and reducing fuel consumption - the first time such a system has been adopted by Land Rover.

The most popular model is expected to be powered by the 2.0-litre, 178bhp Ingenium diesel engine which is driven here.

Built on a new platform which is 13 per cent stiffer than the earlier model, handling and refinement is noticeably improved. Travel is remarkably hushed with little wind noise and even less mechanical intrusion although when pressed the diesel engine sounds a trifle gruff.

The cabin, now much grander, borrows a number of cues from the larger Velar with a 10-inch centrally positioned touchscreen that moves forward to make it easier to read after the car is started. A number of apps allow the owner to check fuel levels remotely or heat it before getting in.

Some of the controls, however, are a bit fiddly such as the heated seats which require several touches of the screen to activate.

Front seats are nicely shaped and supremely comfortable, offering ample support and hugging you in place around corners.

The 2.0-litre 178bhp diesel has good reserves of power with spritely mid-range pick-up and minimal mechanical commotion. The automatic gearbox, however, is a tad slow-witted and can be caught out when a fast pick-up is required. This is most noticeable when joining a roundabout or feeding into traffic.

Ride and cornering are about as good as it gets in tallish crossovers with little roll and good bump suppression thanks partly to adjustable dampers.

While the vast majority of all Evoque miles are spent either pottering into or around towns, or thrashing up and down motorways, owners can be secure in the knowledge that their stylish steed is well capable of scaling all but the most severe terrains.

To make difficult tracks even easier you can spec a Clearsight Ground View camera as an option which allows the driver to see what horrors are approaching...and to take avoiding action.