THE launch of the Range Rover Evoque back in 2011 marked a vital new chapter for Midlands based Land Rover.

Until that time it had specialised in off-road vehicles - for its mainly on-road customers - that were brilliant at what they were designed for but were not the curviest in shape.

The Evoque changed all that by offering a glamorous look for fashion-conscious motorists in a relatively compact package compared to the car's larger siblings.

This was a Range Rover more befitting a catwalk than a car dealership.

Now with the latest generation of this style icon the Evoque has become even more desirable.

And if you can stretch to the more upmarket - not to mention more expensive - 1st Edition you will be driving the equivalent of one of the catwalk's supermodels.

Unlike other Range Rovers the Evoque is surprisingly compact, which is one of the reasons for its success.

It might look large but even with the new 20mm longer wheelbase - giving rear seat passengers more legroom - it's still only the same length as a Ford Focus.

And now a number of styling cues have been copied from one of its big brothers, the Velar, including the super slim Matrix headlamps and the flush fitting door handles which pop out as you unlock the car, a feature guaranteed to impress the neighbours.

There's also a touch of the Velar on the inside too with a flush 10-inch centre-set touch screen which automatically changes its angle as you start the car so you can read it easier.

The 1st Edition models exude luxury, with everything from superb leather seating and dashboard to a huge panoramic glass sunroof. And these seats, which are heated and have a three-person memory function, are among the best in the business for comfort.

There's plenty of hi-tech equipment on this all-wheel-drive Evoque too including the option to show the view from the rear camera in the interior mirror when you have three passengers on the back seat blocking the mirror's normal view.

Add to that a 48-volt mild hybrid system to boost performance, a head-up display, a 4G Wi-Fi system that can be used by up to eight devices and a myriad of safety features and you begin to understand why this car's price tag is high.

Under the bonnet there's a 249bhp 2.0-litre engine, although this Evoque is so quiet and refined you can barely hear it.

It delivers the goods though, rocketing what is a pretty heavy car to 62 miles per hour in a very impressive 7.5 seconds and on to a top speed of 143 miles per hour.

The downside is it's relatively thirsty despite its nine-speed automatic gearbox and the best I managed to average over a week was 26 miles per gallon, although the official figure is just over 30mpg.

What is surprising about the new Evoque is that despite the similarity in design to the original model only one part has been carried over, the door hinges. Everything else is totally new.

And owners of the original model who are thinking of trading up will be pleased to hear that the luggage space beneath powered tailgate has increased by almost half, rising from 400 litres to 591 litres.

This is a car which manages to perfectly combine luxury with sportiness and - like all Range Rovers - has the ability to tackle serious off-road work.