CROSSOVERS or SUVs - call them what you wish - don't get much more posh, than the Evoque.

The baby of the Range Rover world is the darling of smart suburbia where designer kit is a must and practicality trails style in buyers' list of priorities.

But wipe away the eye-gloss and tinsel , and the chunky yet almost agelessly styled Evoque, is a genuine Range Rover with the same rugged but refined qualities that have given the marque iconic status.

Tweaked visually last year half a decade after launch, the most significant improvement has been the adoption of the latest 2.0-litre Ingenium turbo-diesel engine, already installed in Jaguars.

Gone is that agricultural rattle on start up. Instead, there's a muted growl which is far from unpleasant. And there's more mid range torque coupled to a fresh eagerness which matches the Evoque's brilliant chassis.

There really are no losers with this new engine as economy is vastly improved and CO2 emissions noticeably decreased. Most owners will get around 43mpg in every day running and the official combined economy is 55mpg with emissions of 134g/km which means an annual tax bill of £130.

A further benefit of the unit is its lightness, which has allowed the suspension to be modified making the latest model just that little bit more dynamic and athletic. Body roll is well controlled and it turns into corners more sharply.

Although few owners will ever test its off-road ability, they can rest assured its four wheel drive system, high ride height and specially tuned suspension allows it the same mountain goat capability as other Land and Range Rovers.

The nine-speed automatic gearbox is a really treat with super smooth changes and sufficient ratios to ensure you are in the right gear all the time. Paddles on the steering wheel allow you to play around if you are in the mood, but most of the time it's best to let the microchips do the work and take the strain.

Though more luxurious than either a Porsche Macan or BMW X3, the Evoque isn't quite as quick or sporty as its German rivals. Top speed is 121mph and 62mph comes up in 8.5 seconds. Its refined nature, however, means miles are swallowed up in a relaxed and effortless fashion.

The cabin is a thing of genuine beauty with high grade fittings, clear accessible dials and luxurious perforated leather seating. Very much a miniature Range Rover, it is this aspect of the Evoque that gives owners an extra helping of that feel-good factor.

With a price tag of £47,800, there's plenty of standard kit including heated front windscreen, heated front seats and sat-nav screen with rear parking camera.

Overall dimensions are fairly compact which is great for negotiating country bends or parking at Waitrose - probably a natural habitat of the Range Rover - but somewhat restrictive if it is being used as family holiday transport. The boot can carry 420 litres of luggage with rear seats in position and 1,445 litres when they are folded down.... a bit less than some rivals.

Rear seat legroom and all round headroom is, however, generous enough.