RANGE ROVER EVOQUE

Plush PHEV arrives with a mission to be as desirable and relevant as ever

- RACHEL BURGESS

WHY WE'RE RUNNING IT To ascertain if this upmarket compact SUV can still hold its own in the face of fresher competition

If there was ever an era-defining car for a marque, the Evoque is the ultimate example. This entry-level Range Rover catapulted what was then Jaguar Land Rover (now JLR) into a new sphere of success. The sight of the mini Range Rover, closely related in style to its iconic big sibling, became the norm across the country and it was, anecdotally, the new favourite for middle-class mums doing the school run.

That all may be true, but has it managed to stay relevant in the fast-changing landscape of compact SUVs over the past decade? We've taken on our new long-termer quite far into its second generation, which has received plenty of mild updates over its six-year lifespan.

On its arrival, it struck me that, appearance-wise at least, this latest Evoque feels bang up to date, with modern exterior styling and an impressively slick interior.

Ours is the all-singing, all-dancing version. Its full name on the specification sheet is: Range Rover Evoque Autobiography Petrol Plugin Hybrid Ingenium 1.5-litre 3-cylinder 269HP Turbocharged Petrol PHEV (Automatic) All Wheel Drive. And breathe.