2017 Range Rover Evoque TD4 Ember Edition

Like no other Evoque you've ever seen, is the short answer. The black wheels and body make it look compact and purposeful against other Evoques, let alone the slightly longer Discovery Sport, and the Red accents lift the whole treatment. Inside, the Ember majors on black Oxford leather for the seats, which have contrasting red stitching. The feeling of modernity is continued by the new 10.2in panoramic central infotainment touchscreen. The front seats adjust easily and have comfortable cushions, but one front passenger complained of a lack of lumbar support on a 100-mile journey. The sear seats are decent, and well sited so kids can see out of the windows, but they don't really have sufficient knee room for fully grown adults.

Our 178bhp diesel test car isn't the most powerful or fastest version of the two Ember special-edition models available. That honour goes to the similar capacity, 237bhp petrol turbo model that can lay down a 0-60mph acceleration time of 7.1sec (with the nine-speed automatic gearbox), beating the diesel by a decisive 1.4sec. However, the diesel's advantage is its torque - 317lb ft against 251 - and there is also a decisive difference in fuel economy: the petrol model's combined figure of 36.2mpg contrasts with the diesel's 57.7. Small wonder there's also a fair-sized difference in CO2 output: 134g/km for our diesel test car against 181.

The Ember diesel feels fast and effortless, mostly because it has a ready supply of both gear ratios and low-end torque. The effect of both is that the Ember feels as if it is propelled very easily. Overtaking is simple, while in a steady-state cruise, it runs at low revs and feels long-legged and relaxing. Early criticism of the Ingenium engines as rather too vocal seems to have been addressed, if our test car is typical.

In handling terms, the Evoque shows little sign that its six years of life have slowed it as a driving machine. There's a zest and an agility about it that is enhanced by nicely weighted, accurate steering, and the lack of overhangs and built-in stability make it an easy car to drive in tight conditions. It's wider than some others in its class, but its straight sides and good visibility make up for that. It also resists body roll well and corners near-neutrally. The Ember rides flat, and its suspension is well-damped, but there's little doubt it would be less surface-sensitive if it had 18 or 19in alloys rather than the (admittedly handsome) black-spoked 20in ones.