So is it a car for the small business owner? Most definitely yes. We’d suggest buying or leasing this privately and then claiming back the AMAP 45p per mile rate for business mileage as the most financially efficient way of running this car.

For company directors and business drivers, they should either opt for the manual TD4 version with its 150hp engine and lower CO2 emissions of 149g/km (and 22% company car tax) or wait for the lower carbon two-wheel drive eD4 version due in 2012 with just 133g/km CO2 (20% company car tax for 2012/13).

One final piece of advice comes from chief programme engineer David Mitchell. He says you should allow about £4000 in your budget for Evoque options. This seems wise advice – especially if you opt for the £4325 LUX pack which would add an additional £58 a month to the contract hire price quoted in our spec panel.

More road tests of the Range Rover Evoque Read our test of the 2.0iS petrol model – Range Rover Evoque: luxury downsized for small business owners.

More pictures of the Range Rover Evoque
Go to our Facebook page to see pictures of the Evoque off-roading in Scotland.