Range Rover’s Velar has proven to be a major success for Land Rover, and it isn’t hard to see why. Though it retains a family resemblance, the dynamic design takes familiar lines and emboldens them, creating a sharper, more purposeful profile.

The Velar’s sloping roof will likely remain exclusive to that model but there are other exterior flourishes – like the sleeker headlamps, revised grille and slick, pop-out door handles – that undoubtedly give a strong hint about what to expect from future models.

The real highlight of the Velar is its interior, which enjoys a level of technology and tactility beyond that seen in any predecessor. All but the entry-level ‘S’ get three screens as standard. Contained within the instrument binnacle is a 12.3in display instead of traditional analogue dials but it’s the company’s new Touch Pro Duo System that really catches the eye.

There are two 10-inch displays, one in the upper part of the centre console, and the other where you might expect to find your car’s air con controls.

Start the car and that uppermost screen rotates through 30 degrees to a position that’s closer to vertical – JLR do enjoy their little party tricks – and much easier to interact with. It’s immediately obvious that this is a much-improved system, both visually and functionally, than anything that the company has produced before.

It’s been a long time coming but, finally, JLR have a multimedia set-up that stands comparison with anything that their rivals have to offer.

While the upper screen behaves as a typical multimedia display the lower one is equipped with rotary dials whose purpose changes – from adjusting the heated seats' temperatures to changing the drive mode – depending on which function you’ve selected from the touch-sensitive menu that runs across the screen just above those dials.

Using that lower screen does require taking your eyes off the road as there's no positive feedback to let you know that you've pressed anything, let alone made the selection you wanted.

There are other thoughtful, and rather cool, touches such as the capacitive buttons on the steering wheel that can also switch between functions. You can adjust the volume by sweeping a finger around the its edge like a virtual dial, or press it and you’ll see the graphics change as it becomes a D-pad for navigating through menu settings.

There are, however, now a lot of places that require touch inputs, and those same places are quick to demonstrate just how much they’ve been poked and prodded. Forensics would have a field day.

What really stood out in the cabin of my test car is how sparingly leather, a long-time favourite of luxury car-makers, has been used. Instead there are beautifully tactile textiles covering the seats - a wool blend with suedecloth - and denim-like inserts in the doors. The heated (a no cost option) steering wheel was a particular sensory delight bound, as it is, in the most sumptuous, soft animal hide.

There's plenty of room for front seat passengers and, although the seating position isn't as high as you'd find in a full fat Range Rover, you still get a decent view of your surroundings. Passengers in the rear don't fare so well, however, and things are a little tighter than you might expect. The flip side is a boot that’s notably larger than in most of its rivals.

Cabin storage is adequate, rather than exceptional. The glovebox is a good size and the compartment beneath the armrest also offers a decent amount of space, but the door bins are disappointingly small. There are some nice details, however, such as the space behind the touchscreen and the Land Rover badge near the gear selector that doubles as a release for the cup-holder cover.

So far the Velar has been exclusively powered by six-cylinder engines but my HSE R Dynamic-spec test car arrived with a new-to-the-line-up 2.0-litre, four-cylinder Ingenium petrol engine under the bonnet. It produces a decent 296bhp – or 300PS in new money – that propels it to 62mph in hot hatch troubling six seconds.

Peak torque, all 295lbft of it, arrives at just 1,500rpm and is available until 4,500rpm, imbuing the Velar with particularly strong mid-range performance.

The eight-speed gearbox is silky smooth most of the time. It's only when you go searching for more rapid acceleration that it can be a little slow in kicking down into the appropriate gear. The throttle can be a bit circumspect when pulling away too. There's little response when you initially press down on the accelerator before you're accosted by a sudden burst of power.

The ride, on the standard-fit electronic air suspension, is sublime. There's no excessive bounce and it does an exceptional job of keeping body roll in check through tight corners. The steering has a decent amount of weight but it delivers directional changes with a degree of aloofness. It gives the Velar a languidness that belies its positioning as the most dynamic Range Rover the firm has produced.

Perhaps the biggest reason why some may baulk at the prospect of buying a Velar is the price. It is, relative to its rivals, an expensive automobile. There are, however, other factors at play here that need to be taken into consideration before dismissing the idea of investing in Range Rover’s latest family member.

The disparity in pricing can, to some degree, be justified by the luxurious fit and finish, by the quality and variety of the high-grade materials that adorn the cabin, by the use of sophisticated technology that not only improves the ownership experience but also the aesthetics, and by the wonderfully polished ride and handling.

Indeed, sitting behind the wheel it’s not hard to see where a lot of that additional cash has been spent and, when you throw the concept-car looks into the equation, the sums really do start to add up.

The real question here is not whether to buy a Velar, but whether to buy one with a four-cylinder petrol engine under the bonnet. Performance is strong and refinement is good but there’s an inevitable trade-off in fuel economy. Just a few short months ago that alone would have been enough to dissuade most potential buyers from even considering anything but diesel however a change in attitudes – and policies – mean that’s no longer the case.

Perhaps a petrol-engined Velar does make sense after all.

Range Rover Velar HSE R-Dynamic P300

Price (as tested): £67,480

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder twin-turbocharged petrol

Transmission: 8-speed automatic

Max power: 300PS @ 5,500rpm

Max torque: 400Nm @ 1,500rpm

Max speed: 145mph

Acceleration (0-62mph): 5.7 sec

Urban: 29.7mpg

Extra urban: 41.1mpg

Combined: 36.2mpg

Emissions (CO2): 178g/km

For more information visit www.landrover.co.uk