The familiar old boxy looks have gone and in their place is a softer, more rounded look, but while that’s easier on the eye, especially at the front, the back end is a bit harder to stomach thanks in part to the off-set number plate.

Yes, it’s a nod to the old Discovery and helps to differentiate it from the smaller Sport, but the number plate’s position to the left of centre on the tailgate never stops looking odd to our eyes – and we’ve been looking at it for some time.

Land Rover Discovery Engine: Turbo-diesel, 2.0-litreOn the road too, this isn’t the kind of car in which you’re about to take corners while leaning on the door handles, so its lack of sporting pretensions isn’t really an issue.

Land Rover Discovery Power: 0 to 60mph in 8.0 seconds, 121mph top speedThere’s no faulting the refinement levels though, which in terms of road, engine and wind noise – and the car’s ride quality – are all excellent, and night and day compared to its predecessor.

The build quality and fit and finish of materials are vastly improved and while the main touchscreen is a wide, shallow, landscape format rather than the more useful portrait shape, it still works well and is relatively easy to use on the move.