What is it? My last stint with the previous-gen Evoque is still fresh in my mind. Very few SUVs packed such stunning road presence and aura at that time. A magnet, so to speak. Come 2020, and the new Range Rover Evoque has made a comeback with a design that's gracefully evolved from the earlier one. It's now underpinned by the new Premium Transverse Architecture, has BS6 petrol and diesel engine options, updated interiors with new features, and a whole bunch of expectations to live up to. At least the looks seem covered. The charm of the original has been carried forward with comprehensive updates to the sheet metal to make it more salivating. Whether it is the large wheels, distinctive roofline, or the aggressively raked window-line, they all make for a sensational stance. I just love the aggressive concoction of power and ruggedness, whatever angle this SUV is viewed from. When seated in the new Evoque, your attention is grabbed by the impressive layered-dash that’s placed quite high up. It's crafted with generous use of soft-touch materials, brushed-aluminium inserts and a piano-black trim. And, as with all their cars, this one too gets a large chunky steering. Taking up prime position on the centre console is a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system with six speakers. Not only is it hi-res, there’s attractive graphics, swift frame rates, and the touch panel is responsive too. Lest we forget, your favourite track played off your phone’s Android Auto or Apple CarPlay app should be nothing short of engaging. Below this, is a panel with a neat array of physical and touch buttons, along with rotary controls for the air-con and other vitals of the Evoque. Storage up front is taken care of by the twin-lid central armrest, the cup holders ahead of it and the spacious door-pads. At the rear, there’s the door-pads again, two seat-back pockets and the centre armrest that drops down to offer two cup holders. As for the seats, the front ones have adequate padding, are firm and there's good shoulder and lateral support. Nevertheless, thigh support could have been better. The new Range Rover Evoque gets either the 245bhp/365Nm two-litre petrol motor, or the two-litre 177bhp/430Nm diesel, like what we have here. Both versions are mated to a nine-speed automatic gearbox. Regardless of whether it is in idle or you’re pottering around in part-throttle mode, there’s not much buzz as the NVH is very well subdued. As soon as I got going, I began to appreciate the uninterrupted and linear power delivery of this diesel motor. We have to admit that the well spaced-out gears in this nine-speeder makes excellent utilization of the motor’s output. In normal Eco and Comfort modes, this diesel builds up pace without a fuss, and there’s always more at hand; be it a relaxed commute or a swift dash. Sport mode is more for the ‘dil-mange-more’ types, but as presumed, the power delivery is not linear and there’s a considerable tug at about 1800rpm. At higher speeds though, this gearbox isn’t quick to downshift when you depress the throttle for a quick overtake (even in Sport). So, its best to just use the paddle shifters to get straight to the meaty portion of the power band. Let’s look at what doesn’t work for the new Evoque. There’s the slightly uncomfortable rear seating, a firm low-speed ride with audible suspension noise and the slightly lazy gearbox. But, honestly speaking, one can’t really put off a buying decision based on these. More-so, because the new Range Rover Evoque delivers on making a style statement and looks thoroughly extravagant. Then, there’s the abundance of safety and new-age features, combined with a relatively potent motor; all for Rs 66.39 lakh on-road Mumbai. I mean, need we really say any more?