The very first luxury SUV was a Range Rover, a pioneering 4x4 first launched back in 1970.

Prior to that, a fleet of 26 pre-production models were used by development engineers under the ‘Velar’ name – Land Rover keen to hide the revolutionary vehicle’s real identity, the word derived from the Latin ‘velaris’, meaning to veil or cover.

Today, almost half a century later, the Velar name has returned to the Range Rover line-up, used to badge the brand’s fourth model, a mid-sized contender that plugs the gap between the Evoque and the Range Rover Sport.

German rivals have set a high standard in this market segment, so Land Rover has spared no effort in building in advanced technology, compelling design and absolute attention to detail.

We haven’t yet driven a Velar, but the prospects look good. It is, after all, built on the same IQ platform that underpins the extraordinarily successful Jaguar F-PACE.

On top of that sits a light, stiff, aluminium-intensive body and this, together with double-wishbone front and integral link rear suspension, should provide the perfect basis for the agile handling, excellent ride comfort and impressive refinement this car will need if it’s to take on tough segment rivals like Porsche’s Macan and BMW’s X6.

Under the bonnet, buyers get a choice of the brand’s usual four cylinder Ingenium 2.0-litre diesel units, with a choice of 180 and 240PS outputs. There’s also a four cylinder 2.5-litre Ingenium petrol unit offering either 250 or 300PS.

You’ll need one of the V6 models though, if you want to try Range Rover’s sophisticated four-corner air suspension set-up. There’s a 300PS diesel with 700Nm of torque, or a flagship 380PS supercharged V6 petrol engine that gets the Velar from rest to 62mph in just 5.3s on the way to an artificially-limited 155mph maximum.

All the powerplants on offer are matched to smooth-shifting ZF eight-speed automatic transmissions and all-wheel drive with so-called ‘intelligent driveline dynamics’.

It’s clear from the Velar’s market positioning that it’ll be used off road even less than other Range Rover models, but it still offers class-leading ground clearance of up to 251mm (213mm with coil springs), class-leading wading depth of up to 650mm (600mm with coil springs) and Land Rover’s unmatched suite of traction technologies, including optional ‘terrain response 2’ and ‘all terrain progress control’ systems.

The Velar is instantly recognisable as a Range Rover, the floating roof and clamshell bonnet providing clear references to its lineage.

The large wheels – up to 22ins in diameter – help to define the smart silhouette, while a the short front overhang and super-slim, full-LED headlights play their part in minimising visual weight.

Hi-tech matrix-laser LED headlights are optional. A long 2,874mm wheelbase enhances the car’s visual length and this contributes to a much more spacious cabin than its cheaper, smaller Evoque stablemate.

There’s a much bigger 558-litre boot too and the versatility of a 40:20:40 split-folding rear bench.

Mirroring the taut, uncluttered exterior design, the Velar’s precision-crafted interior matches the high standards set by premium German SUV rivals.

You sit in what the brand calls a ‘sports-command’ position on front seats that balance performance-oriented design and support with opulent comfort, and offer up to 20-way adjustment and heating, cooling and massage functions.

In the centre of the dash sit the two high-definition, 10-inch touchscreens of a ‘touch pro duo’ infotainment system. In front of the driver, the instrument binnacle houses twin-analogue dials with a 5-inch TFT display between them, or, as standard from SE specification and above, a 12.3-inch interactive driver display.

The Velar is aimed at the upper end of the mid-sized luxury SUV market, targeting the £50,000 price bracket.

Trim-wise, the Velar and Velar R-Dynamic model range includes Standard, S, SE or H variants. As you’d expect, the options list is littered with high-end options.

The gesture-controlled power tailgate, for example, makes loading bulky or heavy objects into the luggage compartment easier. Another innovative feature is Land Rover’s ‘activity key’ – a waterproof, shockproof wristband with integrated transponder which allows customers to enjoy sports and outdoor pursuits without having to carry a key fob.

Landrover’s ‘Ingenium’ engine technology puts the Velar amongst the class-leaders for efficiency. The base 180PS 2.0-litre diesel engine manages a very creditable 52.5mpg on the combined cycle and 142g/km of CO2. The twin-turbo 240PS version manages 48.7mpg and 154g/km of CO2. Even the 300PS 3.0-litre V6 diesel manages 44.1mpg and 167g/km.

In the petrol versions, the 250PS manages 37.2mpg on the combined cycle and 173g/km of CO2 while the top 3.0 V6 380PS supercharged petrol unit offers 30.1mpg along with 214g/km of CO2.

The Velar is sufficiently capable off road to uphold the company’s heritage, but in reality, the emphasis here has been on tarmac-orientated dynamics.

Can this really be a Land Rover product able to give a Porsche Macan a run for its money? Don’t bet against it.