Land Rover have updated the Discovery Sport but unless you see the revised model side-by-side with the pre-facelift version you might not notice.

That’s because the exterior revisions are subtle and bring the Discovery Sport in line with the rest of the model line-up thanks to an updated grille, revised bumpers and new signature LED lights at the front and back. Subtle they might be, but the changes certainly give the car a fresher, more contemporary look.

It has been moved onto the firm’s latest Premium Transfer Architecture (PTA) which is 13 per cent stiffer than its predecessor and has been designed to accommodate electrification and, this week, I’ve been reviewing the P250 which is powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine which uses a 48v mild hybrid system.

It uses a small battery that can power the car’s ancillary systems which means that the engine can be turned off during deceleration to improve fuel economy.

It’s got plenty of poke – although it lacks the all-round flexibility of a strong diesel engine – and makes little fuss when you’re trying to overtake other vehicles at motorway speeds. It’s quiet too. Whatever speed you’re travelling at, and however hard you’re working it, the noise from the engine is never intrusive.

The passenger space is, in fact, a delightful place to spend a few hours of your time. On motorways it is limousine-like in the way it serenely munches through the miles. That sensation is reinforced by the wide, plump and comfortable front seats. The only disruption to what would otherwise an impeccably tranquil road trip is a degree of road and wind noise but it is never loud enough to require you to raise your voice in order to hold a conversation, even with passengers on the middle bench.

Yes, that’s right. This particular version of the Discovery Sport – in fact, all models with automatic transmissions – are fitted with an extra pair of seats so, should the need arise, you can transport five people in comfort and another two in the boot.

As with all SUVs equipped with seven seats, the extra capacity is not without its compromises. There’s plenty of room in the front seats and even very tall drivers will have no trouble getting comfortable. Opting for the panoramic roof – which was fitted to my review car – does eat into headroom at little but, at 6ft 1in, it was never an issue for me.

The middle row of seats will slide fore and aft, and recline, individually – they are split 40/20/40 – and in their rear-most position there is a vast amount of legroom. At the opposite extreme, with them slid all the way forward, passengers will find their knees pressed into the backs of the front seats.

Now, about those rear seats: Cramped, is the only way to describe them. This isn’t a criticism, it is an inescapable fact. They are really only suitable for use by small, agile people – which probably describes either children or gymnasts – because access is made difficult by the wheel arches that eat into the gap passengers have to climb through and, once safely ensconced, there’s limited headroom.

However, it should be noted that despite the limitations on space, Land Rover have liberated a reasonable amount of legroom although the shallow footwell does mean that your knees are closer to your chin than you might, perhaps, enjoy.

Cabin storage is good, with door bins large enough to hold 750ml bottles and a decent-sized glove box too. There’s a large cubby beneath the central armrest that’s home to a couple of USB sockets and will comfortably accommodate even the largest of mobile phones.

The boot is a competitive size and the boot lip sits flush with the floor, making loading and unloading easier. The load area is a useful shape and, unsurprisingly, access through the large boot opening is excellent. There isn’t any underfloor stowage, however, and nowhere to store the tonneau cover which has to be removed if you want to use the extra pair of seats in the back.

The biggest, and the most obvious, leap forward over the previous model is the fit and finish in the cabin. There is a plethora of plush, tactile materials and well-damped controls. There are classy highlights such as brushed-metal trim and glossy black plastics.

There are some flimsier plastics hidden away but, overall, the cabin is a delightfully welcoming space that easily lives up to its premium billing.

The infotainment was, for many years JLR’s Achille’s Heel but, recently, they have made great efforts to improve their offerings and with some success. Embedded in the centre of the dashboard is a 10in touchscreen with sharp, clear graphics and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard on all but the entry level model.

I did have some problem with the touchscreen while using Android Auto, though I suspect this has more to do with a breakdown in communication between my phone and the car, rather than any inherent issues with the screen itself.

Below the screen are the controls for the climate control and off-road modes. The dials to adjust the cabin temperature also control the heated seats, the fan speed and the off-road driving modes. It’s a clever way of minimising the number of physical controls cluttering up the fascia without resorting to tucking everything away behind a series of touchscreen menus.

An ‘interactive driver display’ replaced the analogue instruments behind the steering wheel on my SE trim review car. It’s a crisp digital screen that can display music tracks or sat-nav directions in addition to the traditional speed and engine info. Though doesn’t offer the flexibility of Audi’s Virtual Cockpit, it is easy to use and reduces the amount of time you have to spend with your eyes away from the road.

Visibility out the front is excellent and the large door mirrors provide a good view down either side of the car. There is a bit of a blindspot over your shoulder, but opting for the blindspot monitoring system would eliminate any concerns when you’re changing lanes.

Front and rear parking sensors are standard on all Discovery Sports. You also get a rear-view camera. You can also add 360 degree surround camera, which gives a bird’s eye view of the car and its surroundings, Clearsight Ground View, which uses cameras to show you the ground beneath your front wheels and, finally, the Clearsight interior rear view mirror that, at the flick of a switch, sends a video feed from a camera mounted in the shark’s fin antenna to your rear-view mirror. Perfect if your view out the back is obstructed by people or luggage.

The new Discovery Sport is a very real step up from the previous model, particularly on the inside where the quality of the fit and finish is excellent. It’s also practical, refined and comfortable and, of course, it possesses excellent off-road abilities should you require them. There’s little doubt that it deserves a place on your shopping list.

Land Rover Discovery Sport P250 AWD SE R-Dynamic

Price: £45,425

As tested: £51, 925

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged petrol

Transmission: Mild hybrid electric - automatic

Max power: 249hp @ 5,500rpm

Max torque: 365Nm @ 1,400 – 4,500rpm

Max speed: 139mph

0-60mph: 7.3sec

WLTP fuel economy (mpg)

Low: 21.6 - 20.8

Medium: 29.7 - 28.1

High: 35.7 - 33.3

Extra high: 30.3 - 28.6

Combined: 29.9 - 28.3

Emissions: 185g/km

For more information visit www.landrover.co.uk