2016 Range Rover Evoque Convertible 2.0 Si4, car review: This has it-car written all over it

When you’re already spending so much money, is it worth forking out for yet more?

Land Rover is positioning this new drop-top at the premium end of the Evoque range. So it’s appropriate that we’re testing it here with the premium engine – a turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol putting out a very handy 237bhp.

It does have a hefty 1936kg to shift, though. That’s due to all the strengthening required to keep the ragtop body as stiff as the original’s.

The result is an 8.6-second sprint time, which is adequate but hardly sporty. It’s certainly faster than the TD4, which will hoover up most sales, but with a hefty chunk less torque than the diesel it keeps its standard nine-speed auto box hard at work.

So it’s not exactly chilled under hard acceleration – it doesn’t take much on the loud pedal to provoke kickdowns, to a somewhat tedious degree.

Not that the vehicle’s weight lends itself to an entertaining drive in any case. While it controls itself tidily enough, hard steering and braking feel like an effort.

Why, then, would you pay an extra £700 to get a faster engine? It does sound nicer than the sometimes noisy diesel, but in general that’s a good question.

And this Evoque’s strongest suits can be enjoyed with either engine. The combination of a high seating position and wide-opening roof mean it’s a great way to see the world around you. If only you could relax and enjoy the ride in the process.

Range Rover Evoque Convertible HSE Dynamic

Location: France 
On sale: Spring 
Price: £52,400 
Engine: 4 cyls, 1999cc, turbo, petrol 
Power: 237bhp at 5800rpm 
Torque: 251lb ft at 1750rpm 
Gearbox: 9-spd automatic 
Kerb weight: 1936kg 
Top speed: 130mph 
0-62mph: 8.6sec 
Economy: 32.9mpg (combined) 
CO2/tax band: 201g/km, 35 per cent

You can’t, though, unless the road is (at least by British standards) unusually smooth. The Evoque is too stiffly sprung for that. There’s little in the way of any extra shimmying from the body, though – you might notice it if you go looking, but it’s more likely to be drowned out by all the argy-bargy in the suspension.

So from a purist’s perspective, there are compelling reasons to give this Evoque a swerve. If what you’re looking for is a stylish family car, it’s much the same story – in the real world, the back seats are only suitable for kids, and what’s left of the boot space is a shadow of what you get from the tin-top version.

Why, then, would anybody part with £52,400 to get their hands on this car? Simply this. Land Rover didn’t pay Victoria Beckham all that money for nothing, and more than ever now the Evoque is the four-wheeled embodiment of Posh Spice.

Traditional Land Rover fans hoot with derision at that fact, but there you are. We’d stick with the diesel, which is much cheaper to run and nicer to drive – but either way, if you want to be seen this summer, the Evoque Convertible has it-car written all over it.