Range Rover EvoqueThe new Range Rover Evoque is the most important car to emerge from Land Rover’s gates for many years, not least because in the current climate it’s good to launch a car that can claim to be “the smallest, lightest, most fuel-efficient Range Rover ever produced”.We all know that the off-road market has broadened from its original ‘need-it/buy-it’ foundation to a less practical ‘have-it-cos-I-like-the-looks’ basis. With the Evoque however, Land Rover has come clean and designed a car that flaunts the stylish elements of its character, so ones first thoughts move away from what they would have been on viewing a traditional off-roader, i.e. “hey, it might look like a brick, but I’ll bet it can handle the rough stuff”. Talking of the style, beauty is, as ever, in the eye of the beholder, but most drivers on the Scottish launch of the Evoque were complimentary, though more than one mentioned that it did appear to have had its rear end sat upon. Body style is either three- or five-door, and thanks to the 30kg weight saving enjoyed by having two less doors, the 3-door (called Coupé) boasts performance and fuel economy figures slightly better than those of the 5-door.Since diesel engines will account for the vast majority of sales I concentrated on them, or more specifically ‘it’, since the lower powered of the two available diesels wasn’t available to test. Neither could I check the 2WD version, which though it is listed won’t be available until 2012.The 2.2 four-cylinder diesel with 190PS is a model of refinement, to the extent that at motorway speeds the only noise that might register is from the tyres. With our car’s auto transmission the Evoque was certainly a doddle to drive, and only an unaccountable hesitation in low-speed throttle response spoilt an otherwise flawless performance.Interior design is as style-led as the exterior. White leather you might think is hardly the ideal accompaniment to mud-plugging, but it’s a selection that will probably often be made, as it not only sets off the exterior brilliantly, but looks elegant in its own right. In fact the range of options on offer is mind-boggling. You want a different alloy wheel, no problem – there are seven; a different roof colour? – choose from three; a different facia perhaps? – it’s up to you, but you’re likely to find one of the four metal finishes and two contemporary wood veneers will appeal.If it’s true what they say about 4WD machinery seldom being used off road, and it is, then that’s likely to apply to an even greater extent with the Evoque. Nonetheless, Land Rover had laid out a straightforward section of off-road driving for us, and having selected the ‘Grass/Gravel/Snow’ and ‘Mud and Ruts’ driving modes on the Terrain Response control on the centre console at the appropriate moments (plus the excellent Hill Descent control), the Evoque had no difficulties with any of it. Ground clearance is not of course a match for the likes of a Defender for instance, so as one of our number did discover, putting a wheel into a ditch can put you out of the running.The Evoque profile might suggest limited rear head room, but in fact there’s plenty for anyone under 6’3” or so, and leg room too is generous wherever you sit. Seats are superbly comfortable, and have enough side support to leave passengers unperturbed by either rough terrain or enthusiastic drivers. As for luggage, the boot is a good size, and sensible square sided, but thanks to the need for a high floor owing to all that 4WD gubbins underneath it’s rather shallow. Capacity can of course be increased by folding down the rear seat backs – an easy job but one that leaves a floor which is far from flat as the seat cushion doesn’t move.For a driver, the Evoque manages that desirable quality of feeling smaller than it actually is. To a large extent that’s because the ride is well damped, with no hint of wallowing around the bends. It’s a comfortable car, not too expensive, and by all accounts it certainly has style. Some of those accounts are from the various folk whom Land Rover describe as ‘shapers’, whose journeys in their own cities can be viewed alongside their comments on www.helloevoque.com.The Evoque will in fairly short order prove to be Land Rover’s biggest seller, so you can expect to see large numbers of what, as you can see here, is an instantly recognisable motor.Size: 4.36m x 1.97mEngines: Petrol: 2.0 litres – 240PS Diesel: 2.2 litres – 150 & 190PSGearbox: 6-speed FWD & 4WDBest consumption: 2.2 FWD Diesel Coupé – 57.6mpgPrice at Nov ’11: from £27,955Full details of the Evoque are available on the manufacturer’s website: www.landrover.comPeter Cracknell – Nov 2011
Range Rover Evoque
The new Range Rover Evoque is the most important
car to emerge from Land Rover’s gates for many
years, not least because in the current climate it’s
good to launch a car that can claim to be “the
smallest, lightest, most fuel-efficient Range Rover
ever produced”.
We all know that the off-
road market has
broadened from its
original ‘need-it/buy-it’
foundation to a less
practical ‘have-it-cos-I-
like-the-looks’ basis.
With the Evoque
however, Land Rover
has come clean and
designed a car that
flaunts the stylish
elements of its
character, so ones first
thoughts move away
from what they would
have been on viewing a
traditional off-roader, i.e.
“hey, it might look like a
brick, but I’ll bet it can
handle the rough stuff”. Talking of the style, beauty is,
as ever, in the eye of the beholder, but most drivers
on the Scottish launch of the Evoque were
complimentary, though more than one mentioned that
it did appear to have had its rear end sat upon. Body
style is either three- or five-door, and thanks to the
30kg weight saving enjoyed by having two less doors,
the 3-door (called Coupé) boasts performance and
fuel economy figures slightly better than those of the
5-door.
Since diesel engines will account for the vast majority
of sales I concentrated on them, or more specifically
‘it’, since the lower powered of the two available
diesels wasn’t available to test. Neither could I check
the 2WD version, which though it is listed won’t be
available until 2012.
The 2.2 four-cylinder diesel with 190PS is a model of
refinement, to the extent that at motorway speeds the
only noise that might register is from the tyres. With
our car’s auto transmission the Evoque was certainly
a doddle to drive, and only an unaccountable
hesitation in low-speed throttle response spoilt an
otherwise flawless performance.
Interior design is as style-led as the exterior. White
leather you might think is hardly the ideal
accompaniment to mud-plugging, but it’s a selection
that will probably often be made, as it not only sets off
the exterior brilliantly, but looks elegant in its own
right. In fact the range of options on offer is mind-
boggling. You want a different alloy wheel, no problem
– there are seven; a different roof colour? – choose
from three; a different facia perhaps? – it’s up to you,
but you’re likely to find one of the four metal finishes
and two contemporary wood veneers will appeal.
If it’s true what they say about 4WD machinery
seldom being used off road, and it is, then that’s likely
to apply to an even greater extent with the Evoque.
Nonetheless, Land Rover had laid out a
straightforward section of off-road driving for us, and
having selected the ‘Grass/Gravel/Snow’ and ‘Mud
and Ruts’ driving modes on the Terrain Response
control on the centre console at the appropriate
moments (plus the excellent Hill Descent control), the
Evoque had no difficulties with any of it. Ground
clearance is not of course a match for the likes of a
Defender for instance, so as one of our number did
discover, putting a wheel into a ditch can put you out
of the running.
The Evoque profile
might suggest limited
rear head room, but in
fact there’s plenty for
anyone under 6’3” or
so, and leg room too is
generous wherever
you sit. Seats are
superbly comfortable,
and have enough side
support to leave
passengers
unperturbed by either
rough terrain or
enthusiastic drivers. As
for luggage, the boot is
a good size, and
sensible square sided,
but thanks to the need
for a high floor owing to all that 4WD gubbins
underneath it’s rather shallow. Capacity can of course
be increased by folding down the rear seat backs – an
easy job but one that leaves a floor which is far from
flat as the seat cushion doesn’t move.
For a driver, the Evoque manages that desirable
quality of feeling smaller than it actually is. To a large
extent that’s because the ride is well damped, with no
hint of wallowing around the bends. It’s a comfortable
car, not too expensive, and by all accounts it certainly
has style. Some of those accounts are from the
various folk whom Land Rover describe as ‘shapers’,
whose journeys in their own cities can be viewed
alongside their comments on www.helloevoque.com.
The Evoque will in fairly short order prove to be Land
Rover’s biggest seller, so you can expect to see large
numbers of what, as you can see here, is an instantly
recognisable motor.
Size:
4.36m x 1.97m
Engines:
Petrol:
2.0 litres – 240PS
Diesel:
2.2 litres – 150 & 190PS
Gearbox:
6-speed FWD & 4WD
Best consumption:
2.2 FWD Diesel Coupé – 57.6mpg
Price at Nov ’11:
from £27,955
Full details of the Evoque are available on the
manufacturer’s website: www.landrover.com
Peter Cracknell – Nov 2011
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