Evoque Road Test Report
The new Range Rover Evoque has won many awards in the short time it has been on sale. In fact, about the only accolade I could not find is for having the largest door mirrors - they are probably the largest of any non-commercial vehicle I have recently driven!
This new Range Rover has come a long way from the first model in 1970 which had a hose out interior and a lovely rumbling V8 petrol engine. The Evoque is unashamedly on-road and has more than a nod towards saving the planet with its engine efficiency.It is classed as a mini sport utility vehicle and will compete with BMW's X1 and the Q3 by Audi and is aimed at younger urban buyers rather than the larger Range Rover models which often conjure thoughts of tweed and Labradors.
Technically it is a clever car with a choice of either 2.2 litre turbodiesel engine or the slightly thirstier, but smoother, 2.0 litre petrol all-aluminium unit. Land Rover's Terrain Response is fitted to all models bar the eD4 derivatives. Emissions for the eD4 2WD model are an impressive 129g/km of CO2 with the ability to return over 55 miles per gallon. A sports car-like ride can be guaranteed if you choose the Prestige or Dynamic models with the MagneRide system which monitors the vehicle movement at least 1000 times a second and adjusts the dampers accordingly.
The interior is a pleasant place to be, and it still has the lofty driving position, albeit not quite as lofty as a new Range Rover or even my much-loved old Land Rover Discovery. The forward road visibility is good, which slightly makes up for the door mirrors, which would probably hide a baby elephant at a safari park, and the curved rear window which has the outline of a First World War Zeppelin. The rear window is a consequence of the sloping, and frankly, marmite (love it or loathe it) rear, anyway RR supply a rear view camera to help you reverse.
I drove both petrol and diesel options, the first being a Coupe Dynamic which with a few extras such as Privacy Glass and Bi-Xenon Headlamps plus Contrasting black roof which came in at £42000. It had keyless entry and push button start as is usual these days but the surprise was how smooth the auto-box was and how quickly the vehicle sprints away when the accelerator pedal was prodded. It felt very secure and soaked up most of the county's pot-holes without a problem.
The diesel option is a little noisier on start up as you would expect - I drove the Range Rover Evoque SD4 (190hp Diesel) Automatic with the Lux pack - and very nearly the fist thing I did was to pull over to check that I didn't have a puncture. This model comes equipped with the standard fit suspension which makes the vehicle roll a little more and feel strangely wider and heavier. It is only after comparing the vehicles this way that you realise just how good the MagneRide system really is. The diesel is no slouch performance-wise and with the practicality of five doors it is more family friendly than the coupe.
The Diesel had more toys fitted including a full-length glass roof, the famous television / sat nav which cleverly splits to allow me to follow the full screen sat nav while my daughter watched the full screen television - very clever. But, not as clever as the park assist, which really has to be experienced to be believed. Simply pull along side a parking space, indicate in the direction of the space, press the button and the sensors will evaluate if it is feasible (it will park in as little as 1.2 x the vehicle length) follow dashboard instructions for Drive or Reverse, cover the footbrake and simply fold arms, if you wish, then the steering wheel twirls away and effortlessly it is parked dead central and up to the kerb.
Yes, the rear seats are a bit cramped in the coupe and the boot only adequate, but this is a Range Rover for the streets not for weekend trips up the Welsh mountains or trips to the tip.
The beautifully stitched leather seats and dashboard, quality of switchgear and mood lighting show us this.
And with 18000 orders already taken it looks like it's going to be a huge success.
Words and pictures are copyright protected 2011 www.dominicparkesphotography.co.uk
