RE: Evoque: is it for girls?

RE: Evoque: is it for girls?

Thursday 11th October 2012

Evoque: is it for girls?

Debate surrounding the PHness or otherwise of the Range Rover Evoque continues...



So, is the Range Rover Evoque a PH-worthy car we should be celebrating? Or a style over content poseur's special more suited to being (badly) parked outside the local health spa or shopping mall?

We like 'our' Evoque, and so do the girls
We like 'our' Evoque, and so do the girls
Well, the one we've been running here on PH continues to inspire debate and a degree of uncertainty both among the PistonHeads team and community. But the girls have spoken and, as flagged up in the chat following our last update on 'our' Evoque, voted it Women's World Car of the Year.

Evoque cynics will now be pointing and saying 'told you so!' before dismissing it for that notorious Posh Spice design influence and general blinginess. And, admittedly, it does conform to certain stereotypes about the typical buyers of posh SUVs and crossovers.

But there's a fair groundswell of pro-Evoque opinion here on PH, driven partly by national pride but also the fact that it's an interesting and distinctive car with plenty to admire. A few months into 'ownership' and we're still excited by it, which is more than would be said if we were running an Audi Q5 or BMW X3. We're guessing. We've had PHers turn up to Sunday Services in them and run one as a PH Carpool, attracting over 200 comments in the process. Hell, Garlick's even tentatively expressed admiration for some of the blingier styling 'upgrades' being touted about. Stuart's onto HR already...

There are plenty of Evoque-owning PHers
There are plenty of Evoque-owning PHers
Anyone sniggering 'girl's car' best read through the WWCotY shortlist though. The sight of the SLK in third place in the sports car category may confirm most assumptions. But it's beaten by a supercharged V8 Jag - the XKR - and the most popular sports car among women is ... the Porsche 911.

And not an MX-5 in sight!

Author
Discussion

Cotic

Original Poster:

469 posts

151 months

Thursday 11th October 2012
quotequote all
It's a very striking car, and a welcome diversion from the myriad of grey Audis and BMWs round these parts.

I'd certainly buy one (for the missus)

Evo

3,462 posts

253 months

Thursday 11th October 2012
quotequote all
We thought about an Evoque before purchasing our E Class, It just kept saying to me "can't afford a proper Range Rover".

It's a very nice piece of design but for me, more female orientated than male.

only1ian

684 posts

193 months

Thursday 11th October 2012
quotequote all
Was it the car itself or the colour they liked the most?

otolith

55,899 posts

203 months

Thursday 11th October 2012
quotequote all
I don't know who it is for, only that I can't think of a single reason why it would be for me.

Hitch78

6,100 posts

193 months

Thursday 11th October 2012
quotequote all
Evo said:
We thought about an Evoque before purchasing our E Class, It just kept saying to me "can't afford a proper Range Rover".

It's a very nice piece of design but for me, more female orientated than male.
So why does your E Class not make you feel than you can't afford an S Class then?!

RenesisEvo

3,602 posts

218 months

Thursday 11th October 2012
quotequote all
Article said:
...more suited to being (badly) parked...
With that tiny, high rear window, I imagine bad parking will be common-place, even if there are parking sensors/cameras.

How have the PH team found the car for visibility (all-round)?

Mr2Mike

20,143 posts

254 months

Thursday 11th October 2012
quotequote all
Like a Range Rover, but more useless.

TACottle

184 posts

152 months

Thursday 11th October 2012
quotequote all
It is pretty girly, to be fair.

Evo

3,462 posts

253 months

Thursday 11th October 2012
quotequote all
Hitch78 said:
Evo said:
We thought about an Evoque before purchasing our E Class, It just kept saying to me "can't afford a proper Range Rover".

It's a very nice piece of design but for me, more female orientated than male.
So why does your E Class not make you feel than you can't afford an S Class then?!
It does ha ha, The Evoque is a very nice looking car I'd just rather have a Range Rover Sport if we were to purchase an off roader.

The E Class was chosen because we've had Mercs before and got a good deal on it smile

tony993

339 posts

214 months

Thursday 11th October 2012
quotequote all
Well, since you ask, I'd rather not be reading about this type of vehicle on PH.

I'm uninterested in anything you sit in then find you're a yard off the ground.

gtdc

4,259 posts

282 months

Thursday 11th October 2012
quotequote all
Looks like a car for a second wife.

Watchman

6,391 posts

244 months

Thursday 11th October 2012
quotequote all
I quite like the styling and the fact that it's a smaller but still very capable 4X4 machine. My wife, who currently drives a Merc ML, doesn't like its styling at all. I thought it would be a suitable replacement for the ML when she came to get rid because it would be cheaper to run (considerably) and for the 2nd hand price we bought the ML for, we could buy a NEW Evoque.

How wrong I was... to get an Evoque with any decent spec level, you will pay the same as a top spec ML with the 3-litre diesel.

I do genuinely believe it shows the way for all the medium-future 4x4s though. We can't keep producing and running machines that only manage mid-20s mpg figures, even if we want 4WD and luggage/passenger space. These smaller machines need to point the way but not at the frankly ridiculous prices LR cling to.

StottyZr

6,860 posts

162 months

Thursday 11th October 2012
quotequote all
I'd say it was designed with females in mind.

Ultimately, my mum really wants one and I don't...

Gren

1,947 posts

251 months

Thursday 11th October 2012
quotequote all
The missus loves hers....bought it for the looks.

That said, it's a surprisingly nice place to be and drives fairly well for such a lump.

Rawwr

22,722 posts

233 months

Thursday 11th October 2012
quotequote all
I'm sure it's great at what it does, I'm just not entirely sure what it is that it does. I can't shake the feeling that its USP is to purposely appeal to shallow, orange people. Whilst it might be a nice, comfortable, refined drive and may even score brilliantly in every test you could throw at it, I'd love to know the answer to the question that was asked at their first design meeting where someone said; "We've studied the demographic and we need to design a car for..."

I'd be surprised if someone in the meeting didn't say; "...tw*ts?"

Nice enough car, though.

deltashad

6,731 posts

196 months

Thursday 11th October 2012
quotequote all
It's striking, quite pretty, but certainly not manly.

The misses is sitting next to me, she thinks its a girls car.

That's proof enough for me.


SystemParanoia

14,343 posts

197 months

Thursday 11th October 2012
quotequote all
ill save my verdict until i see some videos of it following prepped landys round p&p sites

V8mate

45,899 posts

188 months

Thursday 11th October 2012
quotequote all
gtdc said:
Looks like a car for a second wife.
People actually want more than one? yikes

Ed T

462 posts

138 months

Thursday 11th October 2012
quotequote all
If there is any debate about any car being a "girls" car then it's too late for us chaps! No matter how good the car, if a guy starts driving it someone somewhere will have the thought,"is that his GFs/wifes" or "bit of a sift choice buddy".

Shame as I love the SLK AMG but will probably never opt for it for this exact reason.

MrTickle

1,825 posts

238 months

Thursday 11th October 2012
quotequote all
V8mate said:
gtdc said:
Looks like a car for a second wife.
People actually want more than one? yikes
I introduce my wife as my '1st wife' just to keep her on her toes hehe