Range Rover Evoque SD4 2.2 Dynamic Coupe | Review
Yummy mummy must-have or a PH-worthy baby Range Rover? Time to find out
So it's satisfying to hear that it's actually pretty damned good. You'll likely have already made your mind up whether or not such cars - or maybe the stereotypical driver thereof - are a good thing or not, but if there's one thing the Evoque will succeed at regardless it's grabbing your attention.
This is a stand-out car and, excitement of the new or not, really sets itself apart as something different. Too much car design is about clinging onto past glories but the Evoque manages to, er, evoke the traditions of Land Rover and Range Rover while distilling them into a thoroughly forward-looking design.
For a supposed crossover it even feels more off-roader like to drive than you might expect. It feels tall, if not top heavy, and it's clear there's a fair amount of suspension travel even if the springs aren't especially enthusiastic about offering it up. Visibility is appalling, the slit-like windows making it feel more like an armoured vehicle than a trendy crossover. But, slipping back into stereotypes, that's probably the way the target audience likes it. Junctions are especially bad - two-wheelers beware the Evoque SMIDSY - but at least the glass roof of our test car (£44,315 with Lux pack upgrade) prevented it from feeling too claustrophobic.
The interior is great too. Like the exterior it's modern, brimming with confidence and feels solid in all the right places. It's clearly built to a tighter budget than, say, an Audi (plucking a not entirely random benchmark by which all interiors must be compared, by law) but disguises the fact well and has a pleasing chunkiness. Indeed, confidence is a vibe that pervades the Evoque from front to back and it's a delight to experience.
You just get the feeling the design team really knew what they wanted and the production guys were on-side in making it a reality in a way that kept the bean counters happy. Which is a rare event. Little touches like the projected Evoque outline from the wing mirror puddle lights show a sense of fun and 'for the hell of it' creativity too. And the famed Victoria Beckham input? We can only assume rear-seat access was based on someone of her build, not pie-eating PHers. Get the five-door if you've any interest in carrying full-size passengers.
Our 190hp SD4 test car (there's a 150hp TD4 too) was gruff and workmanlike but impressively frugal, recording mid 40s on the commute to PH Towers according to the trip. Whether or not there's the room under the bonnet for something more feisty or the inclination to fit it remains to be seen but the 240hp petrol Si4 is perhaps the more PH-worthy choice. A theory we look forward to putting to the test soon.
For now though Range Rover is going the other way, with two-wheel drive and reduced emissions to suit the inevitably suburban lifestyle most will probably lead. Ours included an impressive selection of symbols implying suitably Range Rovery off-road abilities via the (optional) Terrain Response but none were troubled on our tenure with the car.
You don't have to like what the Evoque stands for. But you can be proud that British design and engineering have themselves such an exciting platform. Yes, it's pricey. Yes, it's compromised practically. But you just know they'll sell 'em by the truckload here and abroad. And that's something we can be proud of.
I will enjoy it until I see every third car is one, like with the RRS, that will happen but for now its rare and my misanthropy has not extended to include it yet
I will enjoy it until I see every third car is one, like with the RRS, that will happen but for now its rare and my misanthropy has not extended to include it yet
The real proof will be in what it is like as a daily hack and whether things like the alledged poor visibilty or said top heaviness blight the so-far faultless score from my good self.
Well Done Jaguar/Land Rover or whoever you are. It is a pleasure to see these trundling around.
Ohterwise a good car, i've driven a couple and they certainly turns heads, although that could be me i am gorgeous...
..suggests to me she should have a hand in designing more cars. It's really not an arguement that stands up, is it?
Great looking car, great interior, british built and something to be proud of. Thumbs up and back slapping all roud, I say!
I quite like the idea of this, although it's a bit too much "look at me" at the moment cos it's so new - in 5 years when the next "look at me" comes along, one of these could work.
Also, AMAZED the PH collective haven't shot it down loudly in this thread yet !
Is there something about it that has changed people minds, or are we finally growing up from our standard "FASTERLOWERWIDER is the only way" thinking?
However when she sat in a 3 door example in the showroom (my wife's 5ft 7inch so sits higher in the seat than the average height female, VB I believe is about 5ft 3-4inches), she immediately commented on the lack of all round vision. "Why have a rear view mirror, you can't see through the letter box rear window". We moved to the 5 door and because the roofline is higher the rearview improved dramatically.
My question is did VB actually ever sit in a 3 door? I sat in the 3 door and regardless of gender, the car has a serious design problem with seeing anything out the rear window. Is this 'style over practicallity', now isn't that heard often mentioned in the fashion world VB
For anyone who actually cares about the truth rather than what they read in the tabloid press, Victoria Beckham was actually brought in very late in the process, more for the (apparent) cache of the name than anything else, and had no real input to any of the deisgn, other than a few 'choice' finishes in the interior.
It really surprises me that people who don't really have a clue about cars sign up to, and post on, Pistonheads.
I still think they are a tad expensive and cars like this aren't really my "thing" but better than every other effort in this class i can think of.
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