RE: Driven: Range Rover Evoque SD4 2.2 Dynamic Coupe

RE: Driven: Range Rover Evoque SD4 2.2 Dynamic Coupe

Thursday 24th November 2011

Range Rover Evoque SD4 2.2 Dynamic Coupe | Review

Yummy mummy must-have or a PH-worthy baby Range Rover? Time to find out



4x4s are not, fair to say, a PH staple. Especially ones that reek more of Chanel and posh shopping districts than mud and manure. But the Range Rover Evoque deserves your closer attention, whether you'd ever actually be seen dead in one or not. This is an important car for Jaguar-Land Rover, for the industry - for British design and manufacturing.

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.





Author
Discussion

Schnellmann

Original Poster:

1,893 posts

203 months

Thursday 24th November 2011
quotequote all
I don't want to say this too loud...but I actually quite like it! Probably wouldn't have one though as not really my type of car (and too big, bulky and poor vision for my wife, as she is very petite).

GerryKahn

324 posts

150 months

Thursday 24th November 2011
quotequote all
For anyone considering one just realise this - the 'Design Executive Director' for this car was Victoria Beckham. True story.

Ohterwise a good car, i've driven a couple and they certainly turns heads, although that could be me i am gorgeous...


J4CKO

41,282 posts

199 months

Thursday 24th November 2011
quotequote all
Schnellmann said:
I don't want to say this too loud...but I actually quite like it! Probably wouldn't have one though as not really my type of car (and too big, bulky and poor vision for my wife, as she is very petite).
I do as well, JLR have pulled a blinder with this, good luck to them.

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 biggrin

fathomfive

9,876 posts

189 months

Thursday 24th November 2011
quotequote all
J4CKO said:
I do as well, JLR have pulled a blinder with this, good luck to them.

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 biggrin
I still enjoy seeing the RRS, but have limited my appreciation to those without huge wheels, 30-section tyres and blinged-up-to-the-hilt additions. Which, admittedly, are very rare beasts.

nbetts

1,455 posts

228 months

Thursday 24th November 2011
quotequote all
I think it is a cracking car - forget stereotypes - it should be judged on its merit and merit alone. So far the judgement from me is only of the aethestic variety - and what I have seen - 10/10 - it is a thing of beauty - sadly, it is already not an uncommon sight on the roads with 4 already within 1/2 mile of my humble abode.

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.

CO2000

3,177 posts

208 months

Thursday 24th November 2011
quotequote all
I saw a white one last week (at the golf club smile) and was surprised how wide it was, looked pretty good.

VB certainly didn't inspire the rear end !

keith2.2

1,100 posts

194 months

Thursday 24th November 2011
quotequote all
GerryKahn said:
For anyone considering one just realise this - the 'Design Executive Director' for this car was Victoria Beckham. True story.

Ohterwise a good car, i've driven a couple and they certainly turns heads, although that could be me i am gorgeous...
"It's a great looking car but look who had a hand (to a greater or lesser extent) in designing it.."

..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!

V88Dicky

7,302 posts

182 months

Thursday 24th November 2011
quotequote all
I'll have a V8-engined one in a 'non-trendy' colour please.

camel_landy

4,863 posts

182 months

Thursday 24th November 2011
quotequote all
V88Dicky said:
I'll have a V8-engined one in a 'non-trendy' colour please.
Due to the Power:Weight, the petrol version has similar performance to the 5.0 supercharged RRS... smile


iain1970

239 posts

161 months

Thursday 24th November 2011
quotequote all
GerryKahn said:
For anyone considering one just realise this - the 'Design Executive Director' for this car was Victoria Beckham. True story.
And your point is...?

DeadMeat_UK

3,058 posts

281 months

Thursday 24th November 2011
quotequote all
Good review.

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?

Domf

286 posts

154 months

Thursday 24th November 2011
quotequote all
My wife and I both went to look at the Evoque at the local dealership as she had seen the pre launch pictures and really liked the style(well done JLR target audience achieved).
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

Bill

52,472 posts

254 months

Thursday 24th November 2011
quotequote all
Paddy_N_Murphy said:
£44,315 ?


FR2 in Jimmy Choo's ?
JLR in "Not daft" shocker. I'm looking forward to the rehabilitation of the RRSs image wink

cathalm

606 posts

243 months

Thursday 24th November 2011
quotequote all
It's a great car this, we should be proud of it. Not for everyone for sure but still a great car. I'm sure the PH smuggery brigade will be along soon (returning from commenting on youtube videos) and trash it but I would be surprised if anyone has a decent argument against it, save for that they personally don't like the style.

monthefish

20,439 posts

230 months

Thursday 24th November 2011
quotequote all
GerryKahn said:
For anyone considering one just realise this - the 'Design Executive Director' for this car was Victoria Beckham. True story.
rolleyes

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.

New Scot

208 posts

230 months

Thursday 24th November 2011
quotequote all
Love the acronym! Car's ok too!

Froomee

1,418 posts

168 months

Thursday 24th November 2011
quotequote all
I sat in one at Goodwood this year and the interior was lovely,I also see a black one on the way to work every day and it looks very nice especially the front end.

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.


Fire99

9,844 posts

228 months

Thursday 24th November 2011
quotequote all
cathalm said:
It's a great car this, we should be proud of it. Not for everyone for sure but still a great car. I'm sure the PH smuggery brigade will be along soon (returning from commenting on youtube videos) and trash it but I would be surprised if anyone has a decent argument against it, save for that they personally don't like the style.
My gripe.. £45k and 2wd, if i've got the story right.

V88Dicky

7,302 posts

182 months

Thursday 24th November 2011
quotequote all
It's 2WD??!!

I honestly thought these things were 4WD.

'Land Rover' doesn't really work if it's only 2WD.

A small Jaguar hatchback would have been more appropriate.

camel_landy

4,863 posts

182 months

Thursday 24th November 2011
quotequote all
Fire99 said:
My gripe.. £45k and 2wd, if i've got the story right.
Nope, story wrong... wink

It's a 4wd but you can get a 2wd version (cheaper and more economical).