We review the Range Rover Evoque from price to economy and all its features
IMAGINE a Range Rover capable of nearly 50mpg and with the CO2 emissions of a supermini.
Well, I’ve just had a ride in it and it’s called the Evoque, the most ground-breaking model since the original shocked the motoring world in 1970.
British jobs boost ... new Evoque will be built at Land Rover's Halewood factory
It is the eco-friendly 4x4 we’ve been waiting for — it will kill the gas guzzling Chelsea Tractor image overnight.
This week I had a world exclusive first drive and while I may have been in the passenger seat, it was enough to convince me it’s the model that rewrites the rule book.
The handles like a sporty coupé, not a 4x4, but with the ride, comfort and sophistication you’d expect from a Range Rover.
It corners at speeds you wouldn’t believe. Its road holding is staggering. Think of the agility of a Mini Cooper or Audi TT and you’ll get some idea of just how good it is.
Switch to motorway cruising or crawling through heavy city traffic and it becomes as comfortable as your favourite armchair.
I have to wait to see if the car has the legendary 4x4 off-road capabilities of a Range Rover, but they assure me it does and as they are the experts I see no reason to doubt them.
They also claim that the two-wheel drive version — another first for Range Rover — is equally impressive off-road and helps push the economy of the diesel engine to close to 50mpg.
And the 2.2litre turbo diesel is one of the most refined and quietest I’ve ever travelled in. Even at low speeds, it’s petrol quiet. It’s fitted with Land Rover’s latest stop/start technology that automatically cuts the engine in traffic to boost the fuel economy and help reduce CO2 emissions to just 159g/km.
The engine is smooth and instantly responsive, especially if you use the F1-style paddles on the steering wheel that allow you to switch from auto to manual changes to maximise the Evoque’s handling.
My test drive across the Welsh countryside, with the firm’s handling guru Mike Cross at the wheel, left me in no doubt that Land Rover have motoring’s newest phenomenon.
The is no fashion poser but an authentic Range Rover in every way, but in my view the most fun to drive.
Where its big brothers can’t help but remind you they’re nearly 2½ tons and need handling with care, it has the balance and agility of a gymnast.
The firm already have a waiting list of thousands of orders from all over the world — the public have been captivated by the car.
Its dramatic, radical styling gives it the look of an SUV coupé, that will appeal to buyers from Hollywood to Halifax. And it’s a SUV that will appeal particularly to female drivers, who will love its compact size — it’s just 14ft 3in long and 6ft 2in wide, slightly smaller than a Freelander. This is a 4x4 that isn’t intimidating and easy to drive.
When you step inside the Evoque it is like a trendy, shrink-wrapped Range Rover. From the sumptuous stitched leather to the brushed aluminium trim, it oozes quality.
It goes on sale in September in three and five-door versions, with prices expected to start at £35,000, but get your order in now.
This is a car that could sell on style alone, But this is not just motoring’s latest fashion statement, it’s a vehicle of real substance.
The is another good news story for British jobs as it’s creating 1,000 new ones at Land Rover’s Halewood factory.
Boss John Edwards is confident the firm have a major hit on their hands. He said: “The reaction from around the world has been phenomenal. We have 100,000 potential customers, the majority of whom haven’t even seen the car in the metal.”
Murray Dietsh, is the man leading the team that has to deliver Land Rover’s most important vehicle ever.
He says that it is a car where there is no room for error when it comes to quality and reliabity.
“We have created a vehicle that has struck an emotional chord with people. It will be a Range Rover that people aspire to. But this car has to be absolutely right to live up to the expectation and it needs to drive as well as it looks.”
Murray added: “This vehicle shifts the 4x4 mindset. It’s a game changer in looks, fuel economy and C02 emissions. We have left no stone unturned in getting the Evoque just right.”
What to look out for when buying a used Range Rover Evoque
On the whole, Evoque customers are a happy bunch. That said, there have been some complaints about fuel efficiency, which some owners feel is too short of the published figures.
There have been no recalls for the Evoque since launch. It’s always a good idea to keep an eye out, though, and in the event of a recall the work will be completed without charge by a franchised dealer.