Welsh Motoring Writers
  • Home
  • About us
  • News
  • Car Reviews
  • Blogs
  • Contact
  • Members
  • Blog

Range Rover Evoque

10/16/2011

 
Picture
Land Rover’s latest creation arrives this month to (almost total) rave reviews in the press. This is a light SUV with a hefty agenda – it’s meant to change the perception of Range Rover, carve out a premium niche above the already classy Freelander and attract customers new to the sector not just the company.

Range Rovers are seen as big, expensive, luxury vehicles and the Evoque offers a new interpretation of the marque. Range Rover Sport might have been a precedent (much further up the scale) but Audi’s TT was a very clear inspiration.

It put some distance between the image of Audi’s smaller products and the rest of the Volkswagen Group line-up – it had style and drove well.

As a coupe-like SUV (three- and five-door) the Evoque had to have handling to match the image.  It is shorter and lighter than the Freelander and has a lower, wider stance but all the attributes of a proper SUV - short approach and departure angles, etc. It is built on the same line as the Freelander at the Liverpool Halewood plant.

For a production car it is remarkably close to the look of the LRX concept seen at motor shows previously – the three-door especially. Visual impact assured, how does it go? It might not match a TT but, for a compact SUV, it is remarkably nimble. Steering, cornering and body control are pin-sharp compared to the rest.

But this is not at the expense of ride quality which remains pretty comfortable – quite a trick because you still sit higher in a vehicle taller than an equivalent car and the usual ‘solution’ is to strap down the suspension. For an extra £1,150 trick electro-magnetic dampers automatically adapt for a better on-road focus – it seems to work.

Like the Freelander, the Evoque is basically a front wheel drive car and the 4WD is added courtesy of a Haldex transmission unit (also used by 4x4 versions of the TT). However, this adaptation is ‘permanent 4x4’ apparently and the Land Rover “Terrain Response” row of buttons ensures it’s set up for a variety of conditions ahead. The usual electronic aids are there for Hill Descent, slippery slopes, etc.

As per Freelander again, there is no high/low ratio transfer box but, overall, the off-road drive package works surprisingly well in finding and exploiting what grip there might be under the wheels at any given time.

Diesel 2.2 litre 4 cylinder units of 150 or 190 bhp coupled to 6 speed manual gearboxes are the obvious choice here – although there is also a petrol 2.0 litre 140 automatic. Evoque 2.2 TD4 150 (4x4) can reach 115mph and 62mph in 10.3 seconds with 49.6mpg as the official combined figure.

Galling though it might be for a regular Range Rover owner - having just spent £90k on his latest pride and joy - to see his precious badge on a jumped up lower medium hatch, FWD versions of the Evoque start at £27,955.  The equivalent (five-door only) Freelander’s asking price is: £22,005.

Honour is salvaged, thankfully, by the 4x4 versions which do command respect: £28,705 is the starting point for 4x4 Evoques. Freelander 4x4s start at £22,755.  Audi’s Q3 at £27,980; BMW X1 (4x4 – xDrive is impressive) and X3 at £25,620 and £31,140; Infiniti EX (3.0 litre Diesel) £37,130.

It’s not just style – perceived build quality and cabin interiors do evoke (sic) the Range Rover ambience. The 4x4 ability is good and on-road dynamics are a class apart. It is something “new” and the order bank, apparently, substantial.

Nonetheless, just a tentative dip into the options list will send the price of an Evoque well into the £30k plus orbit. A cool calm look at Freelander, BMW and Infiniti equivalents might provide some perspective.

By Huw Thomas
First published in Welsh Farmer, the newspaper of the National Farmers' Union of Wales.

Comments are closed.

    View by date

    November 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    June 2021
    December 2020
    August 2020
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    April 2019
    August 2018
    June 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    September 2017
    May 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    July 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    October 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015
    May 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    October 2014
    September 2014
    March 2014
    November 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    March 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    October 2012
    July 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    October 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    May 2010
    December 2009
    October 2009
    August 2009
    November 2001


    View by tags

    All
    Alfa Romeo Giulietta
    Alfa Romeo Mito
    Aston Martin Rapide
    Audi A3
    Audi A6
    Audi A7 Sportback
    Audi Q3
    Bmw 520d
    Bmw 5 Series Touring
    Bugatti Veyron Super Sports
    Fiat 500 Twinair
    Ford Focus
    Honda Civic Type R
    Honda CR-Z
    Hyundai Ix35
    Infiniti Ex37
    Infiniti Fx
    Infiniti G37 Cabrio
    Jaguar Xf
    Jeep Grand Cherokee
    Kia Soul
    Kia Sportage
    Land Rover Discovery 4
    Lexus Ct200h
    Mazda3
    Mazda CX-5
    Mercedes-Benz C-Class
    Mini Countyman
    Mitsubishi Shogun
    Nissan X-Trail
    Peugeot 3008
    Peugeot 508 Rxh
    Peugeot 508 Saloon
    Peugeot Rcz
    Range Rover Evoque
    Renault Mégane
    Renault Mégane Coupe Cabriolet
    Renaultsport Clio Gordini
    Renault Wind
    Seat Leon Cupra R
    Seat Leon Ecomotive
    Skoda Octavia Scout
    Skoda Superb Estate
    Skoda Yeti
    Ssangyong Korando
    Suzuki Alto
    Suzuki Swift
    Toyota Avensis Saloon
    Volkswagen California
    Volkswagen Tiguan
    Volkswagen Touareg
    Volvo S60
    Volvo V60

    RSS Feed

© WELSH MOTORING WRITERS 2023