Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
The production Evoque hit the road in 2011 as a 2012 model and I could hardly wait to get my hands on it, my first weeklong test being in a three-door coupe version. Looking long, low and sleek despite its abbreviated dimensions, its measurements being 4,371 mm (172.1 inches) long, 1,985 mm (78.1 inches) wide (with the mirrors folded), and 1,605 mm (63.2 inches) tall while riding on a 2,660-mm (104.7-inch) wheelbase, it was the hot hatch of premium SUVs, a beautiful
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Despite the early Land Rover concept, BMW was first to make waves in this more diminutive compact premium market by arriving in 2009 with its slightly longer albeit narrower X1, whereas Mini hit the road with its smaller yet taller Countryman the year after that. Audi joined the Evoque’s production debut in 2011 with its longer and narrower Q3 (although this model didn’t arrive in North America until late last year as a 2015 model), followed by Buick with its Chevy Trax-based Encore in 2012 (currently the smallest albeit second tallest CUV in the luxury
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
You may have noticed a common theme in the competitive dimensions mentioned above: the Evoque is wider than anything else in its class. And we’re not just talking a few millimetres here, but real noticeable width that results in much more interior
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
As for ride comfort, you’ll easily notice uneven road surfaces and poorly executed pavement patchwork as the Evoque is firmly sprung, but this said it’s never unpleasantly rough or jarring to the senses, resulting in good around town comfort levels. The Evoque’s real skills become evident when trying to get somewhere quickly, its point and shoot capability allowing quick lane changes and rapid-fire acceleration for dodging through clogged inner-city traffic.
The little Range Rover is even more enjoyable when all that traffic disappears. Photos
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
That high-speed stretch of long sweepers and doglegged hairpins is where the Evoque came alive, its direct-injection turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder utilizing all
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
High-speed handling is really the Evoque’s forte, mind you. It feels more like a sports coupe than the crossover utility its outward appearance suggests. The harder I pushed the more it seemed to lock into place, my Dynamic-trimmed tester’s
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
To that end, Terrain Response gathers information from vehicle speed, individual wheel speeds, longitudinal and lateral acceleration, cornering yaw rates, throttle position and brake pressure to provide the best possible traction in a given situation. Depending on road or trail surface you can switch from general to grass, gravel or snow modes for tackling the rough stuff, and when on pavement just leave it to its own devices. The on-demand system monitors overall vehicle dynamics and when required automatically activates four-wheel drive within 300 milliseconds. What’s more, at constant speeds above 35 km/h it automatically decouples
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
If its exemplary on- and off-road capability didn’t already set it apart from compact premium competitors, the Evoque’s absolutely gorgeous interior is in an entirely different league. And it’s not just in the quality of materials used, but rather the overall design that’s so stunning. Certainly Range Rover hasn’t skimped on finishings, such as the high-grade soft-touch padded dash top, the same material used on the dash facing, albeit stitched in red instead of black. That red comes as part of a no-cost Ebony and Pimento interior colour option (beige is also available) that includes the same perforated grain leather albeit with Pimento contrast
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Back inside, the Evoque’s door uppers are made from a nice soft synthetic as well, but such is par for the course in this range of vehicle, as is the harder plastic used on the lower portions of each door, plus the lower portions of the dash and console. This said, beautifully textured aluminum trim spans the upper portion of the dash, the lower sides of the centre stack and lower console. Aluminum circles the speakers and covers the speaker grilles as well, while comprising the door handles and ringing most of the switches and knobs. Press the ignition button and the aluminum-rimmed rotating gear selector rises up out of the lower console in similitude of a Yes in the Round stage,
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
On that note all of Evoque’s switchgear is superb, without even the tiniest bit a side-to-side wiggle from any of the buttons on the centre stack or steering wheel, unlike some of its German peers. They’re ideally damped too, while the electronics many of these buttons connect through to are top-tier equipment that measures up to anything else in the segment. From the full-colour infotainment display with integrated
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
I should mention that not everything you see here in the photos is base equipment. You’ve heard me banter around the Dynamic name a couple of times, one of six trim levels with the five-door model, including Pure at $47,695, Pure City at $49,895, Pure Plus at $52,195, Dynamic at $60,895, Prestige at $61,295 and Autobiography at $64,595. Each move up the respectability ladder doesn’t only mean additional features, but in the case of my Dynamic loaner includes styling
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Some features pulled from lesser trims include an integrated garage door opener, a powered tailgate, a fixed panoramic glass sunroof with powered blinds, eight-way
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
My tester also included the $1,200 Driver Technology Package that adds blind spot monitoring with closing vehicle sensing and reverse traffic detection, plus lane departure warning and traffic sign recognition, while those 20-inch tires I mentioned earlier rolled on a unique set of six-spoke ‘Style 601’ rims with vibration polished finish adding a cool $2,500 to the bill. The roof is normally body-colour, by the way, but mine was done out in Santorini Black at the cost of $650, while a $200 gloss black Aeroflip rear spoiler finished off the look and a $275 Ebony Morzine black headliner carried that theme inside where those heated rear seats I mentioned earlier added an extra $500 to the bottom line. These additions, which also included $1,200
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
The seats I mentioned in the previous paragraph are simply fabulous, incidentally. Truly some of the most supportive of any I’ve tested in this class. When I say supportive, they’re not only comfortable but totally hold backside and buttocks in place while executing sharp fast corners. The seats in back are also quite comfortable and as mentioned are roomy enough for three, whereas cargo space is more than adequate at 575 litres (20.3 cubic feet) with the 60/40 split rear seatbacks upright and a commendable 1,445 litres (51.0 cubic feet) when they’re laid flat. That last point might be my only complaint, or more specifically my request
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
So you see, you don’t have to go without luxury, performance or utility if you’re trying to make a smaller carbon footprint on terra firma. The Range Rover Evoque continues to lead its compact crossover SUV segment in style, on- and off-road performance, overall opulence and prestige.
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