Range Rover has done an impressive job with its Evoque model, which is taking the prestige brand into new territory, writes Craig Donaldson

The conception and production of the Evoque was a smart move by Range Rover. The manufacturer has long held a respected spot in both the market and minds of the prestige large SUV set with the likes of the Vogue and Discovery 4, and the Evoque has taken the marque into new territory for potential customers in the premium compact SUV segment.

Range Rover calls the Evoque a “cross-coupé”. It is the smallest, lightest and most fuel-efficient model to wear the Range Rover badge. While it is also the cheapest (with prices ranging from $49,995 to $77,395, excluding options, on-road and dealer costs), there is no compromise on quality, and it pleasantly delivers on pretty high expectations when it comes to luxury and performance.

The design department
The Evoque is a good-looking car and clearly differentiates itself in the design department from competitors such as Audi’s Q5 and BMW’s X3. Range Rover’s design team have hit a sweet spot with the Evoque’s sharp and stylish design, which is derived from Range Rover’s LRX concept car. It is a contemporary evolution (but not revolution) for Range Rover, and while the Evoque retains existing brand design cues such as the clamshell bonnet and floating roof, it is distinguished by a rising beltline on the side and a distinctive taper to the floating roofline.

Evoque customers can choose between a three-door coupé and a family friendlier five-door version. The roofline of the latter stands 30mm higher than the coupé, which provides the same headroom for rear seat passengers as a Range Rover Sport. Gerry McGovern, Range Rover’s design director, believes the Evoque’s unique style “will attract a new generation of Range Rover customers who have never considered an SUV before, such as premium coupé buyers who would like to make a bold new statement” – and with more than 61,000 units sold globally in the first half of 2013 (helping Jaguar Land Rover on its way to a record sales performance), Range Rover looks like it is making good on this vision.

A look inside
Range Rover’s superlative styling also extends to the Evoque’s interior. It is nice inside – as you would expect from a premium brand such as Range Rover – and its design team have again taken their inspiration from the LRX concept interior with a clean and contemporary treatment of interior surfaces. From the open, sloping structure of the centre console through to the svelte dashboard (which nicely mirrors the curved black lines of the Evoque’s rear roof), there is an air of solid quality to the Evoque’s interior.

There is a bucketload of options for buyers as well, and some of the nicer extras include a full glass fixed panoramic roof as well as a full leather interior which incorporates more than 10 square metres of leather (equivalent to more than three full hides) for premium models. Practical functionality is a prominent feature of the interior as well. There’s a nice, roomy stowage area beneath the centre console, and visibility through the letterbox-style rear window is deceptively impressive. I initially had doubts about this, but the rear-view mirror in tandem with large side mirrors combine to provide a rear view that is among the best of any Range Rover.

On the technology front, an eight-inch high definition touch-screen display provides access to a wide range of features including audio, video, navigation and phone, while other nice touches include a high-end Meridian sound system, blind spot monitoring, a surround camera system as well as digital TV and DVD playback capability as optional extras.

Performance
The Evoque comes with a range of engines (and price tags to match), from a 2.2-litre turbo diesel (which churns out 110kW in the eD4 and TD4 models or 140kW in the SD4 model) through to a range-topping 177kW 2.0-litre petrol turbocharged engine in the Si4 model. These engine variants are designed to deliver a balance of power and efficiency, and overall, performance is respectable.

Acceleration is quick and punchy (the Si4 petrol model will hit 0–100km/h in 7.6 seconds), and the Evoque is certainly nimble and responsive enough when it comes to handling about town. While it won’t keep up with some of its bigger and more expensive siblings, the Evoque does deliver range-leading fuel efficiency. Compared to conventional larger capacity engines with a similar power output, for example, the new Si4 engine can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 20 per cent.

Customers can also choose between six-speed manual and automatic transmissions (the latter gets you a stylish aluminium “dial” gearshift which rises out of the centre console) as well as a two-wheel drive option or standard full-time intelligent four-wheel drive system.

Those who want to take it off-road won’t be overly disappointed either. With generous ground clearance (it actually boasts greater ground clearance, albeit only by 12mm, than Range Rover’s Freelander), the Evoque will capably tackle a good range of pretty harsh off-road conditions – though in reality these are probably better left to its more serious off-road siblings.

In summary, Range Rover’s Evoque is thoughtfully and practically engineered and stylishly designed. Overall, it is hard to fault – it’s about as close as you can get to a perfect balance of form and function in its segment and could easily lay claim to the title of the perfect compact SUV.

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