2012 Range Rover Evoque: The urban woodsman

For years, the Land Rover name was associated with a rural way of life. Their ads showed stylish people dressed in Barbour coats and Wellington boots stopped in a field next to a Land Rover or a Range Rover. Usually, a dog, generally Labrador, sat quietly next to his master. Basically, they were selling the image of the wealthy countryman.

That was the past. Their clientele has evolved, growing younger and more city-bound. And the British automaker now has to market their wares to a new generation of buyers. Plus, they have to reckon with the fact that several other prestigious manufacturers have wormed their way into the large luxury SUV category. They’re also attracting buyers from the luxury compact category, a segment where Land Rover/Range Rover is underrepresented with only the LR2 and is having a hard time competing against the German competition.

Now that it’s under the umbrella of the Indian manufacturer Tata, Land Rover/Range Rover has a lot more financial resources at its disposal than it did when the company belonged to Ford. Bolstered by that support, Range Rover’s British engineers and stylists managed to create a brand new product: the Evoque. In theory, this newcomer should catch the interest of younger, more urban buyers, as opposed to the brand’s traditional demographic.

First, the shape

Since the company was founded, Land Rover/Range Rover has featured boxy shapes with a vertical front grille and large windows. The Evoque breaks from many of these aesthetic principles with a roofline that slopes toward the back, smaller windows – especially after the C-pillars – a front grille that blends in with the hood to create a plunging line, and a full-size panoramic roof. Put all this together and you’ve got quite a unique silhouette. They kept the lipped hood, the raised wheel wells and the reduced front and rear overhangs. Better still, two body types are available: a five-door model and a three-door coupe. These days, two-door SUVs aren’t exactly the norm. Once again, it’s a bold move.
It’s elegant overall and derived very closely from the LRX concept vehicle. In fact, the development team managed to remain almost completely true to the original design. In the passenger compartment, both the presentation and the choice of materials are very modern. The theme of wood accents galore and beige leather has been replaced by an excellent harmony of black and brushed aluminum. They also refrained from using those bizarre controls that the in-house stylists like so much. This time, not only is it more current, it’s more functional, too. The Terrain Response controls are located on the central console and are easily accessible. A large button in the centre of the console rises up once you hit the engine start button. You can then use this control to select gears. When the engine is cut, this button lowers again.

As is the trend with this manufacturer, electronics are king. You can order an 825-watt Meridian audio system and even video screens in the front seat headrests so that passengers in the back can watch movies. Moreover, cameras located on the periphery of the car help you get a view of the surroundings. You can even select one or two cameras in particular and enlarge the image, which is displayed on the centre screen. This feature is very useful for off-road driving, especially when you’ve strayed from the beaten path and there’s no one there to guide you.

Finally, the incline of the roof and the relatively compact size of the Evoque would lead you to believe that the back seats would be made for smaller people. Not so! Even a hefty six-footer would be comfortable. However, there’s no inside handle to grip, making exiting the vehicle more difficult.

Well adapted mechanics

Seemingly, the Evoque has been equipped with a platform and mechanics chosen specifically for a model that’s long on aesthetics, but short on substance. After all, the platform is derived from the Land Rover LR2, which, in turn, is related to the Ford Mondeo. As for the engine, it’s only a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo whose engine block also comes from Ford. Don’t forget that this American manufacturer used to own Land Rover/Range Rover.

But once you get behind the wheel, you’ll quickly realize that this vehicle is more than the sum of its parts. The engineers in Solihull did an excellent job and both the engine and the platform deserve high marks. Also note that the Terrain Response system can be paired with optional MagneRide shocks. Controlled magnetically, they help vary the oil viscosity in the shocks to optimize their output almost instantly according to needs and conditions. In addition to the Terrain Response’s electronic traction control, the Evoque comes equipped with several other electronic driving aids, such as hill descent control, which helps hold and start the car on inclines.

Urban woodsman

As a rule, luxury compact SUVs target a primarily urban clientele for whom all-wheel drive is just insurance against snowy and icy roads. Very few people actually buy these vehicles to go off-roading in the woods. But that doesn’t mean that this Range Rover is an SUV in name only. On the contrary, its 25-degree pitch angle, 33-degree departure angle, and 213-mm ground clearance help it overcome the most frightening obstacles. What’s more, its completely electronic all-wheel drive is very efficient. In fact, even if you’re an off-roading novice, Terrain Response, which helps you select the mode according to the type of terrain you’re driving on, will make you look like a seasoned veteran.
During the vehicle introduction, we climbed Blackcomb Peak near Whistler, British Columbia, on poorly maintained back roads, and the Evoque handled it like a champion. Then, on the stretch of road between Vancouver and Whistler, we were able to ascertain that the vehicle handles well and its electric power steering offers good feedback.

A 2.0-litre engine for such a heavy vehicle may not seem powerful enough, but thanks to the fuel injection and turbocharger, you’ll be hard pressed to find fault with its accelerations and pick up. With 240 hp, it goes from 0-100 km/hr in 7.4 seconds, and the Aisin-Warner six-speed automatic gearbox   shifts smoothly.

The Range Rover Evoque is impressive in more ways than one. On the road, it’s pleasant to drive and the multiple electronic settings help it adapt to any and all situations. Its compact size makes it well suited to city driving and it has surprisingly good off-road potential. On the downside, you have to be careful when negotiating any water channels on your path, particularly with the Dynamic trim level, since there’s a risk of scraping the front protective molding. Furthermore, the exterior rearview mirrors are too big and cut into the ¾ front visibility. Finally, there’s no interior handle, which sure would have been nice when off-roading.

Three trim levels are available: Pure, Prestige and Dynamic. The suggested retail prices for Canada range from $47,000 to $62,000, depending on the model and options. We still don’t know how reliable this vehicle will be, and that will determine how successful it is in the long run.