2012 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque Reviews

NEW In a sea of unrelenting sameness the Range Rover Evoque stands out with its super low roofline giving it a sporty style unlike any other SUV. But it's not just about the look of the Evoque, it's also a capable vehicle on and off road, as you would expect from such a respected brand in the off-road field. Like all

If we judged content before appraising appearance, the little black dress and Zegna suits immediately would be obsolete.Expressions such as “love at first sight’’ would be redundant and we would choose products and partners by delving into their intimate specifications. Which sounds more like a life not worth living. For without being captured by the looks, the style and the individuality of a person or something less innate, we would all live in grey concrete boxes and drive grey Trabants.The Range Rover Evoque is one of the most desired moving metal objects on the market. It has the hallmarks of a product you just want to own - style, individuality and function within its pretty form. It’s just damn expensive - in fact, it’s more expensive than can be justified by the sum of its parts. Which is why no-one spotted this test car as the cheapest Evoque and one that doesn’t even come with the Range Rover hallmark of all-wheel drive.Poor. This is the Evoque eD4 Pure manual that costs from $49,995. It has front-wheel drive, good - but hardly excessive - equipment levels and five doors. Amazingly, the three-door Evoque is $1500 dearer. Because people pay for style and it’s presumed that the less number of doors makes it more desirable.The money buys an interior with partial leather upholstery, eight-speaker audio with Bluetoth, 125mm information touch screen, cruise control, rear park sensors and 17-inch wheels. The tester added the Pure Tech pack ($4500) then added 19-inch alloys (another $1000), metallic paint ($1300), contrasting roof colour ($955), premium sat-nav $3400) and rear vents ($190) which helped bring the total price to $61,340 plus on-road costs. But it looks good.Amazingly, this car looks almost identical to the LRX concept car shown at Detroit in 2008. That’s a good thing and the reason why it’s still in such huge demand and, cynically, why Range Rover can charge so much for it. It’s a basic Freelander body from the waist down with a wedge-shaped turret above, highlighted by narrow side glass.It’s a big car - much more than the photos indicate – and impressively wide. But it’s not efficient in its cabin area mainly because it is designed to be a luxury car rather than - in the case of the AWD versions - an off-road machine. Cabin design is similar to the bigger Range Rovers, with striking good looks, simple switchgear design and good use of high-quality materials.The dash material in the eD4 is soft-touch plastic with contrasting colours - in this case, a tasty coffee and cream. The rear seats split and fold almost flat, there’s a space-saver spare under the floor and there’s plenty of room for four adults.Range Rover follows the leads of others by lopping off the drive shaft to the rear wheels. The engine is a 110kW/380Nm 2.2-litre turbo-diesel - as fitted to the Jaguar XF and Freelander, though maybe in different power outputs - which drives through a sweet six-speed manual gearbox. Pity is that almost no buyer is going to get the manual. There’s a six-speed auto as a $2480 option. All the running gear is from the Freelander and this includes electric park brake, independent suspension, four-wheel disc brakes and electric-assist steering.The Evoque carries over the Freelander’s so-so four-star crash rating. It also gets seven airbags and a host of electronic aids including roll and trailer stability on top of the electronic stability and traction control. The spare is a space-saver. There are rear park sensors but no rear camera as standard.If you think the Evoque is all about style, wait until you drive it. Clearly it is made for the driver who places comfort above other factors. Yet that doesn’t mean the Evoque is slow or a wallower through the bends. In fact, you have to push the 2WD Pure quite hard before you know it’s not an all-wheel drive. The handling is very good and the body roll is minimal.The electric steering could have a bit more feel but it’s more than adequate for the car’s role. Ride comfort is very good and road noise is minimal, and this despite it being a diesel. The gearbox is smooth with crisp, short throws and the clutch action is light. But the market still wants this as an automatic. But it’s not perfect. The visibility is poor to all sides, worsened by the huge side mirrors. Yes, they’re great for lane changing but they mask a huge area alongside the car.

Range Rover Evoque is an indication that the British 4WD maker understands the reality of the so-called soft-roader vehicle. The burgeoning compact SUV market, or soft-roader if you like to call it that, initially saw Land Rover moving down in size with the Freelander. But it retained the sort of off-road ability Land Rover owners deemed to be essential. Land Rover then displayed a stunning looking concept vehicle that drew a lot of favourable comments at motor shows worldwide. A concept that eventually became the Range Rover Evoque.Evoque’s 2WD was launched midway through 2012 as a lower cost option, priced from $49,995, for buyers who have no plans to take their little Range Rovers off-road. Which is actually a very large number of owners, though not all of them will be willing to place themselves in that category – they still have distant dreams of one day tackling adventurous routes in the great Aussie outback.What looks like an unrealistically low roof is actually a clever optical illusion. Though the Evoque’s roof slopes sleekly down at the rear, the angle is not as sharp as it seems, because the rising belt line creates what looks to be an ultra-low roof. Even more importantly, it also maintains the macho look desired by SUV buyers.The design and quality of in-cabin materials is impressive and we can envisage wealthy owners of upmarket Range Rover Autobiography models buying Evoques for their fortunate children. We found the front seats of the baby Range Rover comfortable and pretty spacious, particularly for a vehicle of this size.Range Rover Evoque in four-door format has sufficient headroom for a six-footer in the back seats, though that’s probably about the limit, so check for yourself if you’re likely to have tall travellers back there. Legroom – we are talking about the four-door again – in the rear is good if the people in front are willing to give up a few centimetres of their legroom.The view to the side from the back seats suffers because of the aforementioned rising belt line and smaller children may become bored as they can’t see outside properly. Note that the two-door variant of the Evoque, which Range Rover cheekily calls a coupe, has slightly less headroom in the back seat than the four-door. Indeed, the use of the word coupe for the body probably makes sense because owners of coupes of any type don’t expect there to be a lot of room in the rear compartment. Boot space is good and we had no trouble fitting in a couple of fair sized suitcases without having to fold down the rear seats.Our road test vehicle for the last week has been a four-door Evoque with a turbo-diesel engine that produces 110 kW of power and the newly introduced 2WD system. In any case, the engineers have given the 2WD Evoque the same ground clearance as the 4WD, so it can tackle dirt tracks and the like.Fuel consumption around town was impressively low at seven to nine litres per hundred kilometres. It’s possible to get consumption under six litres per hundred on the highway without too much pussyfooting.On sealed surfaces the Range Rover Evoque handles almost as well as a good hatchback. You wouldn't exactly describe it as being sporty, but it comes closer than you might expect. We feel there is more road noise on rough sealed surfaces than is acceptable in an upmarket vehicle.It had decent performance without too much turbo lag. It’s noisier from outside the vehicle than many diesel cars. From the inside, particularly when cruising, it’s virtually indistinguishable from the petrol engine in the way sounds are suppressed.Visibility to the rear is not good as the shallow back windscreen gives a letter-box effect. A reversing camera and parking sensors make life safer.Range Rover Evoque’s use of 2WD may anger some of the purists who love the famed British marque, but the 2WD option makes a lot of sense and will help to secure the long-term future of the company in these tough times. 

The Pure ED4 is where the Evoque model lineup kicks off - at $49,995 but we seriously doubt you'd be able to find one in base spec. Range Rover has a "client customisation program" with Evoque that lets buyers choose what they want (at extra cost).EXCLUSIVEIt means no two Evoques will be the same - they'll all be "exclusive." We got hold of a new front wheel drive super economical eD4 five door and have to say we really like it. Apart from the striking looks, the thing goes like a train - and it's the fuel economy model.ECONOMYWe saw 5.5-litres/100km easily and didn't really try for economy. Range Rover equips the car with a swag of fuel saving technology like engine stop/start (not foolproof), low rolling resistance tyres, low friction engine internals, low aerodynamic drag and electricity regeneration when decelerating.Nothing really ground breaking but hybrid challenging economy and emissions from a 1600kg small luxury SUV is pretty impressive.POWERTRAINThe engine is a 2.2-litre Peugeot unit with 110kW/400Nm output. Extra response is gained from the water cooled, variable nozzle turbo and it's smooth and quiet thanks to a double walled engine block and dual balance shafts. But the really, really good thing is the slick manual gear change.It feels electrically operated with short throws between each cog - snick, snick, snick, and the 1-2 and 2-3 shifts are close ratio. It's the first time we have experienced a close ratio manual diesel and we like it.TORQUE ABOUT ITWith a big whack of torque belting through the front wheels some torque steer is evident under heavy throttle applications but that's quickly doused by the stability control system and other electronics.SHARPIt has sharp, sporty steering that's most un-SUV-like and a sporty ride from the chassis. You can have a good old play on a winding road in full confidence as the Evoque carves a neat, flat arc through corners.As the Pure, it has a relatively conservative interior treatment, attractive and functional capped by a large touch screen in the centre stack. We couldn't figure out what was standard kit and what was optional and gave up. The test model was kitted up to $61,340 with bigger alloys (19-inch), touch screen, audio connectivity, satnav, metallic paint, contrast roof and other stuff.TOURERIt's an excellent touring car with a luxury air others simply can't match. Then there's that styling - motorshow concept for the street. And no, we didn't encounter any rear visibility issues. There's something incongruous about a front wheel drive Range Rover but who cares, the majority of these vehicle won't go off road so the additional weight and cost of all wheel drive is a waste.VERDICTWould have one in a flash. Surprisingly good performance from a diesel four pot, low fuel consumption, excellent six-speed manual, sporty dynamics. The queue starts over here.Range Rover Evoque eD4 PurePrice: from $49,995Warranty: 3yr roadside assist, 100,000kmEngine: 2.2-litre turbocharged four-cylinder diesel, 110kW/380NmTransmission: 6-speed manual, FWDThirst: 5.0L / 100Km, 133 g/km CO2

You can spend thousands on options in an Evoque. But what if you don't? Compare a new car with one from a decade ago and it's amazing how much stuff we now take for granted.In test cars, invariably specced to the rafters, it can be hard to work out how much of a car's desirability is inherent and how much depends on the number of options. A case in point is the Range Rover Evoque. When this fashionable soft-roader was launched last year, every test car had thousands in extras.VALUEIn some cases, this pushed up the price by half as much again, to beyond $100k. That left the impression it was overpriced, and I wondered what would be left if you removed all the options. It was impossible to work out if a standard Evoque even feels like a Range Rover.At least it was until last week, when I got into an Evoque eD4, the bottom rung of the range at $49,995. Even in base spec, the Evoque has enough to pass muster against today's raised expectations. Crucial inclusions, for me at least, are Bluetooth phone and rear parking sensors.If you want more, it's available -- although the next rung on the trim ladder is another $13,500 and includes pointless gadgets such as rain-sensing wipers. There are things missing, of course, but many of them I can do without. These would include a reversing camera, sunroof, ambient lighting and powered tailgate.Satnav is a bigger omission and auto headlamps are useful, if only because that means there are no chimes reminding that you've left them on. My expectations for the interior were lowered when I saw the spec sheet. Only two options are fitted: front carpet at $200 and rear vents at $190. If breathing is an option, what will the rest of it be like?DESIGNFrom the outside it's impossible to tell that this Evoque is the bottom feeder. The rear comes well equipped and doesn't feel poverty-pack. And it's like that throughout. The seats are first rate, even though not much of the upholstery is leather. Trim that appears to be metal actually is metal, while much of the dash and door material is soft-touch.The cabin has most of what makes more expensive Evoques successful: the same jewel-effect dials, the same wheel loaded with audio and cruise controls, and the same detailed switchgear. Everything feels solid and substantial.The absence of grab handles is a black mark, but that's not limited to this version. But there's enough here to be convincing. Range Rover has made a sound judgment about what constitutes the lowest common denominator for the brand.TECHNOLOGYEven the brand's trademark four-wheel drive is absent from the eD4. This variant is its first front-wheel drive car in Australia, although we've known they were coming. Both the Evoque and the Freelander, which supplies the engineering for both cars, are sold as 2WDs in Europe.Under the eD4 bonnet is the low-output 2.2-litre diesel four-cylinder already available in Evoque, although here it gets 20Nm less torque. By shedding four-wheel drive, the eD4 loses 75kg and achieves impressive fuel economy of five litres per 100km, or even less for the three-door.However, the only transmission available is a six-speed manual. What will hold the eD4 back in this market is the lack of an auto. The most affordable automatic is another $10k and comes only with a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol and four-wheel drive.DRIVINGThe eD4 isn't quick at 11.2 seconds to 100km/h and it sounds like it's just driven across a ploughed field. There are also hints of diesel vices -- a smidgin of torque steer, a little vibration around 1400rpm. However it's far from the most abrasive oil-burner and, as it delivers lots of driveable torque through its mid-range, it's surprisingly easy to live with.Around town, you'll need to change gears a lot but the stubby little shifter has a nice action, complemented by well-weighted pedals. It also drives well, with nicely damped composure and insulated ride quality. Less weight helps the dynamics, and while it's far from agile, it is enjoyable.VERDICTThe demand for Evoques is outstripping supply; it's a worldwide hit the like of which Land Rover has never known. You get the impression it could fit anything under the bonnet and they'd sell.Range Rover Evoque eD4Price: from $49,995Warranty: 3yr roadside assist, 100,000kmEngine: 2.2-litre turbocharged four-cylinder diesel, 110kW/380NmTransmission: 6-speed manual, front-wheel driveThirst: 5.0 / 100Km

Stunning . . .  one word says it all.  Not advised for the introvert, the Range Rover Evoque Coupe was made to turn heads. But with an obvious focus on style, could this beauty come with any brawn? The Evoque looks high maintenance, impractical, and a bit needy, but despite our best attempts at aversion, we became

I remember the `Wow' that escaped my lips when I laid eyes on this car for the first time overseas in Wales.Driving the Evoque months later in Sydney it still had the same effect on me and I'm not on my Pat Malone. Whatever else you want to say about the baby Rangey, it's certainly an attention getter.Not everyone likes the look though. Our office courier prefers the squarer look of the Freelander, but Alan strikes me as a conservative kind of bloke. Each to his own.THE COSTPriced from $49,995 the Evoque comes in three and five-door guise, two and four-wheel drive, with a choice of diesel or petrol engines. Our test vehicle the three-door, all-wheel drive petrol Prestige SI4 auto, is priced frm $77,395 but a few extras brought the grand total cost at the time of testing to $98,759.THE ENGINEIt's a 2.0-litre turbocharged four cylinder engine that delivers 177kW of power and 340Nm of torque. This is the same engine that powers the just released four cylinder Falcon, but in a slightly different state of tune.It's hooked up to a six-speed Japanese auto with paddle shifts (note there's no shifter lever as such). As with other Jags and Rangies initial gear selection is performed via a space saving rotary knob.PERFORMANCE0-100km/h takes 7.6 secs, top speed is 217km/h and fuel consumption is rated at 8.7 litres/100km (we were getting 10.1). We're still not completely sold on this engine. It's still a little slow to respond sometimes and makes some odd noises on occasion.But generally it provides lively performance and relatively good fuel economy. The electric steering is good with plenty of feedback, but perhaps not as good as BMW's variable ratio steering.OFF ROADYes. Despite its manic urban appeal you can still take yourself seriously off road in this car. Not that most owners would even consider the possibility. It actually has 12mm more ground clearance than the Freelander on which is is based.THREE OR FIVE?The more practical five door costs $1500 less. The roof line is actually 30mm higher than the coupe, but you wouldn't pick it unless the two were side by side.BACK SEATThere's plenty of room back there but getting accessing it can be challenging. The front seats slide forward electrically but they are oh so slow to do so. The resulting opening is okay but still requires some athletic ability to negotiate the opening.PRESTIGEThis model represents the ultimate in Range Rover luxury. It also includes all the latest safety gear, but sadly scores only four stars in crash tests. Comes with 19 inch alloys, xenon/LED lights, and a 380 watt, 11-speaker sound system.The finish inside is first rate with a two tone colour scheme that featuring premium twin-stitched leather and real wood and metal finishes. There's still plenty of options to chose from, like the Prestige tech pack for $5900 that includes such things as satnav, front parking sensors, a reversing camera and power operated tailgate.VERDICTYou know you want to. Goes as well as it looks. This car has way more character than a BMW and we suspect that Land Rover is going to have trouble keeping up with demand.

There are plenty of choices in the compact premium SUV segment from a range of manufacturers including BMW X1, Volkswagen Tiguan, Volvo XC60, Mini Countryman and Audi's Q3. Mercedes-Benz is noticeably absent but that will change.All of them face a serious challenge in the guise of Range Rover's stunning Evoque — possibly the most desirable SUV on the market right now regardless of size or price.Evoque 4x4 five-door pricing starts at $53,395 for the TD4 Pure. Our diesel SD4 (high output engine) mid-spec Dynamic auto with quite a few options rolled over $94,000, that's right, add on-roads and you are talking $100K.It's a big price for a smallish vehicle especially when you consider it gets you into an Audi Q7 3.0TDi, BMW X5 3.0d, two Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo diesels or a Benz ML350CDi.But when a car looks like this, you instinctively reach for your wallet. Value in a distilled form...Gets the expected Range Rover treatment though the coarsely textured dash finish is not pretty. The interior itself is stylish and functional and the test vehicle's optional 820 watt audio system was monumental.There's a large touch screen, Bluetooth and audio streaming. It's a sea of leather inside with comfortable sculpted seats though comment from rear seat passengers suggested they were on the firm side.It's roomy too despite the sloping rear roofline. We were taken aback by the (optional) twin screen panel that shows satnav to the driver on one angle and TV to the passenger on the other side — at the same time.The wheel's chunky and has multiple controls including paddle shift for the auto transmission. They are cheap plastic paddles that are contrary to the Evoque's overall look and feel.The SD-4 uses a 2.2-litre Peugeot-built turbodiesel four cylinder with 140kW/420Nm output.The engine, pretty much the same as in LandRover Freelander, has twin balance shafts and a variable nozzle turbo to deliver strong performance over a wide operating range.It gets out of the blocks fairly smartly, has strong mid-range and will even rev to about 4500rpm without grumbling.It's aided by a slick shifting six-speed auto transmission — not a DSG in this case. Fuel economy is a claimed 6.5-litres/100km - we got close.The test car's drive select offered `sport' mode which not only makes the instruments glow red but alters how the chassis dynamics and engine respond.But it's fairly firm for everyday use. Point it at come curves and the Evoque feels like a sporty coupe, flick it to normal and it's comfortable and controlled.There's also a version of  dial-up Terrain Response for various types of off road driving. The full time 4WD system aids grip on all surfaces with the large 19-inch tyres further improving matters.It has strong brakes and the chassis feels strong. Evoque's a good thing to drive in a variety of environments and surprisingly competent off road.It gets a five star Euro NCAP crash rating but narrowly misses out on the Aussie five star rating because of a pedestrian safety.All the same, Evoque gets the full set of airbags, stability control plus plenty more like hill descent control, hill start assist, auto adjust xenon headlights, auto wipers, headlights and rear view mirror tint.What can you say — a stand out glamour from every angle. People run up to you in the street to talk about the Evoque. It has more cut through than a Ferrari — well almost.And apart from the rough textured dash, the interior is the same — incredible wow factor. The Poms still have it in styling terms.Too much money and extensive gouging on options but the queue begins over here...

Range Rovers have been the reigning all-terrain wagons since they appeared in the 1970s - equally at home on a regal hotel forecourt as in the British bogs of their Solihull birthplace.Market trends have forced the iconic box to update -- and the Evoque is the result.And given Victoria "Posh Spice" Beckham was a design consultant, you might guess offroad was less a priority than off-the-runway.VALUEIf you're accustomed to browsing in Range Rover showrooms, you'll know that value isn't the first thing sales staff tout.But the Evoque - in this case the Si4 Dynamic Coupe with a $75,395 pricetag - has looks and badge value that might make the pricetag look credible. There were plenty of features on the test car - terrain response, power-adjustable seats, automatic xenon headlights, fog lights, folding, heated exterior mirrors, rear parking sensors, 19in wheels - but the test car was chock-full of bits from an extensive options list.The Dynamic had the Tech Pack (up-spec satnav, hard-drive, voice control, headlight washer, electric tailgate, front parking sensors and rear camera, upgraded climate control) that costs $5900, the excellent 17-speaker Meridian Surround Sound System (for $2385), the Adaptive Dynamics (which adds the electromagnetically-controlled dampers and Dynamic mode to the Terrain Response system) for $1950, digital TV with the clever dual-view screen ($1450 and $1270), $1300 worth of metallic paint and the $1035 panoramic fixed glass roof.But wait, there is indeed more - the Park Assist system (for those who can't park themselves - $1090), the useful "Surround Camera System" for $900, tyre pressure monitoring ($545) and automatic high beam assist for $335 - all of which ramps up the as-tested price to $98,150 - ouch.TECHNOLOGYTop of the pops here is the peppy little petrol powerplant - a 177kW/340Nm variable-valve lightweight alloy 2-litre turbo with direct-injection that gives more than a few clues to the Falcon EcoBoost. Land Rover claims 8.7l/100km on the combined cycle claim as well as a 0-100km/h claim of 7.6 seconds - the latter is likely and but we got low 13s on the trip computer.That might have more to do with the driver's enjoyment of the engine noise and handling, but there are diesel variants that are worthy if fuel economy is your thing. Ride and handling characteristics of the test car had the benefit of the optional Adaptive Dynamics, which employs the magnetically-controlled dampers to constantly adjust for the best of both worlds.It also adds a Dynamic mode to the Terrain Response for a back-road run sans body roll.DESIGNBold, aggressive and a real head-turner - the Evoque is a looker. Lower, shorter in overall length and wide, the Dynamic three-door has short overhangs and broad shoulders, so there's no missing it on the road.The engineers have used plastic and aluminium for some panels and components, as well as ultra-high-strength boron steel in the A- and B-pillar for extra strength, although the former are still a little wider than is ideal.The cabin is littered with luxurious bits, comfortable seating and no shortage of gizmos, but rear passengers don't get any vents (that adds $190) and can't wind down the windows - which is not pleasant in our climate with the glass roof.Rear vision suffers for the styling as well - straight back through the rear screen or three-quarter vision is hampered in sacrifice to the external lines.SAFETYThe brawny upstart of the Range Rover line-up is an NCAP 5-star car, with driver and passenger front and side airbags, a knee airbag for the driver and full-length side curtain airbags. The active traction and stability systems include anti roll-over and trailer stability systems, as well as hill start and descent control systems.DRIVINGWhen it comes to fashion I claim refugee status, but it's not hard to see why the Evoque is a head-turner, in three or five-door form. There's a sniff of styling heritage from the bigger Rangies but the new-age Evoque can't be accused of dwelling in the past. Technically the test car is a five-seater, although I don't think there's really room for more than four adults - whatever the age of the two rear occupants, they won't enjoy the lack of rear air vents or moving windows.The driver can have a bit of fun though, on sealed and unsealed roads - flick it into Dynamic mode (which changes the instrument lighting to mist-red), swivel the Jag-sourced transmission selector into Sport mode and the Evoque is extremely swift and agile, but the steering is lacking a bit of weight.The powerplant is a willing and flexible engine, making all the right noises (with some help from the engineers) and punching far harder than you'd expect from a two-litre hauling over 1800kg (with driver). With 215mm of ground clearance there's some scope for getting it properly dirty - it is a Land Rover after all - but anything more than an A-grade dirt track is unlikely to ever see one of these.If you want to go off-road, head toward a Discovery 4 in the same showroom - a three-litre SDV6 HSE can be had for a similar price to the as-tested figure here. Vision forward is reasonable (although the A-pillars are a little thick) and the mirrors give a good view aft - that combined with the sensors and cameras help offset the abysmal rear vision through the back window and around the thick C-pillar.Anyone buying one of these should add $635 worth of blind spot monitoring as it will save on apologetic waves and potential panel damage.The touchscreen works well enough when you can see it - the pushed-back angle of the dash means the screen is over-exposed to light from the windscreen making it difficult to see, getting it closer to vertical and deeper-set would fix the problem.The specs say the boot is 550 litres in capacity but width will be an issue for anyone looking to carry golf clubs or the like. The negatives also include a wayward left-hand exterior mirror that didn't want to lock in - eventually several pushes of the fold button rectified the problem.VERDICTAs a stylish, swift, capable and prestigious coupe, the Evoque more than cuts the mustard, even if it is wearing Louboutin stiletto shoes. But don't let the Range Rover badge lull you into thinking the breadth of capability is that of its forebears.This is fashion - to some extent - over function and for my money I'd rather buy a $50,000 off-roader and a Mazda MX-5 for fun.

The smallest of Range Rovers has caused an evolutionary, or should that be revolutionary, queue worldwide.Evocative in name and nature, the Evoque has buyers lining up to wait months to sample its talents.These include quirky stand-out styling, refined performance, agile handling, smooth ride, elegant interior with premium trim and, despite the squashed roofline, generous space.Then there is the cachet that comes with Range Rover stamped on its prominent nose and stumpy tail.In looks, aura and allure it easily justifies the mark of its senior brethren. And like a true Land Rover, it is far more capable off road than most owners will ever contemplate.The one failing is the poor vision to the side front quarters caused by the overly large high-mounted mirrors. Such is the blind spot, it is easy to miss-judge a corner, clip a curb or -- worst still -- shave a stump.There is also confusion over its crash rating. Globally the Evoque is rated at a maximum of five stars according to European testing, but Australian analysis of the same data has delivered four stars, the score being just 0.1 off five.Model choice is mind boggling and will swell to 24 when the eco-friendly eD4 diesel arrives in July. Pricing is attractive on paper but can quickly blow out after adding options, some of which should be standard.Prices range from an entry $51,495 to $77,395 plus options. At this stage there is a choice of three and five-door, three trim levels and a petrol and two diesel engines, some with manual transmission, others automatic.On test, an SD4 high-output diesel automatic in standard Pure trim cost $59,875 but blew out to $70,370 with the extras fitted. Standard equipment included nine airbags, the latest in stability and roll control, 17-inch alloy wheels, dual zone climate control, rear parking sensors, Bluetooth, single CD audio with MP3 and USB inputs, keyless start and a temporary spare wheel.Options fitted were $4500 for a tech pack, $1700 for a clear view pack, $1495 for keyless entry, $1300 for metallic paint, $1090 for park assist, $1000 for 19-inch wheels and $670 for power folding mirrors. The clearview pack includes self-levelling xenon headlights with washers, auto headlamps and wipers and signature day lights. The tech pack includes full leather trim and an 11-speaker Meridian sound system with an 8-inch touch screen.The SD4 on test came with the high-output version of the 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine producing 140kW and 420Nm. From a start with 1.8 tonnes to propel, there is a lull until the engine hits the torque band at 1750rpm and then it is off lunging rapidly to 100km/h.Around town mid-range response is strong and linear with the six-speed automatic acting almost intuitively, backed by paddle shifts and excellent throttle control. Cruising is peaceful at 1600rpm at 100km/h in sixth gear. Fuel use on test averaged 7.6l/100km with an official combined figure of 6.5l/100km. Gear selection is by a rotary knob which pops up from the centre console, neat and compact, but it takes plenty of practice to use it by feel alone.The interior is plush and inviting with excellent seats front and back and more leg and headroom than expected. There is reach and rake adjustment on the steering column. Crystal clear controls and instruments set a benchmark for concise and informative data, and there are plenty of clever storage facilities.Mechanical and road noises are so well suppressed that some wind noise is noticeable over the tapering roof line when cruising. Load space is adequate and the rear seats split fold. Ride quality is impressive even with optional 19-inch wheels fitted, with the suspension soaking up bumps, broken edges and minor irritations.And with a big wheel on each corner, a large footprint and minimal body roll, handling is agile with excellent grip and a flat cornering stance, complemented by accurate and evenly weighted steering. The all-wheel drive system continuously varies the drive to the front and back axles according to grip.Off road it will scramble up and down steep fire tracks with ease as long as momentum is maintained over sharp humps, albeit with traction and hill decent controls chattering away. The traction aids includes push-button terrain response which automatically adjusts the drivetrain and brakes to suit different surfaces - normal road, sand, mud and ruts and gravel and snow.weeklytimesnow