STYLE WORTHY OF THE RANGE ROVER NAME?
ASSOCIATE EDITOR GRAHAM KOZAK: I’ll come right out and say that I just don’t get the Range Rover Evoque. For one, I don’t understand where it fits in the Land Rover family (even as I fully comprehend the market case for it). While Range Rovers have long since ceased to be rugged-but-charming work vehicles with endearing/infuriating “quirks,” most of the brand’s offerings can at least trace their respective lineages to something functional. But not this thing. I also think it’s ugly; the longer I stare at it, the more dated it looks.
Anyway, I figured I’d be upfront with my biases, because my irrational hatred for this car only made my stint behind the wheel that much more frustrating. The problem was I couldn’t really find anything terribly wrong with it, objectively speaking.
First, the motor was not disappointing; that 2.0-liter feels like a stout powerplant, and if anything, I’d want a more gradual throttle tip-in. Tap the throttle, and this thing wants to go. Steering was pleasantly direct.
PHOTO BY LAND ROVER
My biggest complaint was the somewhat rough ride. I think they were going for stiff and sporty, but it ended up feeling somewhat trucky. Oh-so-stylish thin tires on 19-inch wheels riding over bumpy, winter-ravaged pavement certainly didn’t help.
I think the root of my discontent with the Evoque is that I wish Land Rover would have used this platform to build an off-roader -- an upscale, unibody alternative to the boxy Jeep Wrangler. But I’m not running the company, so they didn’t. True, there’s the new Discovery Sport -- capable enough by all initial accounts, but no 21st century Defender.
Anyway, the Evoque: to me, it’s little more than a fashion-statement soft-roader with a Victoria Beckham-branded special edition to tempt you. It’s the adult-size equivalent of a gaudy Power Wheels Hummer. You’ll probably love it, but it’s simply not to my taste -- I just wish I could figure out why it bugs me so damn much.
PHOTO BY LAND ROVER
ONLINE FEATURES EDITOR JAKE LINGEMAN: I like the look of the Evoque. It doesn’t bother me that it’s significantly smaller than anything else in the lineup, or that Mrs. Beckham reps it, but I’m not sure I like the Range Rover name on it. That convertible is an abomination, though.
Range Rover, to me, says upper class, rapper, ball player, something like that. It’s supposed to be blinged out and at least have a 400-hp V8 and 21-inch wheels, and maybe two 12-inch woofers in the back. But this isn’t that. This is a new-style Rangie made for the eco-econoclasts who want to save the planet. The LR1 would be a good name, save the Range moniker for the big ones.
The interior is nice and plush, but not as plush as the cushy confines of a Supercharged Range. The heated seats work quickly, but the forced air seems to take a long time to get warm. There was a little interference in the radio, too. I plugged in my Apple iPhone and it crackled all the way home. I thought maybe it was just my podcasts, but it was the same with music. I’ll be interested to see if anyone else experiences that. Otherwise, the seats are cool-looking, I enjoy the panoramic moonroof, and the controls seem pretty easy to use. I like the monochromatic style, too.
PHOTO BY LAND ROVER
Power from the 2.0-liter turbo four is good, it never felt like it was straining. The nine-speed automatic is still a little weird. Sometimes when you want a downshift it’ll upshift, and if you’re rolling onto the power from 5 mph or so, it’ll jump back into first with a little jerkiness. I found putting it in S mode made it better, especially on expressway ramps where it held a gear to about 4,000 rpm. It shifts quickly and smoothly in that mode.
The suspension wasn’t rock hard, but it was stiffer than I expected. I wasn’t trying to dodge any potholes; but none of them upset the car too much or made too much noise. Which is strange, because I thought the engine was a little noisier than expected. Steering is nice and direct, which is the best thing about these small CUVs/SUVs, they handle way better than the full-size Ford Explorers and Dodge Durangos of the past.
PHOTO BY LAND ROVER
At $57,000, I’d say no way. You can almost get two Jeep Grand Cherokees for that price, or one really nice Grand Cherokee. The BMW X1 with the four-cylinder starts at $31K, while the X3 starts at $38.5K. If you’re looking for more efficiency, I’d recommend the Mazda CX-5, which is one of my personal favorites in the class.
PHOTO BY LAND ROVER
EDITOR WES RAYNAL: I like the Evoque -- like it a lot. It’s different and I thought it was a fun, delightful scooter. Like a go-anywhere hot hatch.
There’s plenty of oomph here, even though this is mostly the aging Ford EcoBoost four-cylinder. A new four is in the works, but I got no issues with this one. As we’ve said before, this car’s quickness can trick you -- squeeze the gas pedal and next thing you know, you’re going quite a bit faster than you thought.
The interior is gorgeous and looks and feels well built.
The youngsters above sneer that the Evoque is a fashion statement. To that I say, “and your point is…what?” Why is that a bad thing? I get that styling is subjective, so let me ask you: Would we prefer it looked like every other small SUV on the market? I wouldn’t. Sorry the exterior isn’t dull enough for the two knuckleheads above. Further, calling it a soft roader is just flat wrong. On what evidence was that sentence written? I drove these in Scotland off-road and they handled everything we threw at it. Let’s try it on some challenging trails before we make judgments shall we?
And whining about the price: Perhaps you’d prefer a $100K-plus Porsche Macan?
Perspective, gentlemen.
Sigh, kids today.
PHOTO BY LAND ROVER
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