“The Evoque is not just all show and no go but a fun vehicle to drive.”

The 2015 Range Rover Evoque is like a finally tailored suit that fits comfortably in any situation.

Looks

It is one of the nicest crossovers out there, available in a 5-door, or a 3-door coupe. The Evoque has a streamlined body and a beautiful roof line that tapers towards the back. The front end takes its styling cues from its big brother the Range Rover.

In The Cab

A well-appointed interior featuring leather seats, driver adjustment including recline, height, lumbar support and memory, 60/40 split rear with centre head restraint, oxford leather wrapped steering wheel with audio controls. Central 8-inch touch screen display in the central hub for features such as audio, video, phone and navigation. It also provides a screen for the backup camera and a unique 360fdegree, real time view of the surrounding area via the five discreetly placed cameras. All controls and knobs found on the centre dash area are well placed and easy to operate by the driver without being distracted. The sound system is provided by Meridian and features a 380-watt 11-speaker system that is standard and an optional 825-watt, 17-speaker system. The auto dimming rear view mirror is a nice feature and accent lighting around the centre console, footwell, glove box, and load compartment are a nice touch. A tire pressure monitoring system monitors your air pressure.

My tester was the 3-door coupe with lots of room inside although I did find it a bit difficult getting in and out of the back seats. With the position of the rear seats, I didn’t notice the lower roof angle being an problem. Leg room was at a bit of a premium, but it is the case in most coupes.

Safety First

A high level of safety features are provided including driver and passenger airbags, knee airbags, side curtain and thorax airbags. Four wheel disc brakes, traction control and stability control are all standard equipment.

Roadworthy

I found the push button terrain response selection buttons are in an area that can easily be pushed by accident. Place your hand the wrong way on the centre console and you find yourself in off-road mode. Once the terrain setting has been chosen (purposefully), the Range Rover takes on a completely new personality. Hill control graphics show up on the instrument panel and it can crawl like a snake down any steep terrain. If only they added height adjustment then you could really go four-wheeling.

Power

The Evoque power plant is a turbo charged 2.0-litre Si4 direct injection engine that produces 240 horsepower and can achieve 0-100 km in 7.1 seconds. The engine is mated with a six speed automatic transmission with rally style paddle shift controls mounted on the steering wheel. The engine provides plenty of power and if not for the turbo lag, it would be amazingly quick at passing. I always get a kick from the Range Rover shifters. When the vehicle starts up the rotary gearshift rises up so you can turn it to select the position you require.

Verdict

The Evoque is a very well thought out vehicle. I love the shape and stance. It is not just all show and no go but a fun vehicle to drive.

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Pump frequency:

11.3 / 7.9 L/100 km (City/highway)

Warranty support:

4 year/80,000 km   Limited warranty

6 year/ unlimited mileage Corrosion perforation warranty

Sticker price:

Evoque Pure $47,695

Evoque Pure City $49,895

Evoque Pure Plus $52,195

Evoque Dynamic $60,895

Evoque Prestige $61,295

Evoque Autobiography $64,595

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Contact: ian [dot] harwood [at] drivewaybc [dot] ca