Land Rover steps out with 2012 Range Rover Evoque

BY JEFF TAYLOR For Sun-Times Media November 9, 2011 10:07AM

2012 LAND ROVER
RANGE ROVER EVOQUE

ENGINE: 240-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder

TRANSMISSION: six-speed automatic

DRIVETRAIN: all-wheel drive

FUEL ECONOMY: 18 city/28 highway

BASE PRICE: $43,995 (five-door), $44,995 (coupe)

AS TESTED: not available

WEBSITE: landrover.com

Article Extras

After an advance test of the all-new 2012 Range Rover Evoque, the answer is a resounding yes. Not only does this soft-roader look stunning, it has just enough performance and off-road capability to be worthy of the Range Rover badge. Yet the Evoque elevates the brand higher in the premium segment by offering more than bling and a badge. Yes, the Evoque “dumps the frump” of traditional Rovers and brings some serious high fashion to the brand. It looks distantly related to the Range Rover family, but its crisp, swept-back body with its high beltline and rakish roof signal a new generation of Range Rover styling cues.

The all-new 2012 Evoque comes in two flavors: a saucy three-door coupe and a fashionable five-door. The five-door has three trims: Pure, Prestige and Dynamic; the sexy two-door doesn’t offer the Prestige trim. Pricing checks in at $43,995 for the Evoque five-door and the coupe is higher at $44,995. If you do go for the full-bling Dynamic Premium Coupe model, it gets pricy approaching $53,000.

The Evoque combines its smaller athletic form, agility and lighter weight with a new 240-horsepower (251 pound-feet of torque), turbocharged, direct-injected 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and six-speed automatic transmission. While the power is there and acceleration is good, it comes with a little turbo lag, and it groans a bit to let you know it’s working hard when your shoe stomps the gas pedal. The vehicle returns Environmental Protection Agency mileage figures of 18 city and 28 highway.

Inside, both Evoque models offer a surprising amount of passenger room. Rear seat comfort for 6-footers is good. The coupe requires some athleticism to access the rear seats. Once inside you’ll experience the massive panoramic roof. Virtually the entire roof is composed of a fixed piece of tinted glass. The interior also shines with a choreographed light show in the dash, aluminum accents, elegant sloping center console, full complement of leather, soft-touch surfaces and technology that includes a crisp, high-power Meridian Audio system and an 8-inch touch screen with full navigation.

The interior offers 60/40 split seats and 51 cubic feet of storage space. I really liked the execution and material quality of the Evoque as you really get a sense of luxury and modern design – no wood, no shiny plastic or mouse fur headliners.

Range Rovers traditionally have been big off-roaders and the Evoque leans heavily on this past, but in reality it is more of an urban off-roader. That means this new entry primarily focuses on all-weather traction versus mountain climbing and sand dunes, which it can do but not with the same ferocity as bigger Range Rovers.

We did off load from a barge, testing approach and departure angles and into the ocean, then up a steep 40 percent grade. At the top of the earthen mound, I switched on the hill descent control, took my foot off the brake, and I coolly and slowly (you can set speed) descended the mound into 18 inches of muddy water – no problems. Showing up to a social event like the Chicago Auto Show’s First Look for Charity in a foot of slushy snow or fording a flooded Chicago side street is more its forte, however.

The Evoque features terrain response, which lets you dial up the appropriate all-wheel-drive mode: general driving (on-road and easy off-road), grass/gravel/snow (slippery conditions, on- and off-road), mud and ruts, and sand. Additional traction/handling aids include dynamic stability control, roll stability control, traction control system, trailer stability assist, hill start assist, hill descent control and gradient release control, and engine drag torque control. The Evoque’s system features an electronically controlled Haldex center coupling and works in conjunction with just more than 8 inches of fixed ground clearance and decent approach and departure angles.

On the pavement the Evoque dodges and darts like no Range Rover before. I was impressed by the carlike handling that the unit-body construction delivers. The Evoque’s steering is very responsive and is a nice complement to the optional MagneRide suspension that features continuously variable magneto-rheological dampers. This type of suspension system is typically reserved for sports cars like Corvette. The Evoque’s braking is also top flight with an antilock braking system, electronic brake force distribution, emergency brake lights, emergency brake assist and corner brake control. The end result is a sporting, dampened ride that is balanced and controlled but adds some excitement on that late-night drive home from the movie premiere.

The new 2012 Range Rover Evoque is the lightest and most fuel-efficient Range Rover ever produced. The net effect of the 2012 Evoque is that it might work too well for Range Rover, as it makes all but the high-flying Range Rover Sport look seriously dated and boxy.

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