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Passenger Preview: Range Rover Evoque. Image by Land Rover.

Passenger Preview: Range Rover Evoque
Passenger ride in the new Range Rover Evoque demonstrates Land Rover is onto a real winner.

   



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| Passenger Preview | Gaydon, England | Range Rover Evoque |

Overall rating: 5 5 5 5 5

We sit shotgun in Range Rover's new Evoque, the four-wheel drive turbocharged petrol model impressing not just with its performance, but ride and handling, too.

Key Facts

Pricing: £38,995
Engine: 2.2-litre, turbocharged four-cylinder petrol
Transmission: six-speed automatic, four-wheel drive
Body style: three-door SUV coupé
Rivals: BMW X1/X3, Audi Q3/Q5
CO2 emissions: 199g/km
Combined economy: 32.5mpg
Top speed: 135mph
0-62mph: 7.6 seconds
Power: 240bhp
Torque: 251lb.ft

In the Metal: 5 5 5 5 5

Looking like it's just driven off a motor show stand the Range Rover Evoque is about as faithful a recreation of a concept car as we've ever seen. It looks great in five-door guise, but the three-door coupé we're in looks sensational. Not quite a TT moment in the world of coupés, but as far as sporting styling goes for SUVs, it moves things on dramatically.

The interior is neat, if not quite as striking as the exterior. Like the outside it mixes now familiar Range Rover cues with the latest materials to create a modern, smart driving environment. Spacious too: even the coupé's rear seats offering decent head- and legroom for passengers.

Driving it: 4 4 4 4 4

Given its looks the Range Rover Evoque could drive like a rag and bone man's horse and cart and it'd still sell, but Land Rover has been busy honing the Evoque dynamically. Even from the passenger seat the Evoque surprises. That's down to two factors: the performance on offer from the 240bhp 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine; and the composure at speed and on rough roads delivered by the MagnaRide dampers. The former is the engine that'll power Ford's next Focus ST and in the Evoque it's lively, giving the SUV coupé the ability to reach 62mph in just 7.6 seconds.

We've been in plenty of fast SUVs before though; the real surprise is the control on offer from those trick dampers. Using the same process of passing electricity through magnetised fluid in the dampers as you'll find on Ferraris, the Evoque can adjust its responses to suit the road conditions. The result is a car that, despite its SUV stance, corners relatively flatly and rides with unerring comfort. Sitting alongside one of Land Rover's enthusiastic drivers around a tight, bumpy and rippled test track the Evoque is very fast, but it's also controlled, with the suspension seemingly coping with everything thrown at it.

There's not an opportunity to test it off-road, but with ground clearance to rival a Freelander and excellent approach and departure angles - combined with Land Rover's Terrain Response, Hill Descent Control and four-wheel drive - its abilities in the rough should be formidable.

What you get for your Money: 4 4 4 4 4

This 240bhp turbocharged petrol model with its standard six-speed automatic gearbox and Dynamic trim - which includes those trick dampers - costs £38,995 before options. If that's a bit rich then lesser, front-wheel drive Evoques in more simple specifications are offered from just £28,000. Equipment levels look decent across the range. Click here for the full price list.

Worth Noting

This fast petrol model is likely to be a relative rarity, with the 2.2-litre turbodiesel almost certain to take the majority of sales. It's offered with either 150- or 190bhp, though like the petrol engine the 190bhp version can be had with the Dynamic trim and the same six-speed automatic gearbox. Choose the latter and you'll lose as second or so on the 0-62mph time, but gain around 12mpg on the official combined cycle. A quick run in the passenger seat of it demonstrates its excellent refinement - and impressive pace, too.

Summary

After an all-to-brief opportunity to sit in the passenger seat of some pre-production Range Rover Evoques we're itching to drive it. The lesser models won't be able to offer quite the sensational control of the magnetic damper flagships; neither will they offer the same pace, but as an overall package the Evoque looks like it'll be a huge hit. We're left wondering whether Land Rover will be able to build them fast enough to keep up with the demand...


Kyle Fortune - 8 Apr 2011



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2011 Range Rover Evoque prototype. Image by Land Rover.2011 Range Rover Evoque prototype. Image by Land Rover.2011 Range Rover Evoque prototype. Image by Land Rover.2011 Range Rover Evoque prototype. Image by Land Rover.2011 Range Rover Evoque prototype. Image by Land Rover.

2011 Range Rover Evoque prototype. Image by Land Rover.2011 Range Rover Evoque prototype. Image by Land Rover.2011 Range Rover Evoque prototype. Image by Land Rover.2011 Range Rover Evoque prototype. Image by Land Rover.2011 Range Rover Evoque prototype. Image by Land Rover.



2011 Range Rover Evoque prototype. Image by Land Rover.
 

2011 Range Rover Evoque prototype. Image by Land Rover.
 

2011 Range Rover Evoque prototype. Image by Land Rover.
 

2011 Range Rover Evoque prototype. Image by Land Rover.
 

2011 Range Rover Evoque prototype. Image by Land Rover.
 

2011 Range Rover Evoque prototype. Image by Land Rover.
 

2011 Range Rover Evoque prototype. Image by Land Rover.
 

2011 Range Rover Evoque prototype. Image by Land Rover.
 






 

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