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The Range Rover Evoque offers a blend of performance, luxury, comfort, features, a very stylish exterior and now comes with an attractive price too, says Faisal Ali Khan of MotorBeam.com.
Even though Land Rover has been more about functionality, the Range Rover Evoque launched in 2011 pretty much showcased the company's capabilities in style as well.
The baby Range Rover has always been about good looks and the company's legendary off-roading prowess, but was imported in India as a CBU.
Nonetheless, Land Rover now assembles the Evoque in India, giving it a major price drop and has also added a new 9-speed autobox in the concoction.
With a slew of changes, how does the 2015 Evoque fair? MotorBeam finds out.
Arguably, the best looking model in Land Rover's lineup, the Range Rover Evoque never fails to impress every time you look at it.
The styling looks sharp and despite being four years old, that hardly seems to show up on the elegant lines of the SUV.
The super sleek front fascia is an eye grabber and the circular LED DRLs stand out effectively.
The styling remains the same at the sides with the accentuated wheel arches housing new alloy wheels.
The rear features a diffuser, wraparound tail lights and a big roof spoiler that make for a sporty appearance.
The Evoque exudes massive road presence and the striking element definitely comes from the contrast coloured roof.
The interiors of the Range Rover Evoque feel as premium as the exteriors with top notch quality, ergonomically placed buttons and a responsive touchscreen infotainment system.
The instrument cluster offers a host of information and the gear selector pops up from the centre console, a nice touch.
The panoramic sunroof allows more light into the beige coloured cabin and the Meridian sound system offers the perfect aural bliss.
The Evoque offers incredibly comfortable seats with a good view for the driver. You also get several convenience features including two TV screens, USB port, AC vents and a charging point for the second row.
Power on the 2015 Range Rover Evoque comes from the same 2.2-litre 4-cylinder diesel motor producing 190 PS & 420 Nm of torque.
This motor now comes paired to a 9-speed ZF automatic gearbox with paddle shifters, replacing the 8-speed unit in favour of the compact size.
The SUV is quick in acceleration with 0-100 km/hr coming up in 8.5 seconds, but you do notice some lag prior to 1600 RPM. Top speed is limited to 195 km/hr.
The new transmission has been tuned for efficiency and upshifts at every opportunity, but isn't very responsive.
The S mode though spices things a bit with the gearbox redlining on every gear. Available with AWD, the Evoque does not disappoint off tarmac but is still a baby Ranger and is best used for mild off-roading.
The Range Rover Evoque comes with a stiff suspension setup, but that does not hinder cabin comfort.
The SUV glides over undulations was ease and the seats offer adequate comfort with a fine tuned suspension setup.
The cabin feels composed even at triple digit speeds.
There is minimal body roll on the SUV and attacking corners is fun at high speeds. The 18-inch Pirelli tyres offer excellent grip on the Evoque.
The steering weighs up nicely as well and offers sharp handling. Safety tech is in abundance on the Evoque with Roll Stability Control, Engine Drag Torque Control, Trailer Stability Assist, 6 airbags among a host of other features.
While the Range Rover Evoque is an excellent product, it does feel a bit over hyped once you drive the vehicle.
Surely, it is a head turner, loaded on equipment and drives well too, but the competition does have an edge with better after sales service.
However, if you wish to arrive in style and want to drive in a relaxed manner, at Rs. 598,2000 (on-road, Mumbai), the Evoque makes for a good buy especially with the price drop.
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