Range Rover Evoque 2.2 TD4 review (2011 onwards)

Model - Range Rover Evoque Dynamic Coupé
Bodystyle - Five-door crossover
Engine - 2.2-litre turbo diesel
Transmission - six-speed automatic

Gallery: Range Rover Evoque 2.2 TD4 Dynamic Coupé
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What is it?

It's already winning awards left, right and centre, and we can expect more to come. But what exactly is the Range Rover Evoque?

We spoke to enough people who were convinced that this is the new Range Rover. The big one. Which made the price tag of this model - £40k - seem pretty reasonable to them.

But the reality is the Evoque is the new small Range Rover, which means you can actually get into one for less than £30k if you really have to. How do they do it? The Evoque is a Land Rover Freelander with sexy new styling and a dose of interior glamour from Victoria Beckham.

And it really is a stand-out car. In three-door form it's a genuine 4x4 coupé, with a design that nothing else on the road can compete with. Or there's a five-door with a roof that doesn't drop quite so much at the back.

It does offer, of course, the full suite of Land Rover off-road attributes, but if that's not really important, there are front-wheel-drive versions that shave a little off the price and CO2 emissions.

Where does it fit in?

Land Rover's smart marketing strategy has resulted in sales climbing worldwide, a brilliant turnaround from a few years ago when 4x4s where considered the work of the devil.

The expansion of the model choice has helped a lot here, so that now there are three Range Rovers when, until the Range Rover Sport came along in 2005, there was only one.

The Evoque slots in admirably, appealing to those looking at something more luxurious than a Discovery and less expensive than a Range Rover Sport.

Competition comes mainly from the posh brands, but even they struggle to match the Evoque's newfound niche. The Audi Q3 is cheaper on paper but the extras quickly mount up. Then again, perhaps the Audi A5 Sportback is more comparable. It too offers four-wheel-drive.

BMW's offerings lack the Evoque's drama. And what else is there? There are hundreds of other ways to spend this sort of money on a new car, but none that directly competes with this Range Rover.

Is it for you?

Well, that depends. Glamorous, ostentatious, flamboyant. Range Rover has rounded up bunches of celebs to drool over the Evoque at glittering launch parties around the world. Social media is primed and running.

Certainly the Evoque will draw attention, at least in the first year or two. But perhaps it's all a bit too X Factor, a touch uncouth. But hey, that did the Range Rover Sport no harm at all.

What does it do well?

The Evoque is pretty good to drive, especially with this powerful 187hp diesel engine. Press the start button on the dashboard, select drive from the rotary gear selector that rises from the centre console just like a Jaguar's, and power away.

The acceleration is strong and effortless, like in all the best luxury cars. With a decent diesel you don't need large capacity, and this 2.2-litre Range Rover punches forward at just a tickle of the accelerator.

The Evoque feels dynamic too. While it won't match traditional low coupés for sharp handling, it's agile and handles decently, setting a benchmark for the compact 4x4 segment.

It will off-road too. Everything from Land Rover has to do that. It's in the rules. But you don't need experience, just twiddle Terrain Response to the right setting - mud, snow, rocks - and off you go. Child's play.

What doesn't it do well?
There's really not much wrong with the Evoque. Certainly it falls into the expensive luxury end of car purchases, but if you are prepared to step down into this condensed version of a Range Rover, it's unlikely you'll be disappointed.

What's it like to live with?

That coupé roofline, sweeping back and down to the tiny tailgate, has its issues. Visibility to the rear, particularly when parking, is pretty dire. You'd think space in the back seats would be limited too, but surprisingly two adults can fit here as long as they are not too tall.

And the comfort levels are superb. All four seats are beautifully shaped armchairs that provide plushness with support at the same time. Optional on this car is the improbable combined satnav and TV screen. The passenger can watch television while the driver views the navigation. On the same screen, at the same time. It's spooky.

All Evoques come with full climate control; this example had the upgraded stereo system that measured up very well too. Luggage space is impressive as there's no spare wheel to take up space. A can of puncture-fixing goo is your emergency fix.

How green is it?

This is the big deal with the new engine. Even the 190hp manual version can average 50.2mpg and emits a reasonable 149g/km CO2 (and the best variants can average nearly 58mpg, emitting just 119g/km CO2 in the process).

Our test automatic car officially averages 43.5mpg which isn't quite as good, but still OK given the performance and ease of use it offers.

Would we buy it?

Sure we would. While not convinced by the style of the Evoque Coupé, we know many love it and, anyway, the five-door version is available and much more to our personal taste.

There's little doubt that to get the Evoque of your dreams you'll probably need to spend the wrong side of £40,000. On the one hand that sounds like a lot for a posh Freelander. On the other, industry experts reckon it will hold its value incredibly well. Good. You have a rational good excuse to buy one.

Gallery: Range Rover Evoque 2.2 TD4 Dynamic Coupé
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First drive: Range Rover Evoque