What is it?
A baby Range Rover. The original 'Rangie' is around for 41 years and has been a stalwart of luxury, comfort and supreme off-road ability since 1970. It was joined by the Range Rover Sport in 2005 but that was essentially a slightly lower, more compact version of the same thing.
The Evoque is totally new. It was born out of the Land Rover LRX concept from the 2008 LA Motor Show and it looks very similar indeed. Based on the underpinnings of a Land Rover Freelander, it promises the same kind of class as a Range Rover in a smaller and altogether more fashionable package.
Is it any good?
Critics were quick to shoot the Evoque down, claiming that it was nothing more than a 'soft roader', but the reality is that it's almost as capable as a conventional Range Rover off-road. It's not quite as rugged as a Land Rover Defender, but we put the Evoque through four-feet of water and a host of tough slopes and jagged rocks, all of which it coped with admirably.
It's just as good on the road, too. There's a 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine available with 148- or 187bhp and a 2.0-litre 237bhp petrol unit. The least powerful diesel is expected to be a big seller, as it returns 56.7mpg and 129g/km when it's fitted to a front-wheel drive Evoque. Even the four-wheel drive versions aren't far off 50mpg, though. The 187bhp diesel is a little smoother and more easygoing and the petrol, though less frugal, is powerful enough to get the Evoque to 62mph in 7.6 seconds.
There's a great balance between ride and handling. The Range Rover is comfortable but it's sharp and engaging at the same time. The steering is light but very responsive and only the sportiest setting on the adaptive damping system upsets the ride.
The number of heads that were turned during our test drive is testament to just how appealing the Evoque is, while the interior is almost, if not as well built as that of a conventional Range Rover. Thick leather and tough, quality instruments make up the cabin - our only gripes are with the glove box plastic, which is a bit low rent, and poor rear visibility.
Should I call the bank manager?
The Evoque starts at £27,995, which doesn't sound too bad for a Range Rover. That's for the most basic eD4 front-wheel drive model, though, and you can easily exceed £40,000 for a specced-up version, so it's not cheap. However, you get a reasonable amount of kit for your cash, as the Evoque comes with a leather interior, heated seats, climate and cruise control, Bluetooth and rear parking sensors as standard.
Summary
The Evoque has definitely lived up to the hype. Yes, it's in fashion right now, but it's not likely to be a temporary fad. It needed to be good to justify the build up and it is. If you can get your head around the asking price then it's a fantastic car in every other respect. Around 20,000 people have already placed orders, so expect to see plenty on the road in the next few months.
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