2012 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque Prestige Premium Hatchback Review
2012
The Car Connection
Best Car to Purchase Nominee
The Car Connection Expert Review
Editorial Director
September 6, 2011
Likes
- A profile cut from sheets of awesome
- More cockpit room than you might think
- Whizzy turbocharged ability
- Plenty of all-weather talents
- Comes in spicy, trendy, prestigious flavors
Dislikes
- Sporty SUV still a logic trap
- Pricey, fifty-fifty for a Euro ute
- Turbo four's gristly noises
- Three-door back seats aren't piece of cake to reach
Buying tip
features & specs
2-Door Coupe Dynamic Premium
two-Door Coupe Pure Plus
2-Door Coupe Pure Premium
The era of truly coupe-similar SUVs dawns, finally, and the 2012 Range Rover Evoque nails it with turbo thrust and carlike handling.
BMW X6s and Infiniti FXes of the nowadays, AMC Eagles of the past--the coupe-similar crossover vehicle is a tendency that's been in gestation a long, long fourth dimension. And man, has it produced some ugly offspring.
Now information technology's spawned the 2012 Range Rover Evoque, and finally, at long last, it makes hot sexy sense.
The Evoque may be the showtime truly sensuous SUV in history. It'due south a captivating stiletto heel in a closet full of State Rover earth shoes. Some loose family features are appliqued on its taut, angular body--one that, you won't be surprised to hear, has a fan in the form of taut, angular hominid Victoria Beckham. But those are mostly for show, petty geocaching leftovers of Range Rover'due south past. This soft-roader is all about tomorrow, and it lives to exist seen with every hair in place, not covered in muck.
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Erase some of the Rover-bred notions you've applied to the Evoque'due south performance, the ones that imply trucky handling and rustic V-8 torque. There's even less Landie hither. Derived from the LR2, the Evoque throws downwardly an entirely fascinating new gauntlet with its 240-horsepower, turbocharged four-cylinder. It's coarse on the go, with plenty of drivetrain noise and noticeable turbo lag, but the smallville drivetrain gives upward nothing to the heavier, less strong LR2 and it sets the Evoque apart from the bigger Rovers that luxuriate in eight-cylinder streams of torque. Information technology's an urgent, attention-peckish slice, as whizzy as an Acura RDX, with similar fuel economic system of 19/28 mpg.
All-weather traction is a forte, given its Terrain Response dial-a-fashion all-wheel-bulldoze system, and the Evoque'due south steering does a great imitation of the units in compact Volvos and Fords. The low-cal touch follows through to the most dynamic model, with its magnetically-controlled break and muted, supple ride. And information technology still has more than eight inches of ground clearance, should you go high-centered on some of the last-season stuff stacked on the curb at Saks.
If yous expect to give up a lot, other than actress cash, to fit into the Evoque lifestyle, you may want to effort one on for size first. In that location's less room than the LR2, just the Evoque is wider, so overall interior book isn't intolerable. Upwards front it'due south quite comfy for adults, a piddling less and then in the back seat but not objectionably so, so long as you lot've bought into the coupe-like premise. What's not easy to swallow is a big adult gut, if you accept to crawl into the back seat of three-door Evoques. Meanwhile, the car itself can tote almost a couple dozen cubic feet of baggage, no thing which body you choose.
Land Rover's tackling the brand-stretching Evoque launch with three models and those ii body styles. The v-door comes in Pure, Prestige and Dynamic models; the two-door skips Prestige trim. All versions have the standard-issue power features, entertainment features like Bluetooth, USB, and an LCD touchscreen to bulldoze the Meridian audio organisation likewise every bit telephone and optional hard-bulldoze navigation systems. Opt for Pure or Dynamic versions if you want splashy colors with twists of Alexander McQueen; get into a Prestige if your turn-ons include libraries, mahogany paneling, and anything past Laura Bennett. Past any ways possible, spend up for the panoramic roof, and permit it calorie-free up the cocoon-like cockpit.
It's toyed with hybrid concepts, but now Country Rover can lay merits to the greening of SUVs, since the Range Rover Evoque'due south slimmed-down body and downsized drivetrain pay information technology forward with better gas mileage and, by extension, a happy planet. But the Evoque does something even more than historic: it shifts the whole Range Rover make out of the SUV muck, and pitches information technology into the future on a savvy, fashion-forward bias.
A sexy fusion of its own LRX concept vehicle and--of course--the MINI Cooper, the 2012 Range Rover Evoque is the starting time coupe-like SUV to actually work. It's an artful home run from the outside, and pretty successful inside as well.
Country Rover's draped all sorts of fashion bits and pieces, like Victoria Beckham, all over the Evoque as it launches, to convince us that it'south fashion-forrad. There wasn't really any need to insist: the Evoque is a stunning SUV, or crossover. The balderdash bar's perfect for visual chin-ups; the slimmed-down State Rover grille fits the chopped, channeled Evoque silhouette like Ray-Bans, down to cutlines that act like earpieces as they curve over the front end bicycle arches. The angular drop of the roofline and the contrary wedge of glass are the things instant classics are made of. Smartly, Land Rover amps upwardly the effect by offer contrasting roof colors, a MINI fox that's also worked wonders on the Ford Flex. Box-department taillamps and a thin strip of rearview glass come off equally stylized military pieces, Swiss Army swatches of design.
Whether information technology's trimmed out with cool metallics or warm woods, the Evoque's motel is just as suggestive of bigger Range Rovers, without aping their formal construction. Large, round gauges are topped past a twin-stitched dash cap, a loving, couture touch. Cutting-corner rectangles frame the console, the LCD touchscreen, the gear selector, the door panel inserts. Pay your fashion into "Dynamic" Evoques, and some electrifying color and trim combinations won't remind you of annihilation British, except maybe Wham!, or get with "Prestige" combinations to be coddled and swaddled in the usual walnuts and leathers. Where there'southward metal within the Evoque, it's real--and pleasantly cold to the impact. Land Rover's also paid special attention to interior lighting: ambient LED casts a driver-selectable set of colors, which turn to red on Dynamic models when sport driving manner is engaged.
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According to the legalese, the Range Rover Evoque is still a Land Rover--which implies all sorts of things about low-end torque, farthermost fording capability, short overhangs and rock-itch capability second merely to reptiles.
You don't have to scotch all those preconceived notions, but it helps if you movie the Evoque equally something closer to a pint-sized Range Rover motorcar, 1 with sizable off-road prowess. The Evoque not just lowers its profile for more carlike handling, it cuts downwards its displacement and fashions something quick and nimble effectually a turbocharged four-cylinder powertrain.
The 2.0-liter "Si4" engine is, in fact, essentially the same one Ford installs in the latest EcoBoost editions of the 2012 Border and 2012 Explorer. A 2.0-liter iv-cylinder with direct injection and turbocharging, the engine spins out 240 horsepower--more than the Ford-derived in-line six fitted to the Land Rover LR2. As it's doing across the Ford lineup, the turbo iv provides a little jet-fuel jolt to the Rover identity, trading brawny strength for something more raucous, and surely less refined, but simply as quick. There's plenty of whistle and thrum in the Evoque'southward cabin when the turbo hits full boil, and a measurable bit of lag until information technology does--fine for on-road merging, not then ideal for delicate off-pavement mudding--and it tin can launch the Evoque to 60 mph in about 7.0 seconds, Country Rover says, without much dubiety.
The half-dozen-speed automatic controller rises out of the dash, a la the Jaguar XF or 2001: A Space Odyssey, and does everything to amplify the turbo'south joy through its sport mode and paddle shifting. In all, the powertrain's more a positive in the Evoque's column--and Ford's, if y'all know the backstory.
The carlike experience goes deep into the Evoque's basic, as its electric ability steering and contained interruption take information technology a footstep further away from mud-plugger than even the LR2 dared to. Light responses are congenital into the steering, with a fair amount of road feedback translated to the wheel, but near none of the heft you might desire--yous know, for street cred. The interruption's a combination of coils and struts on base versions; on the Dynamic models we drove, a magnetically-controlled set of shocks dials up a very well controlled ride that dispels any poor-handling SUV recovered memories y'all might have. Within a few miles of mixed driving, the Evoque gels, and starts to brand sense equally a Range Rover, not a Land Rover.
Still, it's the promise of true off-route force that brings buyers back to the brand when an Audi Q5 or a Volvo XC60 might do just as well. A reinforced, high-strength steel body is underpinned by Land Rover's four-style, all-conditions Terrain Response system. It puts a Haldex all-wheel-drive organization together with electronic software that splits drivetrain behavior into normal, Snow, Mud and Ruts, and Sand modes, which are selected by tapping buttons on the console--no levers to shift. The Evoque has brusk overhangs, and even a bit more than ground clearance than the LR2, and in our trail-riding time in prototype iii-doors, the system showed off as much all-weather talent as the Explorers nosotros've driven this yr. It'll clamber up or roll haltingly down fairly steep hills, anti-lock sensors dictating bursts of torque and braking to modulate the trip up or down. Information technology'due south pretty astonishing how electronics have inverse the art of off-road driving to a few switches, but make no mistake--the Evoque's hardware does a lot of things, but it's not intended to be, and not capable of being, the off-road equal of a "real" Range Rover.
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The 2012 Range Rover Evoque draws on some of the genes of today'southward Land Rover LR2, which itself is kin to the Volvo XC60. But the Evoque'southward been lowered, shortened and widened into a distinct package that'south consciously smaller outside and less spacious within than its sibling--all in the name of fashion.
Information technology sounds damning, but the Evoque'south motel doesn't suffer much for the downsizing. It's nonetheless quite comfortable for the front passengers, who ride on ability-adjustable seats with coolly-styled, cut-down bolsters and on some versions, bold stitching. Head room isn't as lavish as you'll arrive the usual State Rover bundle, but even with the panoramic sunroof fitted--it'south standard on many models--the Evoque notwithstanding allows for a higher seating position and plenty vertical infinite for half-dozen-pes occupants. Elbow room isn't an issue, since the Evoque is a few inches wider than the LR2.
It's a scrap tighter in dorsum in the five-door Evoque. The low ride height will cue tall passengers to duck on their way into the back seat, and once they're at that place, the well-shaped seats will provide plenty support against their backs. The seat lesser is shorter, to carve out more leg room on the spec sheet, simply in practical utilise, those mythical six-footers volition exist rubbing knees against the forepart seat backs and their heads against part of the drinking glass roof's frame. It'south less permissible for a traditional SUV to be brusk on interior space, just the whole idea of the Evoque is to sacrifice some infinite for manner, and it does information technology in a fairly inoffensive manner.
The three-door Evoque has the same wheelbase as the v-door, then it'south less a shock that its seats are almost as comfy equally the ones on the v-door. Information technology'due south the entry and go out that could tax an older passenger; kids will honey clambering in past the front end buckets into the back nacelle, but geezers will apply those gymnastics as ane more than reason to condemn the Evoque. The three-door gives buyers the pick of a 3-seat bench or a pair of buckets; while you're going impractical, why not pick the pair?
Storage space is still quite good, and despite its cut and creased body, it has more cargo room than some taller luxury crossovers. The three-door Evoque sports 19.4 cubic feet of space behind the second-row seats, and 47.vi cubic anxiety when those seats are folded downward. The five-door has marginally more than space, at xx.iii cubic feet with the seats upward, and 51.0 cubic feet with them downwards.
The motel has a big centre console bin with cupholders hidden under a tambor, and a fairly deep bin under the armrest. A nicely sized glovebox and decent door-panel pockets give drivers some places to stash stuff out of sight.
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As a brand-new vehicle, the 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque hasn't yet been crash-tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or past the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
Nosotros base of operations our score here on the Evoque's available safety features, which include standard front, side and curtain airbags; anti-lock brakes, traction and stability control; and user-selectable all-wheel drive with colina-descent control and trailer-stability assist, both of which employ anti-lock braking to stabilize the Evoque in more extreme driving or towing situations.
Bluetooth is also standard on the Evoque, every bit are a rearview camera and front and rear parking sensors. Among its options are a surroundings-view rear camera and blind-spot detectors, both useful features nosotros'd recommend for almost all drivers, given the Evoque's high-rise rear end.
Even though it is a alpine vehicle with stylishly tapered glass, visibility is surprisingly good in the Evoque, though the rear headrests and rear pillars create medium-sized bullheaded spots.
With base of operations prices starting at simply under $44,000 for the five-door and $45,000 for the three-door, the 2012 Range Rover Evoque avoids comparisons with compact crossovers like the BMW X3, Audi Q5, Mercedes-Benz GLK and Cadillac SRX entirely. And since it's pitched equally a pricier design argument, it'south stuffed with features that naturally are offered in "themes," instead of more plebeian packages.
The basic Evoque is sold as the Pure. These versions sport neutral colors and soft-touch plastics on the nuance, dabbed with real aluminum trim. Standard features on the five-door include the usual ability features; cruise control; Bluetooth connectivity; an AM/FM/CD actor with 380 watts of speaker power and a USB port for media players; automatic headlights; automatic climate control; forepart and rear parking sensors; and a rearview photographic camera. Options include a difficult-bulldoze navigation organisation; a rear-seat DVD amusement system; satellite and HD radio; a environs-view rear camera; and a panoramic roof that'south among the biggest panels we've ever seen in such a small vehicle--and a feature that greatly enhances the Evoque'southward cozy cockpit. Information technology'due south added to the three-door as standard equipment.
The mid-grade Evoque is the Prestige model. Figured as the younger cousin to the Range Rover Sport, this version wears its ain leather-wrapped interior with cute stitching and wood trim; 19-inch wheels, with an option for 20-inchers; and two-tone color schemes. To the Pure's equipment, it adds a power tailgate; fog lamps; the surround-view photographic camera; a rear-seat armrest; power front seats with retentivity; keyless entry; and the navigation organisation. Optional equipment includes Hard disk drive and satellite radio and the DVD entertainment organization. The Prestige isn't offered in a three-door version.
Finally, at that place's the Dynamic model, which has its own choices among 19- and 20-inch wheels, to get with distinctive fascias and tailpipes for a more than ambitious expect. Its sporty interior gets perforated leather seats and contrast stitching, with some wild colors like lime dark-green and chili orangish and an option for a contrasting roof color. This version adds on steering-bike controls for sound and navigation and phone; bullheaded-spot monitors; and the environment-view camera, with options for the DVD entertainment system, satellite and Hd radio, and the Adaptive Dynamics packet, which adds magnetically-controlled shocks to the Evoque'southward suspension. 3-door Evoques in this trim level accept a choice of a three-seat bench in back, or of twin bucket seats.
The Evoque's touchscreen controls for audio and navigation are familiar to anyone who'southward driven a contempo Jaguar or Land Rover vehicle. The Evoque version has a larger eight-inch screen and some interaction with Bluetooth controls--and Bluetooth tin can besides stream sound to the Evoque's audio organization, which itself tin can be upgraded to a concert-quality Height system with 825 watts of power and 17 speakers.
A winter package bundles a heated windshield with heated front seats and a heated steering wheel.
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Normally, a sport-utility vehicle or crossover has to practise something adequately boggling to receive a practiced greenish score. Similar some other crossovers new for 2012, the Country Rover Range Rover Evoque rates highly not because it's a hybrid or a diesel fuel, but considering information technology's smaller than the typical offering from Country Rover, and has a suitably downsized engine to kick.
The Evoque's 2.0-liter, direct-injected and turbocharged four-cylinder is something nosotros've seen before in other crossovers. In fact, it's closely related to the EcoBoost engines in the 2012 Ford Explorer and Ford Border--a legacy of Ford'southward buying of Land Rover until a few years ago. The Evoque's output is similar, at 240 horsepower, and its fuel economic system ends up comparable to that of the EcoBoost Explorer--an EPA-estimated 19/28 mpg.
Past shrinking the size of the vehicle, Land Rover argues, it'south also been able to go with the four-cylinder and to cutting weight all over the vehicle. The Evoque'southward curb weight checks in at merely nigh 3600 pounds, without the kind of exotic aluminum construction that gets the Jaguar XJ sedan in the same weight class.
Land Rover also says each Evoque contains about 35 pounds of recycled plastics.
A diesel version of the Evoque is offered in European and other world markets, simply it hasn't been confirmed for a spot in American showrooms.
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December 15, 2015
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