Overview Upscale, compact SUV with sports car-like handling
Pros Sporty and fun to drive; sharp styling
Cons Pricey; competition has more power
Value for money Fair
What would I change? It needs the 285-hp engine from the U.S. Autobiography Dynamic model
How I would spec it? The least expensive trim level that comes with the up-rated engine
2015 Range Rover Evoque
Brian Harper, Driving
Though not personally blessed with GQ cover-worthy good looks, I have nonetheless often wondered about the lengths those who make their living with their faces and bodies will go to stave off the ravages of time, and how much they might obsess about younger, prettier/more handsome competition. Certainly, the health and beauty industries have made untold billions catering to these insecurities.
There’s a correlation in the car biz. If an automaker can introduce a new model and get in a couple of years of solid sales before a competitor comes along with something newer and fresher that eats away at its market share, it’s doing well. After that comes the mid-cycle refresh, a makeover — sometimes cosmetic, sometimes more substantial — to try to regain a portion of what has been lost.
Land Rover’s compact-sized Range Rover Evoque is an ideal example. Now in its fourth season, the Evoque was a radical departure for the storied yet traditional purveyor of four-wheel-drive vehicles for the upper crust when it first debuted in 2011. Smaller, lighter, sportier, more fuel-efficient and stylish in the extreme, the SUV was an award-winning and commercial success for the Indian-owned (Tata) British company. It still is, though not with the same impact it once had — there’s serious competition filling its rear-view mirrors.
2015 Range Rover Evoque
Brian Harper, Driving
You have to admit, though, the Evoque is ageing very well. It continues to have a striking presence in the SUV segment, made all the more so by the aptly named Dynamic trim level (for the four-door model there’s also Pure, Pure City, Pure Plus, Prestige and Autobiography trims). Said Dynamic trim is the most macho of the bunch, boasting a decidedly assertive look that includes the bumpers, sills, grille and tailpipes. The cabin offers a darker environment with perforated leather seats and splashes of bright contrast trim. The tester was further butched out with an optional Black Design package that adds tasteful black touches to the sport-ute and lovely 20-inch spoked rims.
Also read: Our drive of the 2015 Porsche Macan
There’s more to the Range Rover Dynamic than its bulked-up looks, though. Under the hood is a Ford-based 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder that pumps out a strong 240 horsepower and 250 pound-feet of torque, which comes on at a low 1,750 rpm. That might appear somewhat wimpy for something costing around $61,000 (for the Dynamic; the base Pure starts at $47,695), especially when up against other similar-priced, performance-based SUVs — the 300-hp BMW X3 xDrive 35i ($48,900), 340-hp Porsche Macan S ($54,300), the 354-hp Audi SQ5 ($57,400), 355-hp Mercedes GLA 45 AMG ($50,500) or, for fans of Detroit muscle, the monstrous 470-hp Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT ($64,395).
2015 Range Rover Evoque
Brian Harper, Driving
What the four-door Evoque has going for it is light weight, tipping the scales at a trim — for a premium sport-ute — 1,670 kilograms, courtesy of high-strength steels, aluminum hood and roof panels, polymer and composite front fenders and tailgate and more. (The Macan S, for example, is some 200 kg heavier.) The result is more sports car than hot rod; the Rover drives and handles a treat. That’s not to say it’s a slug at the Stoplight Grand Prix — zero to 100 kilometres an hour in about 7.5 seconds is quick enough under most circumstances.
Last year’s mid-cycle revisions to the sport-ute helped. Key among them was a creamy smooth nine-speed ZF automatic transmission that comes with an adaptive shift program to match driving styles and a wide spread of ratios to complement engine performance.
Here’s the thing, though. The U.S. market has a new, limited edition, top-of-the-line Autobiography Dynamic version scheduled for later in the 2015 model year, touted as the most performance-focused Evoque ever produced thanks to a 285-hp upgraded version of the 2.0L turbo engine and a retuning of the nine-speed transmission’s adaptive shift program. It’s not that the Evoque “needs” this engine, but it wouldn’t hurt having it in its repertoire just to keep up with the sportier competition. (Land Rover is “hinting” that the engine may be offered in Canada.) However, the well-optioned Dynamic tester I’m driving already has a retail price of just less than $74,000; forking over even more to get the extra 45 hp would certainly drop it down on my shopping list.
As for fuel economy, I averaged 11.7 litres of premium unleaded per 100 kilometres during a week of mixed highway and suburban commuting.
2015 Range Rover Evoque
Brian Harper, Driving
While not in the same league as blazing a trail through the Amazon, the Range Rover’s Active Driveline system — with active differentials and torque vectoring — proved its proficiency during a snowstorm that dropped more than 20 centimetres of the white stuff over a 16-hour period. It’s an on-demand 4WD system that reduces driveline drag by decoupling the 4WD during steady driving at speeds above 35 km/h. The system monitors vehicle dynamics and automatically activates 4WD within 300 milliseconds whenever it is needed. There tends to be a modicum of understeer when cornering before the system apportions power to the front to pull the Evoque through a turn, but the sport-ute hooks up neatly off the line, despite the tester being fitted with Pirelli all-season rubber and not snows. The 4WD system is abetted by the Terrain Response control unit, which takes into account such vehicle inputs as individual wheel speeds, cornering yaw rates, longitudinal and lateral acceleration, vehicle speed, brake pressure and accelerator position to provide optimum traction. I switched from General to the Grass/Gravel/Snow mode during the snowstorm, which mellowed out the power flow.
One downside discovered during the dump was that the 20-inch wheels got packed with snow, playing havoc with the wheel balance and producing a nausea-inducing ride. I had to pull over a couple of times to clean out the rims. Steel wheels aren’t sexy, but they would be infinitely more practical in snowier climes.
2015 Range Rover Evoque
Brian Harper, Driving
The heated seats, steering wheel and, especially, the windshield were all appreciated during the snowstorm. And the Evoque’s cabin is a cozy, comfortable place to spend time, whether cruising around town or noodling along behind a snow plow. From stitched leather to ergonomically correct controls and buttons to an intuitive touchscreen to a humongous glass sunroof, the interior is equal amounts fun and function. But, while there is plenty of room up front for taller occupants, rear seat room is at a premium for those of larger dimensions, especially if the front seats are back in their tracks.
As for the cargo area, with the 60/40-split rear seats folded flat, there is 1,445 litres (51 cu. ft.) of usable space.
Here’s the upshot: Though not the freshest member of the premium compact SUV segment — hello Macan and GLA — the Evoque is still cutting edge. It has great looks, excellent handling dynamics, is quick enough and has the requisite bells and whistles for something in its price class. It strikes me as the ideal sort of vehicle for an extrovert, one who, after putting away his/her sports car for the season, wants some of that same vibe in a more winter-friendly vehicle.
2015 Range Rover Evoque
Brian Harper, Driving
The Specs
Type of vehicle: All-wheel-drive compact luxury SUV
Engine: Turbo 2.0L DOHC four-cylinder
Power: 240 hp @ 5,500 rpm; 250 lb-ft of torque @ 1,750 rpm
Transmission: Nine-speed manumatic
Brakes: Four-wheel disc with ABS
Tires: P245/45VR20 all-season
Price base/as tested: $60,895/$73,850
Destination charge: $1,470
Natural Resources Canada fuel economy L/100 km: 11.3 city, 7.9 hwy.
Standard features: Dual-zone climate control, passive keyless entry, power front seats with lumbar support, heated front seats, steering wheel and windshield, heated washer jets, power windows, door locks and exterior mirrors, power tailgate, panoramic sunroof, 825-watt Meridian surround-sound audio system with 17 speakers, navigation system, eight-inch touchscreen, adaptive xenon headlights with LED lighting, automatic headlight leveling and cornering lights, grained leather seats with perforated mid-section, leather steering wheel with audio system and adaptive cruise controls, dynamic stability control, traction control, roll stability control, hill descent control, hill start assist,
Options: Metallic paint ($1,200); Adaptive Dynamics ($1,000); satellite radio ($450); cirrus headliner ($275); heated rear seats ($500); contrasting coloured roof ($730); parallel park with parking exit and perpendicular park ($800); Black Design package ($3,300); adaptive cruise control ($1,500); Driver Tech package ($1,200) includes blind spot monitor, lane departure warning and traffic sign recognition; rear seat entertainment package ($2,000)
