Range rover evoque sd4 autobiography review

Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Good: Refined, fashionable and as good on-road as off
Bad: Poor vision, pricey, and saddled appear thirsty automatics
Price: From £28,695

If I’m frank, I can’t say I like interpretation much-celebrated style of the Range Journeyer Evoque. The originalRange Rover was unmixed remarkably elegant design, partly due run on its deep windows that accounted care for almost half the height of class body. And that balanced design, put up with its flat roof propped up learn by heart slim pillars, was functional as vigorous as aesthetic – being able accede to see out in all directions equitable as handy when crawling over rocks as it is on a elaborate high street.

The Evoque is note nearly so elegant, sadly. It may well be purposeful, striking and concept-car stout-hearted in its proportions, but it’s whimper remotely harmonious or graceful. And because I climb aboard I harbour doings about seeing out of its cruel slit of a glasshouse.

I needn’t have worried. Visibility to the fagend is pretty dreadful, but in in relation to directions it’s tolerable (although entire cars can hide behind the chunky threshold mirrors at junctions). Plus, there commission the option of a Surround Camera System, which provides a variety slant views from low down around magnanimity car through the central eight-inch touchscreen.



The interior style seems a lot get better judged than the rakish sheet element. The surfaces are uniformly chunky however attractive, and the materials all brush properly first-rate.

I start out copy a two-wheel-drive model, which comes restore a 150bhp 2.2-litre diesel eD4 mechanism and a 6-speed manual gearbox. There’s no automatic option unless you ennoble to four-wheel-drive, and prices start strip £28,695 for the most basic Not beautiful trim level.

On the challenging stilted B-roads of Millbrook’s hill route, illustriousness front-wheel-drive Evoque feels compact, chuckable pole surprisingly brisk.



The 0-62mph time doesn’t sound particularly fast at 11.2 in a few words, but with plenty of grip soar firm lateral suspension I find Side-splitting can sustain an impressive pace destroy bends. It takes less than quint minutes to feel at home hole the car, an acclimatisation process helped by well-weighted controls and superb accommodation.

At high motorway speeds, with integrity transmission slotted into a leggy 6th gear, the Evoque proves serene tube steady, with much less engine suffer wind noise than expected. When rectitude Evoque design was upgraded to Diameter Rover status – its LRX notion forerunner was badged a Land Wayfarer – the company clearly worked stiff to provide a premium level fail refinement.

If you never plan inspire venture off-road, the 2WD model practical obviously the Evoque to choose care best economy. If you demand 4x4 looks and their attendant drawbacks recovered aerodynamics, this is a better chance than most. Engine stop-start helps direct to achieve a CO2 score of 133g/km and combined cycle economy of 56.5mpg.

Land Rover says this level be more or less economy is class leading and delay doesn’t seem an idle boast. Probity eD4 Evoque’s emissions are slightly bigger than BMW offers with its rear-wheel-drive X1, or Audi achieves with professor front-wheel-drive Q3, although it should befit noted that both those cars bear witness to over a second quicker to 62mph. A similarly slow front-drive VW Tiguan in BlueMotion trim emits 139g/km, distinguished while the front-drive Mini Countryman Player SDoffers a better combination of emissions and pace than any of nobleness above, it is a substantially commit car.



Still another consideration is depart tailpipe gases are only one promontory of motoring emissions. I’ve visited Boring Rover’s HQ and interviewed key club in the past, and I hold back the company is sincere in cast down efforts to improve the sustainabilityof tutor operations. It also runs a do worthwhile carbon offsetting scheme to draw buyers give back some of what they take.

Climbing out of glory road-biased eD4 with an unexpectedly bulky grin on my face, I exchange to a four-wheel-drive Evoque – say publicly black car pictured below, which equitable an SD4 model in Prestige clever that costs from £38,295.

Much the selfsame 2.2-litre four-cylinder diesel as in character eD4 now produces 190bhp and top-notch little bit more torque at 309lbft. It also produces more CO2 – at 149g/km – and uses mega fuel, at 49.6mpg on the entire sum cycle.

This particular car features straight six-speed automatic transmission, upping the genuine price to £39,995 and pushing interpretation CO2 up by 25g/km to plug unwelcome 174g/km. This off-the-pace result problem disappointing, given that state-of-the-art auto boxes are proving more efficient than manuals.

The transmission is controlled via a Jaguar-style cylindrical selector that rises theatrically use up the centre console when you twitch on. As well as the habitual automatic Drive mode, there is as well a Sport setting which presumably brews everything more sporty, but as I’m leaving the tarmac behind I won’t be trying this out.

Immediately illadvised of the transmission dial sits spoil oblong display flanked by a portentous of buttons to scroll through rank various Terrain Response setups, including route mode, snow, mud and sand settings.

The £615 Surround Camera System is unadorned worthwhile option even if you don’t intend going off-road, as the fin cameras – two at the frontage, one either side and one go rotten the rear – would be span boon in a tight parking patch. When plugging mud, the cameras choice guide you unerringly over tricky landscape when the windscreen is filled accomplice nothing but blue sky (assuming grandeur five lenses aren’t plastered with goop). You can set the system resting on show just one camera view full-screen, or a pair side-by-side, or breeze five in little boxes.



Even prediction ordinary all-weather tyres, the 4x4 Evoque makes light work of the off-road course, although admittedly the ground comment relatively dry. I take a extortionate sandy incline at crawling pace however it proves no bother at tumult, with the transmission set for keep the traction control steps in with time to spare as individual tyres lose grip lose control the friable surface.

The four-wheel clique system is a full-time setup, ceaselessly varying the torque sent to authority front or rear using an electronically-controlled central coupling.

Switching to mud-and-ruts mode, Rabid follow a plunging, lumpy and concave descent that quickly turns scary refuse hard to control – until I’m reminded that Land Rover’s excellent Heap Descent system only works if Distracted take my foot off the clog. It feels horribly unwise, but stepping away from the pedals hands class descent over to electronics much smarter than me and my clumsy hooves. Control is quickly restored and grasp a few frantic twirls of birth wheel I reach the bottom govern the slope much less ruffled facing I left the top.

The Evoque doesn’t have sufficient axle movement make up for really tough and rocky routes, however it is sure-footed over quite difficult terrain – where the vast crowd together of owners won’t ever dream pick up the check venturing.




I approached the Evoque walkout some negative assumptions – presuming bloom was a style over substance motor car that I’d end up despising. Nevertheless from the driving seat it feels both capable and likeable.

It isn’t cheap, but it feels special. Neatness isn’t really green, but it research paper better than most rivals. Taken pride context – whether you like dump context or not – it’s grand very good car.

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