Range Rover Evoque driven

It looks radical in flesh this almost 2 tonne monster, the raked rear stance and the flared wheel arches give it bulky kind of a character and that distinctly styled headlamps and the signature Range Rover Grille has been styled quite aggressively, The head lamps and the tail lamps come with the usual LED Treatment. The good thing is that the Range Rover Evoque  looks quite similar to the LRX concept that was revealed in 2008. Its available in 2 models a 5 door diesel and a 3 door coupe with a petrol engine.

The Range Rover Evoque (5 door) is available in three distinct derivatives – Pure, Prestige and Dynamic and the Coupe is available in the Dynamic form.

Pure

The purest expression of the LRX Concept, this minimalist masterpiece combines sleek lines with simple forms in its elegant cabin. Once inside, brushed aluminium finishes, full grained leather interiors and a neutral palette will instantly give you the sense that less is definitely more.

Prestige

The ultimate in luxury, this sophisticated style icon takes indulgence to another level. Featuring an enhanced exterior, 18-inch alloys and the finest interior finishes including real wood, brushed aluminium and Oxford leather, it really is all about you.

Dynamic

Athletic and assertive, this sporty contender steps up to the plate. With its muscular exterior, aggressive bumpers, grille and tailpipes and premium leather sports interior, you can be sure to make an impression, a statement, an entrance (or all of the above).

On the inside it’s a totally different arrangement. You have the rotary gear selector which is borrowed from jaguar and yes it pops out of the centre console. And right below it you have the switches for the terrain response system which will alter the cars settings to suit the terrain you’re driving on.

The cabin is quite spacious on the inside with the right and bright beige interiors and the rear seats are very comfortable but they have a slightly lower seating position. There are oodles of legroom as the seats are widely adjustable and the head room at the back is not at all claustrophobic as to what it looks like from the outside.

We drove the SD4 diesel, push the start button the engine comes to life in an almost inaudible roar on the inside but on the outside it gets s bit noisy! The engine is quite refined even in the redline and the power delivery is linear. The 0-100 numbers are nothing to speak about here! the car doesn’t feel very quick when you press the pedal to the metal and the six speed paddle shift could’ve been better.

The ride is pretty comfortable and only the big bumps find its way through the cabin else everything else is perfectly sorted out. Its got 18 inch wheels on the top of the line model and 17’s on the base variant.

On the corners the car is very well planted and not a single squeal from the tyres. The steering is a bit off center and is very light considering the size of the car. The Evoque gets a meridian music system which delivers a decent bass and the best part of the car is the panoramic glass roof. Though it doesn’t slide open but it does give in a huge amount of sunlight in the car.

Engines:

2.0 litre Si4 petrol engine

The Si4 petrol engine is a 2.0 litre engine in a lightweight all-aluminium unit with the latest direct injection technology, advanced turbocharging and twin independent variable valve timing. The engine is fitted with a 6-speed automatic transmission that has been engineered to improve fuel economy and that features Drive Select, an advanced rotary gearshift with steering wheel mounted paddle controls.

2.2 litre SD4 turbo diesel engine

The latest 2.2 litre turbo diesel delivers superb torque, responsive performance and impressive refinement. The engine provides power on demand, a very broad torque curve.

Technical Specifications

Test Drive by Jubin Joshi
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