2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray: $51,995 And Up
Owning a high-performance sports car can be a true joy, even if you're not the type to take it to a... Read More
- #3LEADERBOARD RANK
- 6333ARTICLES CONTRIBUTED
- 229COMMENTS POSTED
Around The Web
the Evoque seems to scoot along readily enough, particularly in passing situations. We predict 0-to-60-mph times of 6.9 and 7.0 seconds for the three- and five-doors, respectively, numbers near the back of the class but not embarrassingly slow.
Its agility is impressive, and while you never quite escape the feeling that the center of gravity is higher than ideal, it represents a quantum leap forward for Land Rover and stands comparison with other sharp-handling SUVs such as the BMW X6.
From a standstill, 60 miles per hour comes in 7.1 seconds. It isn't, however, particularly quiet, and it was a strange sensation to hear high-strung four-cylinder machinations filling a Range Rover's cabin when you wanted to charge.
In fact, the overall sensation -- from the driving position, cockpit orientation, and dynamic behavior -- was more like that of driving a sport wagon or a Subaru Forester turbo with starchier suspenders.
Short overhangs and 8.3 inches of underbody ground clearance (0.4 inch better than LR2's) give the littlest Range Rover best-in-compact-class approach, break-over, and departure angles (25, 22, and 33 degrees respectively). It's also designed to be able to splash into and ford a 20-inch-deep channel.
PERFORMANCE | 7 out of 10
Expert Quotes:
the Evoque seems to scoot along readily enough, particularly in passing situations. We predict 0-to-60-mph times of 6.9 and 7.0 seconds for the three- and five-doors, respectively, numbers near the back of the class but not embarrassingly slow.
Car and Driver
Its agility is impressive, and while you never quite escape the feeling that the center of gravity is higher than ideal, it represents a quantum leap forward for Land Rover and stands comparison with other sharp-handling SUVs such as the BMW X6.
Inside Line
From a standstill, 60 miles per hour comes in 7.1 seconds. It isn't, however, particularly quiet, and it was a strange sensation to hear high-strung four-cylinder machinations filling a Range Rover's cabin when you wanted to charge.
Autoblog
In fact, the overall sensation -- from the driving position, cockpit orientation, and dynamic behavior -- was more like that of driving a sport wagon or a Subaru Forester turbo with starchier suspenders.
Motor Trend
Short overhangs and 8.3 inches of underbody ground clearance (0.4 inch better than LR2's) give the littlest Range Rover best-in-compact-class approach, break-over, and departure angles (25, 22, and 33 degrees respectively). It's also designed to be able to splash into and ford a 20-inch-deep channel.
Motor Trend
The Range Rover Evoque isn't a full-scale Land Rover, despite the name, but it's impressively capable off-road for what it is--a catlike Land Rover crossover. Just don't go fording any fast-moving rivers or trekking the Rubicon.
Lower in height, and also lower in power and displacement than the other Land Rovers, the Evoque is nonetheless peppy and fun in its own right, with a 240-horsepower direct-injection 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder driving it along. A six-speed transmission handles gear changes--rising out of the dash like the one in the Jaguar XF, a cool and futuristic feature--playing well with the engine for an engaging driving experience. A bit of turbo lag does rear its head, a trait that isn't ideal on the trail or in the mud, but which doesn't really get in the way in typical use on the road.
The term "carlike" is thrown around a bit too lightly at times with other crossovers; here, it's perfect. Electric power steering makes steering light and crisp, while the independent suspension gives it a nimbleness and balance completely unlike an SUV or larger crossover. Step up to the Dynamic model and magnetically-controlled dampers replace the standard units for even more ride quality and body control. A few miles behind the wheel of the Evoque makes it clear: this is not just a new breed of Land Rover, but a new breed of crossover.
Still, it's the promise of true off-road strength 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-mode, all-conditions Terrain Response system. It puts a Haldex all-wheel-drive system 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 short overhangs, and even a bit more ground clearance than the LR2, and in our trail-riding time in prototype three-doors, the system showed off as much all-weather talent as the Explorers we've driven this year. 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. It's pretty amazing how electronics have changed 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.
Conclusion
Once you get past the slight turbo lag, the 2013 Range Rover Evoque is peppy, fun, and carlike.
