What is it?
A revised Range Rover Evoque for the 2014 model-year.
‘Tweaked’ might be a better word for it, given that the most significant exterior changes are new alloy wheel designs and slightly different ‘Land Rover’ badges. There are new colour options for the interior, too. But bigger and more meaningful updates have been carried out under the skin, to the driveline specifically.
Out has gone ZF’s old six-speed automatic gearbox, in comes its brand new nine-speeder, as tested in an SD4 prototype earlier this year. Performance, refinement, ride comfort and fuel efficiency are all supposed to be notably improved – the last of those items having been in quite serious need of improvement in real-world terms, both for the SD4 turbodiesel and the SI4 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol.
As an option on that 237bhp petrol comes the second important update to the Evoque’s transmission: an intelligent four-wheel drive system called Active Driveline.
This is an ‘on-demand’ system that automatically decouples drive to the rear axle when cruising above 22mph, but can reconnect it in three tenths of a second as necessary. The drive system also includes an electronically controlled ‘e-Diff’ on the rear axle.
There are new driver-assistance systems for 2014 model year cars, too: more sophisticated park-assist functions, active safety systems and 'wade sensing' for proper off-roading.
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Sadly its just skin deep beauty
I really like the Evoque, it handles like a hot-hatch and is genuinely good fun to drive however it's assembled from components that don't match the quality you have a right to expect. Having driven German cars for years I never expected to get to know my local LR dealer's entire service department on first name terms but that's what you get.
I returned to Audi and bought an Audi SQ5 - its perfect. Lesson learned.
This car is amazing since I
JLR knockers with nothing better to do
FACT: The Evoque has sold in huge numbers, both here and abroad, and therefore has helped to propel JLR's profits into the stratosphere.
I can appreciate its design has proved divisive to a degree but it doesn't detract from its popularity and there's no disputing it's different.
Dynamically it really is excellent and let's face it no car that looks like that is going to measure up in the practicality department. And, hard as it might be to believe, the interior is actually as good as an Audi - yes, that good. The only let-down is the engine range, a couple of more potent diesels (including a 6-cylinder) would bring much to the party, as would a more performance-focused petrol.