TEST DRIVE - Evoque proves itself on the road

Martin Baxter, Gleaner Writer

In name, the Evoque is an object of beauty, elegance and panache, but in nature, Range Rover's latest creation is brutish, a pedigree British bull dog - a wolf in sheep's clothing.

Automotives took the base model, an 'Indus Silver' metallic 2.2-litre automatic diesel, on a road trip. The journey from downtown Kingston to Port Royal became the Evoque's playground, although it is hardly the off-road terrain that all Range Rovers are built to traverse.

The Evoque's drive is smooth - effortlessly negotiating potholes, calculating corners and mounting curbs, all while the vehicle's intelligent suspension system softens and hardens to provide optimum drive, stability, control and comfort.

Inside, Automotives was greeted by a chunky leather steering wheel with speed sensitive, electrical-assisted power steering giving the Evoque a unique go-cart feel not found in any other mid-range SUV. Leather upholstering lines your seating and elbow support, while 'Dynanmica', a man-made leatherette, is double-stitched over an expansive dashboard, maintaining luxury while bringing down cost.

Buttons to control the Evoque's audio system, cruise control and voice control line arcs of the steering wheel, which sits neatly in front of two paddles that, when in sport mode, morphs your Evoque into a finely tuned sports car. The car switches to paddle shift with the flick of a paddle - but, unfortunately, this change is not accompanied by the roar of an engine which would be felt in the 260 bhp petrol engine. The infotainment centre, located in the central console, controls everything from climate to your choice of MP3 song and rear parking camera/sensors.

The driving position and additional lumbar support is similar to that of the Range Rover Sport - low, with a sloping dashboard and high but adjustable steering wheel - giving the driver a good view of the road.

Bluetooth capability

A short time into our outing, the ringtone of a phone is heard through the speakers, evidence of Bluetooth phone connectivity which comes standards in across all three lines of the Evoque range, starting with 'Pure,' then graduating to 'Prestige', and finally 'Dynamic'. Leg room in the back is sufficient for two people embarking on a short ride, but a cross-country tour would soon become an ordeal.

The 2.2-litre diesel engine with an automatic transmission will give you 44 miles per gallon (mpg) but its manual equivalent will go as far as 64 mpg on average. One hundred and ninety horsepower delivers significant power with a tap of the accelerator but, as expected with most automatic transmissions, there is a slight delay before the power is felt.

The exterior is beautifully crafted. The Evoque's front fascia displays an apparent marriage between the Land Rover Freelander and a Range Rover Sport. The sloping roof of the Sport's younger sister shows there is a familial connection and the Evoque's chiseled design shows a strong Range Rover bloodline. Front and rear fog lamps can be found on the 'Pure' model, but do not expect to find automatic headlamps or rain-sensing windscreen wipers.

Range Rover might ashamedly disclose that the target market is a younger, more affluent, female demographic - the opposite end of the spectrum from the usual Range Rover owner. And with style icon Victoria Beckham rumoured to be involved in the design of a limited edition Evoque, it is clear just who the car is being marketed at.

The fully loaded 'Prestige' version will give you a highly customisable vehicle - drivers and passengers memory seats, a panoramic roof, a powered tailgate opened from the key fob, and the enviable dynamic suspension setting which firms up for sport driving but will adjust when dropping in potholes or in a sharp change of terrain.

With the baseline 'Pure' model priced at $7.5m, the Evoque lies squarely in the realm of the Pajero and Prado, yet it is much smaller and more capable off-road, possessing better mileage than its aforementioned competitors. ATL Britannia motors will bring in your own bespoke Evoque through their Oxford Road, St Andrew-based dealership, but those interested should visit the Range Rover website at www.landrover.com and virtually build your custom Evoque with hundreds of possible extras.