This summer, we
had the chance to drive the Range Rover Supercharged, the alpha dog of the
Range Rover lineup. Charmed as we were by the incredible power and opulent
luxury, we felt that the Range Rover was afflicted by a curse that affects many
upper echelon vehicles – all the flash and features were spoilt by an
underlying impracticality.
FAST FACTS
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1. The Evoque uses a 2.0L 240 horsepower
4-cylinder engine with a turbocharger, backed by a 6-speed automatic
transmission.
2. A number of interior components, like the
audio system and gear shifter, are taken from Jaguars that cost twice as
much.
3. Fuel economy is rated by the EPA at 19 mpg
city, 28 mpg highway.
4. Unlike other Range Rovers, the Evoque is a
car-based crossover rather than a traditional SUV.
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The Range Rover’s footprint was so large that it could have had
its own branch of the Occupy movement, and its drinking problem was in league
with Amy Winehouse. The Range Rover was conceived as a luxury vehicle to take
you from your Scottish country estate to the theater and back again in total
comfort, but lately, the Range Rover has been the mode of choice of wealthy
urbanites. But the vehicle’s rugged, rural roots meant that parallel parking
and urban maneuvering were less than optimal, and its in-town fuel economy was
dismal, to say the least.
The 21st century luxury SUV consumer may wear Barbour jackets (as
an ironic fashion statement), but is also far more likely to be an entrepreneur
pitching their one-person marketing agency rather than living off an
inheritance and attending fox hunts. Range Rover knows which way the wind is
blowing, and with the Evoque,
it has adapted its formula accordingly.
Gone is the big,
boxy profile and the massive 5.0L Supercharged V8. The opulent cabin full of
leather and aluminum remains, but the Evoque is compact, taut and almost
futuristic looking, with a silhouette more like a MINI Countryman than a
Defender 110. Sharing a platform with the Land Rover LR2 (which in turn is
based on the Ford Focus), allows for the Evoque to opt for a much smaller form
factor, and makes it the kind of vehicle you want for darting in and out of
traffic, or parking in tight downtown spaces.
A
transverse-mounted 2.0L turbocharged 4 cylinder (again, based off of Ford’s
lovely Ecoboost engine) makes 240 horsepower and 251 lb-ft of torque, mated to
a 6-speed automatic gearbox. Don’t let the low-cylinder count fool you, because
this motor has an adequate amount of power to hustle the Evoque around in
nearly any situation. Passing slow moving traffic is a breeze thanks to a broad
torque band and minimal turbo lag, while still allowing the Evoque to cruise at
a comfortably low rpm on the highway. We suspect that hardly any buyers will
notice the difference from a traditional V6. Despite its front-driver
underpinnings, the Evoque still has a rudimentary all-wheel drive system, with
classic Land Rover technologies like Hill Descent Control, but we’d give up
Starbucks for a year if anybody took an Evoque on rougher terrain than a gravel
driveway.
Inside,
it’s clear to seasoned veterans that Land Rover (which operates the Range Rover
brand as its “premium” line) has been dipping into the parts bin in a big way.
The switchgear is an 80/20 mix of Land Rover and Volvo bits – hardly a bad
thing, but the common usages were immediately apparent. A few Jaguar parts are
included for good measure, such as the rotary shift knob that rises from the
center console, and the touch-screen HVAC and audio control system, which is
one of the easiest and most intuitive systems out there. Our litmus test
involves asking a passenger to operate the iPod interface without any
direction, and most cars tend to frustrate our subjects. Not so with the
Evoque, as multiple riders were able to easily and quickly navigate it without
any annoyances.
The
Evoque’s road manners were largely solid, but the combination of big wheels and
low-profile tires, an unavoidable concession to the automotive aesthetics of
our era, delivered the usual harshness over less-than-perfect pavement. Thankfully,
road noise was kept in check much better than the ride quality, as engine
sounds and wind noise were isolated from the cabin. The Evoque’s seats were
especially comfortable on long jaunts, and we found the driving position
excellent – just high enough to give drivers that SUV feel without compromising
the interaction that we crave.
Of
course, such a small footprint does lend itself to some compromises. Rear seat
comfort for two is fine, but if the front seats are moved back to accommodate a
driver or passenger over 6 feet, then it may get a little cramped. Ditto for 3
passengers in the back – we suspect that the typical Evoque buyer will be an
empty-nest couple, or have children riding in car seats. A trip to dinner at a
fancy restaurant will suffice, but going to visit the in-laws may be trying for
all occupants.
Cargo
room was also diminished by the Evoque’s “evocative” styling. A grocery shop
for two (at the local farmer’s market, natch) was fine, but trying to stow a
full set of 15” snow tires was a major challenge. We ended up stuffing three in
the small cargo area (which took some careful arranging) and rested one on the
rear seat before the automatic tailgate would shut itself. The sloping roofline
and small side windows mean that form comes before function as far as
visibility is concerned, and we were glad to have the standard back-up camera
on hand.
THE VERDICT
At a base price of $43,995 (up to $52,395) the Evoque isn’t cheap
by any standards, especially in light of other compact luxury SUVs starting at
thousands less. The Evoque does many things really well – the kind of things
that most buyers of the full-size Range Rovers do already, but without the
wretched excesses of massive fuel guzzling or conspicuous consumption. Range
Rover will sell every Evoque it can produce, perhaps at the expense of the
brand’s standing (in 5-10 years, every nightclub-attending wannabe will be
driving a used, white Evoque, and you can quote us on that), but the vehicle’s
platform and components have been paid for long ago, making it an absolute cash
cow for Land Rover, and parent company Tata.
For those just
outside the top 1 percent that want a stylish crossover, the Evoque is perfect.
For the 99 percent that isn’t pulling in megabucks, it’s a strong aspirational
vehicle that might be within reach at some point in their lives. This is the
kind of luxury vehicle that we need more of the in the market place, and
judging by current economic and social trends, it’s one we’ll likely see a lot
more of this decade.
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