When you think of Land Rover, the first image that comes to mind is the venerable Defender, or, if you’re younger, the Range Rover.
But whatever be your biological situation, one thing’s sure — their off-roading ability is always part of the image conjured up.
The Evoque, at first glance, seems designed more for cruising around the boulevards than conquering Serengeti.
We couldn’t exactly take a glorious white & black Evoque to do some hardcore off-roading, but we put it through some paces in our first drive.
It wasn’t an extended test either, which would let us talk of more mundane things like mileage, too, but it was enough to make the spine tingle.
Make no mistake, Evoque is the JLR family’s looker. Anywhere you go, be sure to get more than a few glances.
Evoque’s shape is — what else —very evocative. You are prone to presume the car is very slim and sleek because of its high waistline and narrow window openings.
But to get an idea of how compact it really is, drive in traffic and the Evoque blends very easily,dinking in and out of lanes with the panache of a bloody good small car.
Sure, some other midsizer SUVs, such as the Audi Q5, may seem to dwarf it — as it did on the Bandra Sea Link, but the four youngsters inside raced to have a good look-see and talk among themselves after they sighted the Evoque.
That’s the presence the car has — something its bigger siblings the Range Rover and the RR Sport don’t have.
Step inside and you’re greeted byvery cozy interiors, seats that grip your sides, and gauges that seem to project information in hi-def straight to your eyes — very clear, very purpose-driven.
We drove the Dynamic variant (over `52 lakh ex-showroom), which came with a dual-tone red-and-black interiors, but there are many
other options available for personalisation.
The seats are electronically adjustable, memory type; so depending on which key you use to unlock the doors, the car will automatically adjust the seats and steering wheel.
Ignition is just like the Jaguars these days. Push a button and the engine throbs to life and the gear selector knob rises from the dash. The famous Land Rover terrain response system is present here, but not in the same form factor — it’s more like a toggle.
And remember, if you don’t know how to get out of a sticky situation, the Evoque’s computer surely does.
But look rearward, and there isn’t a lot of space — though two adults can sit in absolute comfort. Bootspace is small too, but flick a switch and any hint of claustrophobia goes out of the roof, literally; the Evoque must surely have the largest panoramic roof in the business, and the feeling is fantastic.
Driver visibility could be an issue at right turns as the A-pillar and a bulbous rearview mirror impede vision, but those are some of the compromises made to get the stunning looks.
Put the Evoque in drive mode, and you’d forget you’re driving an SUV. The cozy cockpit, driver-centric controls and beautifully weighted steering mean that the car shrinks around you.
The four-wheel-drive system — the Evoque doesn’t come with an all-wheel-drive system, but rather a very capable four-wheel-drive under the sheet-metal — of the car trasmits power in a rear-biased manner.
Power from the diesel plant is more than enough to properly shove you back into your seat. Balance and stability when braking to zero from 180 kmph — and when doing wide turns at 160 kmph — lend a lot of confidence, as do the glides over bumps.
The steering wheel, with all its controls, also houses paddle shifters, just in case you feel like having more control over transmission.
This Land Rover wears its badge proudly too, the short overhangs and short wheelbase mean that the car should do well off the road. Combine that with the smart terrain response system and you’ve got a baby Rangie that will do its siblings proud.
If the Freelander is the perfect
Land Rover for daily use, the Evoque seems the perfect Land Rover for someone who wishes to make a style statement without compromising on practicality.
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