2016 Range Rover Evoque first drive

[Express]

2016 Range Rover Evoque first drive


British brand's stylish road-bound SUV benefits from some new engines.


November 4 2015
Jonathan Hawley





2016 Range Rover Evoque gets a refresh and a new diesel engine. Photo: Supplied


It was as if someone had called the Hollywood central casting unit and asked for "typical Range Rover scenery."

Trundling along a farm track in our facelifted Evoque on a slightly misty Buckinghamshire morning, the vista opened onto a wide valley ringed with sturdy English oaks draped in autumn colours.

Marching through the fields, clad in tweed and surrounded by bouncing bird dogs, a shooting party was gathering up the remnants of the local pheasant and partridge population they'd just gunned out of the skies.

A few cheery waves (probably from the hereditary owner of the 5000 acre estate himself) and we kept moving, turning left onto another track made of the finest English mud to find another hill to slither down, another stream to cross.

One almost has to slap oneself back into reality. That being, of course, that back home the Evoque is like any other SUV more likely to execute the morning school run than transport the raw ingredients for game pie back to the family manor.

To that end the smallest Rangie, which arrived four years ago as a surprisingly stylish addition to the range, has been given a makeover.

The basic shape remains (in either four-door or coupe body styles) but there's a new look to the front end thanks to a revised bumper and grille and optional LED headlights give a sharper look.

Inside there are new seats that can come with cooling as well as heating and a massage function, the infotainment screen is a sizeable eight-inch unit, there have been revisions to colour and trim across the wide model range and the electric tail gate fitted to more upmarket versions has a foot-swiping motion-sensor operation.

There's also a new diesel engine. Out goes the old 2.2-litre to be replaced by a more efficient 2.0-litre unit from Land Rover's Ingenium series. It's the same one that goes into the Jaguar XE, modified for transverse installation in the Evoque's engine bay and will also arrive in the closely related Discovery Sport in November next year.

The diesel comes in two guises: with a 110kW output on cheaper versions including the price-leading $51,995 eD4 manual with front-wheel drive and a 132kW version on higher end models including the $76,995 HSE Dynamic 4WD automatic four-door which Drive had a steer of in England.

For dedicated petrol heads, the 2.0-litre turbo running on unleaded is still available (it puts out 177kW of power but uses significantly more fuel) and across the range is priced higher than the diesel.

The new diesel's main job description is to use less fuel, and at 5.1 L/100km the automatic 4WD version manages that well.

On the road though, the main impression is of quietness and refinement with none of the diesel clatter that might be expected, just a relatively serene progression through each of the automatic transmission's nine ratios.

The higher powered diesel unit also gets a torque boost with 430Nm available at 1750rpm, giving strong acceleration off the line and plenty left in reserve for overtaking once on the move.

The HSE Dynamic model gets a kind of sports mode – selected by scrolling left on the Terrain Response Dial on the centre console – and while it sharpens the suspension tune, throttle response and steering, the effects seem too minimal to warrant leaving comfort mode behind.

Otherwise, the Evoque is a pleasurable driving experience with ample ride comfort even on the 19-inch tyres fitted on our HSE Dynamic, while the steering has enough precision and communication to allow brisk cornering.

The only qualification would be that given the lengths Range Rover has gone to produce a sporty exterior design, the Evoque's road manners are commendably comfortable, not aggressively performance oriented.

The new seats don't offer much lateral support but then, if anyone needs cool air wafting their nether regions and some mild pummeling from the massage function, these options are available.

The bigger infotainment screen can be swiped through various menu options, but it seems a tad complicated for a simple operation like turning on the seat heaters to require a dashboard button, then delving into functions on the touch screen.

It's easy to see how the motion-sensing operation of the rear tail gate could be handy for anyone laden with shopping bags or toddlers but it takes a few goes to get right. Approaching either rear corner of the Evoque while performing a cross between a Moulin Rouge can-can and a Cossack dance just to open the rear hatch with the correct foot-swiping motion is at least a useful entertainment for the rest of the polo club.

That tailgate gives access to the same modestly sized 575 litre luggage area with its high load lip and the back seat is adequate in terms of leg room, but the high waist-line gives occupants an enclosed feeling.

Of course, if practicality's an issue the Land Rover Discovery Sport offers more space (and the option of seven seats), but the new diesel engine is about a year away in Australia.

Getting back to off roading, the Evoque can demonstrate it is much more than just a styling exercise in 4WD guise at least. Range Rover has added what it calls All Terrain Progress Control, also used in its two largest models that looks after throttle control on rough terrain between speeds of 1.8 and 30km/h.

Much like a low-speed cruise control, it allows the driver to concentrate on steering around obstacles without having to worry about attenuating speed using the right pedal.

For light to moderate off road duties the Evoque copes well with the major limiting factor being tyres better suited to sealed roads than good old English mud (or any other country's, probably) which can clog the grooves and limit traction and grip.

Most owners will obviously never get that far off the beaten path and to be honest, if they liked the look of the old Evoque the incremental changes to this upgraded version may well only cement their enthusiasm. Lower fuel use, more performance and refinement in the diesel plus some extra usability and styling modifications all help make the Evoque even more attractive.


2015 Range Rover Evoque pricing and specifications


On sale: Now

Price: From $51,995 plus on-road costs

Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel/2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol

Power: 110kW at 4000rpm/132kW at 4000rpm/177kW at 5500rpm

Torque: 380Nm at 1750rpm/430Nm at 1750rpm/340Nm at 1750rpm

Transmission: Six-speed manual or nine-speed auto, front or all-wheel drive

Fuel use: 4.4/4.8/7.8 L/100km

http://www.drive.com.au/new-car-revi...02-gkpbfz.html