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Post by michael on Feb 10, 2019 19:16:40 GMT
Courtesy car lottery gave me an opportunity to have a go in one of Land Rover's most popular models this weekend, the Evoque.
I've not really spent much time in one of these so it was interesting to have a go. This one had 300 miles on the clock when I collected it and it's pretty laden with equipment like the panoramic roof, 20" wheels, full leather and so on. I think it has the ingenium 2 litre diesel and a 9 speed automatic box.
First off, it is very easy to see why they have sold well. As a static thing they're very appealing with good looks, impressive interior and a general specialness to them you don't get with a lot of rivals. This colour combination looked quite dull and it is showing its age particularly around the back but the new one is ready so that's hardly surprising.
It's obviously not a rival to my Discovery so it isn't really fair to compare but that's what I've got to go on and they're very different. The Evoque is far more car like to sit in, you sit far lower and the cabin feels a lot more snug - I imagine without the glass roof it could feel claustrophobic. The rear visibility isn't the best but it has a reverse camera for parking and the door mirrors are big enough. One thing I've never noticed on these, and it annoys me for no reason I can explain, but the rear wiper doesn't do a 'there and back' sweep on the intermittent setting. Instead it wipes to one side, pauses, then wipes to the other and so on. Can't explain why it bothers me but it does. It didn't have interior grab handles, either.
To drive it really is a very different to beast to the larger LR products. It's much more car like and the engine and gearbox are much more eager, bordering on frantic compared to the more wafty larger models. It's not a relaxing driver, the ride is pretty crashy on the big wheels and it's surprisingly loud but the handling is impressive with darty steering, little roll and great road holding. Overall, nice thing but not for me.I can see why it does so well, however, and it'll be interesting to see what the new one is like when that hits the road.
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Post by PG on Feb 10, 2019 20:16:21 GMT
I had a drive in one a few years ago and I agree - you can totally see why they sell so well. On PCP I expect, as in list price terms they are expensive. But then what isn't that is desirable these days?
I'd love to have a go in one with the high powered petrol engine. I reckon that could really suit it. Harry reviewed for his garage one and was very positive.
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Post by Martin on Feb 11, 2019 0:04:16 GMT
I wonder if it drives better on the adaptive suspension (assuming that wasn’t fitted)?
They are decent value on PCP, easy to see why they’re so popular.
Nice that LR are letting you go through the range, proper RR next?
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Post by michael on Feb 11, 2019 9:09:32 GMT
It didn't have adaptive dampers so far as I can tell. A FF Range Rover would be nice to try but I'm more keen to experience the Velar, I've never even sat in one. Maybe at the next service.
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Post by Boxer6 on Feb 11, 2019 13:35:27 GMT
Is that a Skoda Kodiaq parked behind it Michael?
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Post by Deleted on Feb 11, 2019 13:44:30 GMT
Looks like a Yeti from here...
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Post by ChrisM on Feb 11, 2019 13:46:11 GMT
Looks like a Yeti from here... +1 |
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Post by michael on Feb 11, 2019 14:46:03 GMT
Is that a Skoda Kodiaq parked behind it Michael? As other have said it's a Yeti. Belongs to the outlaws, and a nice thing it is in fancy trim with saddle brown seats and DSG. |
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Post by Boxer6 on Feb 11, 2019 15:51:09 GMT
Is that a Skoda Kodiaq parked behind it Michael? As other have said it's a Yeti. Belongs to the outlaws, and a nice thing it is in fancy trim with saddle brown seats and DSG. Looked a little high for a Yeti. Having had a good look around DarthBalls' one a few years ago, I was very impressed with the storage etc. Don't think there was a DSG version then though. |
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Post by michael on Feb 11, 2019 15:54:49 GMT
It's parked on a higher part of the drive - I don't know if it comes across that clearly in the picture. That said the Yeti is much higher than the Evoque which is a very small car. It is indeed a DSG 2ltr diesel 4x4 in Laurent Clement trim. It's s good car.
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Post by racingteatray on Feb 11, 2019 17:18:00 GMT
What is the meaning of all these courtesy cars?
Is the Disco doing what Discos do best and failing to proceed?
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Post by michael on Feb 11, 2019 17:39:15 GMT
The car went in on Friday for it's scheduled service, I prefer to come home rather than wait around so I get a loan car. The Sport was given to me while the car was in to have a minor issue corrected that had been identified at handover and I'd only got around to sorting.
At a similar point in Volvo ownership I'd taken car back to have the body cladding stuck back on after a panel came away, the 'active bending headlamps' warning had flared up (a fault never properly fixed) and the dashboard screens had intermittently turned themselves off while I was on the motorway.
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Post by Tim on Feb 14, 2019 13:36:38 GMT
I think the 5 door Mk1 Evoque is by far the most successful version of Gerry McGovern's styling theme.
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Post by michael on Feb 14, 2019 13:56:20 GMT
I think the 5 door Mk1 Evoque is by far the most successful version of Gerry McGovern's styling theme. Julian Thompson designed the Evoque and set out the design language for the brand in doing so. Gerry McGovern oversaw the Discovery 5 and is a complete twat. |
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Post by Tim on Feb 14, 2019 14:12:14 GMT
I think the 5 door Mk1 Evoque is by far the most successful version of Gerry McGovern's styling theme. Julian Thompson designed the Evoque and set out the design language for the brand in doing so. Gerry McGovern oversaw the Discovery 5 and is a complete twat. Didn't know that. Apart from McGovern being a twat. |
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Post by PG on Feb 14, 2019 18:32:45 GMT
I think the 5 door Mk1 Evoque is by far the most successful version of Gerry McGovern's styling theme. and set out the design language for the brand in doing so. Gerry McGovern oversaw the Discovery 5 and is a complete twat. That's right up there in the "not many people know that" quiz. Although, strictly speaking, he designed the exterior of the LRX concept that led to the Evoque. But as they changed hardly anything, he did effectively design the Evoque. Leaving it pretty much as was was the first stroke of genius in turning the LRX into production. The other was putting a luxury interior in it (way, way better than the Freelander interior of the time) and making it a mini-Range Rover. After all, everybody wants a Range Rover (even if they won't admit it). And totally agreed - Gerry McGovern is a complete twat. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 14, 2019 19:21:14 GMT
I don't want a Range Rover and that's not me not admitting it, that's a stone cold fact. I'm not sure whether a RR or a MINI is at the bottom of my list but, rest assured, whichever one is at the bottom the other is right above keeping it company!
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Post by Roadsterstu on Feb 16, 2019 12:43:26 GMT
A good friend of mine has an Evoque in that trim and colour and a lovely thing it is, too.
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