2012 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque Sport Utility Vehicle Review & Performance

The new Evoque is the smallest Range Rover ever, and as noted it's the smallest vehicle in its class. This, plus the sloping roof, does restrict interior volume compared to key competitors. On the other hand, diminutive dimensions are a plus in urban environments, as well as in rugged terrain.

The Evoque three-door coupe and five-door bodies are nearly identical in dimensions. They ride on the same 104.8-inch wheelbase. They are the same overall length, 171.5 inches. They are the same width: 83.7 inches including the mirrors, 77.4 inches with the mirrors folded. Measuring 64.4 inches tall, the five-door models are 1.2 inches taller than the coupes at 63.2 inches.

The Evoque's sassy exterior design began with the LRX, a three-door concept unveiled at the 2008 North American International Automobile Show in Detroit. It was intended primarily as a statement by the company's new design chief, Gerry McGovern, and production possibilities were very much a wait-and-see proposition.

With its back-slanting roofline, rising beltline, and short overhangs, the LRX looked a little like a large scale Mini Cooper, an impression fortified by the option of contrasting roof colors, a design distinction the Mini has used effectively.

But uniformly enthusiastic response by show-goers quickly moved the LRX out of the dream car category into production reality.

Based on the compact Land Rover LR2 platform, the two models share the same 108.4-inch wheelbase. But at 171.4 inches long, the Evoque is shorter than the LR2, its sloping roofline is some four to five inches lower, and it's distinctly wider, 77.4 inches versus 75.1.

That combination, relatively low roofline, wide stance, not much vehicle extending beyond the axles at either end, gives the Evoque an eager, sporty look that's unique in this class.

The minimum ground clearance, 8.5 inches, is at the front axle; rear axle clearance adds an inch, and the Evoque can safely ford water up to 19.7 inches deep without inhaling any of it.

The downside to the Evoque's dramatic styling is at the rear of the vehicle. The sloping roofline and ascending beltline conspire to compromise rearward vision, and sightlines in the rear quarters are limited.

On the other hand, if style wasn't important, we'd all be driving cars that look like the old Checker Marathon taxicabs. For someone who wants a compact luxury crossover that's a departure from the rectilinear mainstream, the Evoque merits a longer look.

A plethora of color combinations with two tones and different roof colors is available.

Consistent with other Range Rovers, the Evoque is handsomely appointed and attractively designed, with excellent materials and exemplary fit and finish.

An 8-inch info screen dominates the dashboard, the control layout has no mysteries, and there's the by-now expected array of telematics. We found the navigation system exceptionally easy to use. And the five-camera system that shows what's going on 360 degrees around the vehicle is very handy in tight places.

None of the foregoing is surprising. The surprising part is interior roominess. That sloping roof might suggest limited rear seat headroom, but that's not the case, even in the three-door coupe. The Evoque has 39.7 inches of headroom in the back seats, while the Coupe has 38.2 inches. Passengers over six-foot-two might find their hair brushing the ceiling, but leg room is plentiful and the Evoque's brawny width creates plenty of room, front and rear, to squirm around on longish trips. The Evoque has 40.3 inches of headroom in the front seats, the Evoque Coupe has 39.1 inches of front-seat headroom.

As noted earlier, the only caveat is the center rear seating position. The Evoque has places for five, but its center rear seat is a spot you'd reserve for people you didn't like. It's comfortable for four, not five.

Diminutive dimensions do have one other drawback, and that's cargo capacity. The Evoque five-door offers 20 cubic feet of stowage with the rear seats up, 51 cubic feet with the rear seats folded flat, less than any of the German competition. For contrast, the Mercedes GLK, the next size up, offers 23 cubic feet behind the rear seats, 55 cubic feet with the seats folded down. The Evoque Coupe offers 47.6 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded. Evoque has 20.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, the Coupe has 19.4 cubic feet.

The Evoque's turbo four pulls smoothly, with very little throttle lag. The 6-speed automatic, which includes paddles shifters for manual operation, kicks down quickly for passing, and if the acceleration isn't exactly neck-snapping, it's respectable. Land Rover predicts 0 to 60 mph in about 7 seconds, which is certainly enough to keep up with urban traffic.

The turbocharger builds boost quickly, and it takes some practice to achieve smooth launches. We also found that it's not too difficult to confuse the computer controlling the 6-speed automatic; its electronic brain seems to balk at abrupt changes in throttle position. These are traits that become transparent to an owner over time, but there's room for improvement here nevertheless.

Suspension tuning is firm, and that trait, combined with a relatively low center of gravity (for a vehicle in this class), gives the Evoque a lively sense of agility without any apparent sacrifice in comfort. Directional changes are brisk, body roll is limited, brake feel is firm, and the words "car-like driving experience" seem to have more relevance here than with any other contender in this crossover class.

If there's any flaw in the Evoque's credentials as an urban warrior it's a limited view out the rear window, as well as in the rear quarters. Driver sightlines are critical in city driving, and the Evoque's could be better. Chalk that shortcoming up to style.

In really rough stuff, the Evoque's Range Rover credentials shine. The four-wheel-drive system employs a Haldex center differential that automatically apportions front-rear engine torque according to grip, no locking differentials, totally transparent, and very effective.

With its short front and rear overhangs (i.e., not much vehicle protruding beyond the front or rear axles), the Evoque's only all-terrain limits are its ground clearance, making its off-road limits very high indeed, in sharp contrast to its competitors.

If there's any soft spot in the Evoque's dynamic credentials, it's at the wheel. Range Rover has adopted a new electric-assist steering system that varies effort as a function of speed. It's quick, just 2.5 turns lock-to-lock, but it's also lacking in road feel. That's not a good combination. But it's another of those little quirks that owners adapt to over time.

The 2012 Range Rover Evoque model lineup is distinguished by a series of unique designations. The lineup begins with the Pure Plus models, escalates to the Pure Premium trim level, and then to the Dynamic Premium. These designations are shared by both body styles.

The Evoque Pure Plus five-door ($41,145) and Pure Plus three-door coupe ($44,995) are very well equipped, including leather, a rear-view camera, a very good audio system, tilt-telescope steering, antilock braking, adaptive headlamps, traction control, and, of course, full-time four-wheel drive.

The Evoque Pure Premium ($47,995) and Pure Premium coupe ($49,395) add a navigation system, 17-speaker audio with CD changer, luggage rails, adaptive xenon headlamps, and a five-camera system that shows what's going on 360 degrees around the vehicle.

The Evoque Dynamic Premium ($51,495) and Dynamic Premium coupe ($52,895) upgrades with fancier trim, interior color options, greater seat adjustability, and other details.

The Evoque Prestige Premium five-door ($51,595) upgrades to higher trim and offers the option of a new automatic damping system ($1500), the only stand-alone option on the Evoque pricing chart. Called MagneRide, it instantly adjusts suspension damping to road conditions, employing a system of shock absorber technology pioneered by Cadillac. (All New Car Test Drive prices are Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Prices, which do not include destination charge and may change at any time without notice.)