Revision splendid. Neil Dowling. December 2011

Art is no longer hung on the wall — it’s in your driveway

TRENDY flared trousers and platform shoes were so hot in the 1970s that blokes in straight-leg pants were openly ridiculed. How could we be so blind? The cringeworthy fashion deviations taken 40 years ago swept back in a flood of embarrassment when I parked the Evoque alongside a new Mitsubishi Pajero. The Pajero, a large 4WD with nice proportions, suddenly looked 40 years old. Such is fashion. But there’s much more to the latest Range Rover than style.

VALUE: I’ve seen American clothing stores hang thousand-dollar price tags from bizarrely coloured men’s suits that I wouldn’t let my cat sleep on. Wacky stuff tends to command a price premium. The Evoque is very different, definitely not wacky, but isn’t cheap. You can buy a 2WD version from $49,990 but the Prestige costs $75,375 and that’s without the excellent panoramic sunroof ($1035), rear camera ($670) and electric tailgate ($1020). Value? Nup.

DESIGN: Now you’re talking. The best- looking thing on the streets. Doesn’t matter if it’s three- or five-door, it makes everything else look old. And it all works. The five-door is roomy for four adults, has a comfy cabin, and the quality to suit its price. But there are problems. The huge mirrors block all vision to the kerb, while the rear window is only slightly bigger than a letter-box slit.

TECHNOLOGY: The all-wheel drive version gets a four-mode Terrain Response from the Freelander II, plus hill descent, which helps in the dirt. The 140kW/420Nm 2.2-litre turbo-diesel (also in the Jaguar XF sedan) is perfect in its role and better than the 2-litre turbo-petrol. There’s a six-speed auto with paddle shifters on the steering column, top-end audio and sat-nav with a touchscreen, and electric steering. A sensible approach to engineering which should auger well for durability.

SAFETY: Not many new vehicles on the market lack premium safety. From 2012, ESC must be standard, for example, though safety standards will soon be more stringent. The Evoque is a five-star crash-rated wagon with chassis electronics, corner stability, rollover stability, trailer sway control and hill descent and ascent control. Oh, and seven airbags.

DRIVING: Not as small as I expected and, at 1810kg dry, not as light; but agile, and the diesel engine kicks hard. You can throw this through corners and it’s an absolute joy. I punted it across 1km of soft beach sand — without the tyres deflated — with the Terrain Response set to the “sand” setting and it failed to sink. We took the family out to an eatery at night, shopped, went visiting and generally ran this through everything from a pre-Christmas shopping complex to a quiet country road. Good though it was, every time I stopped for a break I just turned around and stared at it. Beautiful.

VERDICT: Style with practicality. Yes, it’s expensive and visibility is rubbish but it’s the car for 2011. Probably 2012 and 2013, too.

ODD SPOT: The Evoque looks all new but sits on a Freelander II platform and shares its drivetrain and suspension.

Specs

Range Rover Evoque

PRICE: $75,375

WARRANTY: 3 years/100,000km, roadside assist

RESALE: N/A

SERVICE INTERVAL:  12 months/ 15,000km

ECONOMY: 6.5L/100km, 174g/km CO2

SAFETY: Rating 5 stars Equipment 7 airbags, ESC, ABS, EBD, EBA, TC

ENGINE:  2.2-litre 4-cyl turbo diesel, 140kW/420Nm

TRANSMISSION: 6-speed sequential auto, AWD

BODY: 3- and 5-door, 5-seat wagon

DIMENSIONS:  4365mm (L); 1965mm (W); 1635mm (H); 2660mm (WB). Weight 1810kg

TYRE SIZE : 235/55R19  Spare: space-saver

verdict

WE LOVE: Comfort, style, performance

WE LOATHE: Poor visibility, expensive