I fell in love with this car ever since I first laid my eyes on it. This car was really fresh to look at and very beautiful too. I was eagerly waiting for the launch of the car in India and a chance to drive the beauty. There were few confusions regarding how the pricing of the car would be. Rumours had it that the price would be as low as 35 lacks. The version I fell in love with was the three door one but I have to admit that the five door version is highly attractive too. With Tata taking over both Range Rover and Jaguar, it was sure that Indian market wouldn’t have to wait too long after its launch in the global market and rightly so, Evoque is finally here. It looks like I will have to wait little more to drive the Indian version. Recently, however, I got a chance to drive the European version of the Evoque. To be completely honest, the new Evoque surprised me in many ways. Here are few of those reasons….
It will be a real effort not to notice an Evoque that’s passing you. The looks of the car guarantees that many heads would be turned. Range rover has used a completely new design language for the Evoque. This is entirely a new car, which is being introduced in a whole new class and is aimed at new kinds of customers. I have to admit (and I bet that only a minority will disagree) that this vehicle is million times better looking than any other Range rovers. Evoque comes 100 kg lighter than the Freelander 2. The extensive use of aluminium in body panels and suspension is highly noticeable and resulted in considerable weight loss. Evoque also has substantial use of plastics on its body. However, the commanding view of the regular Range rover is missing in the new Evoque. Unlike many other Range rovers, the seating position is lot lower and as a result Evoque feels more sportier and very ‘un-Rangie’. On the whole, the Evoque is a real treat to look at. The vehicle is highly attractive on the outside and shows high promises in terms of the looks.
The interior of the car is what I love the most. The dashboard is filled with soft touch surfaces and being in this car is an amazing feel. Everything in this vehicle’s interior looks properly expensive for the price you are paying. The automatic Evoque gets Jaguar’s gear lever that rises from the centre console. Further down to it are the switches for Land Rover’s Terrain Response off road system that configures the vehicles software and the hardware according to the terrain. The whole cabin is comfy, spacious and a real nice place to spend your time at. Both the seats and steering are widely adjustable and can be set according to how ever you want. The lower seating position gives you more headroom and thus gives a feel of more space and comfort. The huge wing mirrors was not that good and it thwarted the view a little. Unlike how the window line would suggest, the vehicle has loads of legroom and very good headroom. From the outside it might look as if the car is lacking any legroom and headroom, but once inside it welcomes you with huge space both horizontally and vertically. India will get the massive panoramic roof as standard and will add a nice touch to the car. Evoque also comes with a push button start. The whole interior is as promising and good looking as the exterior. Everything in the car is highly attractive and is really good to look at. The feel of luxury that it provides is also impeccable. The whole interiors have the luxury and the standards of a Range rover and for me it was a paradise that I never wanted to let go off.
After taking in the feel of the interiors I decided to move on with the task ahead. Next up was my chance to drive the beauty and get a feel of how the ‘baby’ performs on the road (my favourite task indeed). Once you start the car you are greeted with a very good SUV like sound. A small rev and it lacks a little of the sportiness the looks provides. The 2.2 litre Diesel engine feels good and is a really refined one. The 2197 cc engine gives out power of about 187 bhp and 428 nm torque. The power delivery of the engine is in a nice and linear manner. As to my expectation the vehicle does not feel too quick once you put your foot down on the gas pedal. The six speed auto gearbox is not the best around in the market either. The steering mounted paddles add a nice touch and stood out to impress me. While on the ride the vehicle had remarkable composure and tight body control that gives you enough confidence. The electric steering is a little light and a bit off centre (to my disappointment). The 18” inch wheels are really awesome while on the ride. The vehicle is at its best when you are not pushing on and when the dynamic mode is turned off. It should be admitted that the vehicle is a very good off-roader. The Indian Evoque will have both the smaller and higher profile tyres to meet the harsher of the conditions.
Evoque has a 2.2 litre, Front mounted transverse, AWD 4 cylinder in line, 2197 cc common rail, turbo diesel engine. It produces about 187 bhp at 3500 rpm and a torque of about 428 nm at 2000 rpm. The engine is mated to a 6 speed automatic gearbox. The length, width and breadth of the vehicle are 4355 mm, 1965mm and 1605 mm respectively. The total wheel base of the vehicle is about 2660 mm. The tyres used are 235/55- R18. Evoque takes about 4.5 seconds to reach a complete 60 from the start.
To sum up, this vehicle (even though not a true performer on the road) did impress me. The whole vehicle is of real high quality. The drive was on the down side but the looks were clearly on the other hand. This SUV is really stunning and feels entirely desirable. The price, however, is on the downside too. With 49 lacks ex showroom it feels as if the vehicle is priced a little too high for its competition and Indian market. Will it make a noticeable change? That is yet to be seen. For now this is a car I will cherish in my heart and will wait to see how well it performs in Indian market.
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