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Top Gear review Range Rover Evoque

Top Gear give their ‘take’ on the new Range Rover Evoque

Kayte Platts Kayte Platts
Tuesday 19 July 2011

The Evoque is as close an interpretation of the LRX concept possible, and is the lightest and most efficient Rangie ever,

 and it looks pretty good, 'innit?

top_gear_team.jpgWhile some of the Top Gear office regard it as a two-doored, two-wheel drive metropolitan abomination of all that we hold dear about this company's utilitarian past, even they can't deny that it's going to do very well.

Expect it to be the ride of choice for all Fulham/Cheshire-based wives from next summer - much as the Audi TT and Mini have dominated that market in the past.

As design director Gerry McGovern says, the Evoque is a "bold evolution of Range Rover design".

 Underneath that handsome face lurks some clever tech. You get the option of front-wheel drive for the first time in a Range Rover, together with adaptive dampers and something called a ‘Terrain Response' system on the four-wheel drive. We like the sound of that...

The base engine is a 148bhp, 2.2-litre diesel which returns 58mpg and creeps under 130g/km of CO2 (in the front-wheel-drive model), while a 2.0-litre, 238bhp petrol engine offers up a 0-60mph time of 7.1 seconds.

 You get loads of techie bits like park assist, blind spot monitoring, surround camera system with digital cameras, TV, DVD and keyless entry. We're still waiting to see if it's got something called ‘electric windows', so check back for updates.

Land Rover is offering the Evoque in three design themes: Pure (brushed aluminium trim, soft-touch materials), Prestige and Dynamic. Prestige gives you ‘sparkly metallic details', while Dynamic gets you 20-inch rims and Big Respec'.

 This little crossover SUV will cost from £30,000 when it goes on sale in summer 2011. And it's Made In Britain. It's split the Top Gear office fairly cleanly down the middle, so we want to know what you think. A hideous betrayal aimed at milquetoasts from the chattering classes, or the latest stroke of genius from Gaydon?

Trevor
Trevor, Shoreham
27 July 2011, 05:21PM

I have test driven the Range Rover Evoque and have to say that I think it is the smallest, greenest and possibly trendiest vehicle ever to carry the British manufacturer’s badge. If my wallet allowed my name would defiantly be added to the long waiting list!

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adrian dewey
adrian dewey, Kings Hill Kent
5 August 2011, 04:37PM

Excellent design, I WANT ONE.
Going to buy the Prestige with SD4. Nearly 200 BHP for this diesel. Got the same engine in a freelander at the moment. Driving with my Grannies shoes on I can get 34mpg but with my son's 19 year old trainers on 27 MPG !!! Not sure where Land Rovers blurb gets 48 MPG combined.
Love the show

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FJ Bartling
FJ Bartling, Hilversum,Holland.
13 August 2011, 03:26PM

Goodness!
I,ve tried to find May driving it on the www!
No go!They,ve blocked it!I did see it on the beeb
though,and if I,m not mistaken,this could turn
out to be a scorcher,although,I,m afraid it will
turn out to be a bit on the expensive side here
in Holland,where tht Defender will cost you up as
from 42,000 euros(thanks to the greedy local gvt!)
It has great looks for people looking for a stylish
kind of car,but it is going in a completely different
direction when compared to the original in 1948!
That was first,as you know,meant for farmers,vets,etc,
and this new model will probably see no more off road
action than turning in the front drive!This could,
however,turm out to be THE answer for people bored
with the 2nd generation Mini!I hope L.R score a hit
with this Evoque,and please stop them from selling
a possible 2 wheel version!L.R,s should be built only
as 4-wheel-drive cars!Pointless,otherwise!

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stevie J
stevie J, Northern Ireland
14 September 2011, 12:12AM

I have driven this car on 3 occasions and have fallen in love with it. I Kept my Volvo 850R for 15 years as there was nothing on the market that took my fancy until Now. Beautiful and sleek, Gearing is superb, handling very responsive and loads of useful gadgets. Deposit paid and picking up in January 12. Don't knock it until you have driven it. Knocks spots off the Sport.

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Mark
Mark
3 February 2012, 01:35AM

Top gear = Trash
Range Rover Evoque = Trash

  Rating (0)
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