WASHINGTON — When you think of small crossovers, standout styling isn’t usually first on the list. But a few years ago, the Range Rover hit streets with just that.
The dramatic two-door version — and even the four-door model — of the Range Rover Evoque looks sleek, and more sport than utility. Even after a few years on sale, the Evoque still looks like it drove off the car show runway last week. On the road, it’s also aged well so far.
When you think of Range Rover, you think of a big price tag and a larger luxury SUV that can go anywhere. The Range Rover Evoque is the entry-level crossover with a starting price around $42,000. It might not be able to cross mountains without a road, but it still offers the Range Rover prestige and good ability with its advanced AWD system. It laughed at nine inches of snow.
The exterior still garners second takes. Even the four-door version I drove looks more like a two-door crossover with its sloping rear end styling, and the optional 19-inch wheels give it a bit of more serious off-road look. It sits up higher than a car and most other small luxury crossovers, which is one of the reasons most people buy a crossover rather than a sedan.
The interior is also in high style. The modern luxury trend continues with a rich look and feel inside. The materials are high-quality, and if you spend some extra money — $3,000 on the Pure Plus package — you’ll get comfortable, powered memory leather front seats, a panoramic roof, power lift gate and large 19-inch wheels.
But the options don’t stop there. (The price of the Evoque can push to over $52,000 or more without trying too hard.) The $1,200 Climate Comfort package has heated front and rear seats, heated steering wheel and heated front windshield, which helps melt ice and snow much quicker. The last option package, the $4,000 Pure Premium package, offers a loud 825-watt Meridian surround sound system with a large eight-inch screen. A surround-view camera system helps, as rear visibility isn’t the best. The NAV system isn’t the fastest but it did a nice job.
After a week and 310 miles, I see why it costs what it does. It drives like you would expect from a small luxury crossover. The cool rotary transmission controller pops out of the dash and the four-cylinder turbo engine does a good job of moving the crossover in and out of traffic. The engine is mostly quiet, but when pushed it sounds a little coarse. A nine-speed automatic does a good job keeping the Evoque in the power or just cruising along. It’s one of the better nine-speed transmissions I have driven; there is not as much hunting for a gear as with others.
The ride is good, with a just a little lean in some steep turns, and all but the big bumps are well controlled. Even gas mileage was pretty good: I managed 24.2 mpg of premium — exactly what the sticker says for a mix of city and highway driving.
The 2015 Range Rover Evoque might not be the newest small luxury crossover on the market anymore, but it’s still one of the most stylish. With standout looks outside and a high-class, comfortable interior, the Evoque makes a strong statement on the road. That’s one of the reasons to buy a luxury small crossover in the first place, right?
Editor’s note: Mike Parris is a member of the Washington Automotive Press Association. The vehicles are provided by STI, FMI or Event Solutions for the purpose of this review.
