2013 Range Rover Evoque Coupe Review

Most of the car reviews we do for Unfinished Man are of vehicles that we already like and would personally buy if we had unlimited funds and garage space.  One of the cars (vehicle) I’ve been looking forward to getting behind the wheel of, is the Range Rover Evoque.  Ever since we first wrote about it, way back in 2010, I really wanted to test it out; I did get a chance to drive the Evoque on an off road course last year, and I was extremely surprised by how well it was able to cope with the obstacles we threw at it (read about it here).

The real test of this small SUV/CUV comes in driving it on paved roads, as a daily driver.  Because we all know, most SUV’s rarely make it onto tough off-road terrain, the closest thing they get to seeing off-road action is when they pass through road construction.  These SUV’s do get their traction control and other off-road goodies tested in areas where it snows in the winter and that’s what separates the great from the average, and I’d have to rate the Evoque great on its off-road abilities based on my previous post.

Our Range Rover Evoque Coupe review took place in the concrete jungle with mostly sunny days and a bit of wet weather, and that’s how we expect these cars to be used by you, the consumer.  The Evoque Coupe we test drove was the Pure (base) model with the Pure Plus Package, the Evoque Pure Coupe has a starting price of $48,095 and the optional package added another $4,500 to that.  The total price of our test vehicle came to $53,195 ($600 for the Santorini black paint).

Design/Style

Land Rovers are supposed to be big and boxy, but that’s not the case with the Evoque.  The Evoque is actually a pretty aerodynamic looking vehicle, it has a very angular shape and the design is very aggressive and sporty- you won’t find another small SUV with this much style.  The Evoque had heads turning everywhere, it’s definitely an attention getter and I heard quite a few people comment on how good looking it was, as they passed us by while we were taking pictures of it.

My favorite view of the Evoque Coupe is from the rear three-quarters angle.  I really like the aggressive rake in the roof, coming down to meet the small rear window.  I also liked the way the car sits on its oversized wheels and tires, and the almost nonexistent overhang by the front and rear wheels.  The Evoque, in coupe configuration, almost looks like a Tonka truck…and that’s a good thing.

Interior

Judging by the aggressive angles of the exterior, you’d think the interior would be pretty cramped and the visibility would be horrible, but surprisingly, that’s not the case.  I was personally expecting the interior to be very claustrophobic  and was dreading looking out of the small rear window, but I was extremely comfortable driving the Evoque and didn’t once feel like I couldn’t see “obstacles” around me, even behind the vehicle.  The rear window is small, but I think because of the high seating position, I was able to look behind me just fine; the Evoque does come with a rear camera but I didn’t really need it as much as I thought I would.  There is one thing that obstructed my view a bit; it’s the huge mirrors on the side which took a bit of getting used to.

The interior is very spacious and when you open up the massive panoramic glass roof, the light comes flooding in and it makes the car feel (almost) like a convertible.  Unfortunately, the glass roof doesn’t open; it would be cool if you could take out the entire panel, for those special sunny days.

The interior is laid out with a minimalist design (thanks Mrs. Beckham), the layout is probably one of the simplest one I’ve seen in a new car, it’s very easy to get used to.  The buttons to control the various systems is a combination of digital and analog.  The climate is controlled by analog buttons on the center console and is very simple and straight forward, above it is the 8” touch screen monitor which controls the audio/video, phone, and the navigation system (our car wasn’t equipped with a Navigation system).  The touch screen is very responsive to the touch, and is a step above the XJL’s system, I complained about that system lagging.

The Evoque comes with a 380 Watt sound system by Meridian, with 11 speakers.  The system includes radio, optional satellite radio, CD, and can play music from a USB drive or MP3 player; the connection for which is located under the compartment under the arm-rest.

The front seats are very comfortable and sporty, there is plenty of legroom in the front and surprisingly, even more in the back.  I’m 5’ 8” and was comfortable behind the front seat setting for a 6′ person, with enough room to move my feet around comfortably.  The only drawback on the coupe was getting in and out of the back seat, which was a bit of a hassle; the front seat doesn’t go forward enough to allow for smooth entering/existing the vehicle.

Performance/Driving Dynamics

The 2013 Range Rover Evoque is powered by a Ford sourced direct injection, turbocharged 2.0 liter 4-cylinder engine that produces 240 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 251 pound-feet of torque at 1,750 rpm.  Power is sent to all four wheels via a 6-speed automatic transmission with steering wheel mounted paddle shifters.  This is a heavy car but the engine seems peppy enough and performs quite well, the official 0-60 mph time is 7.1 seconds (0-100 km/h in 7.3 seconds) with a top speed of 217 km/h (135 mph).

The Evoque handles pretty good on the road, the ride is almost car-like and the steering is very responsive, I called it the Mini Cooper of CUV’s.  It’s quite nimble, for a heavy vehicle, especially when you take into account that this vehicle does very well in off-road conditions; conditions which would leave most of the Evoque’s competition in the dust.

According to Land Rover, the Evoque consumes 6.9 L/100 km (34 mpg) on the highway, 10.9 L/100 km (21.6 mpg) in the city, and 9.1 L/100 km (25.8 mpg) combined.  When I was driving it normally, not my usual peddle to the metal driving style, I managed to get 8.5 L/100 km (27.7 mpg) on the highway, 12.5 L/100 km (18.8 mpg) in the city, and 10.7 L/100 km (22 mpg) combined; these numbers are based on what the on-board computer showed.

Likes/Dislikes

• Likes
  • Great looks
  • Lots of interior space
  • Great off-road capabilities, especially in this segment
  • Decent fuel economy
• Dislikes
  • Hard to get in and out of back seat
  • No navigation on base model
  • Large side view mirrors obstruct some views

Overall Impressions

The 2013 Range Rover Evoque is pretty nice looking vehicle that will get attention pretty much everywhere you go, especially in the coupe format.  The interior is spacious, pretty quiet, and comfortable.  Unlike most of the competition in this segment, the Evoque can get you through some pretty rough terrain, if the occasion requires, otherwise, it’s a very civilized vehicle on the road.

Check out the official Land Rover website for more information on the Evoque.

2013 Range Rover Evoque Coupe Review Photos