2015 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque: Walk Your Own Path

A big part of the luxury equation for a certain subset of buyers is driving something that the rest of the pack isn't. The 2015 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque - whether its found in four-door or even-more-rare two-door coupe form - is a case in point, an ultra-stylish alternative to the legions of BMW X3 and Audi Q5 SUVs crowding corporate parking lots and suburban driveways. The best part of the Evoque? You don't have to buy in to the brand's legendary off-road reputation to enjoy this compact crossover's many charms.

Standing Out In A Crowd

The 2015 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque serves as the entry-point into the SUV-builder's exclusive Range Rover family of vehicles, and while it bears numerous visual call-outs to its larger siblings - particularly in the headlights, the hood, and the hatch - in profile the Evoque separates itself from other Land Rovers as well as the rest of the compact luxury segment. This is due primarily to the Range Rover Evoque's sloping roofline which cants precipitously to the rear and dramatically narrows the glass just aft of the second row of seating. The effect is reminiscent of a helmeted stormtrooper, and it's not only distinctive compared to other, more rounded fare, but it also toughens up the small truck's image without resorting to caricature.

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Not As Much Of A Penalty As You Might Imagine

The natural reaction to seeing the Range Rover Evoque's truncated roofline is to infer that the rear of the vehicle must be impractically cramped for both passengers and cargo. Fortunately, this isn't the case. While it's true that the gap between the rear seatback and the hatch is considerably smaller than in some of its rivals, when it comes time to haul something bulky folding down the 60/40 back bench reveals a lot of usable space - enough for me to transport four dining room chairs and a substantial amount of luggage at the same time, with room to spare.

Passengers are also treated well by the Land Rover regardless of where they happen to be seated. Up front the saddle leather seats, door panels, and full leather dashboard distinguish the Evoque from its more utilitarian LR2 platform-mate, and I was able to stuff three adults in the rear of the SUV (which features butt-warmers at four positions) with no complaints about headroom or shoulder room. The full glass roof that came with my tester also served to let in enough light to balance out the Evoque's smaller side windows. Keep in mind that there's quite a price spread when kitting out the Evoque, as the base MSRP of $47,695 can be pushed well past the $60k mark if you decide to load the vehicle's top trim level with options, which for some will mean exploring the larger mid-size options that become available at that level.

My biggest complaint about the Range Rover Evoque had to do with its aging infotainment interface, which was slow to navigate. That wouldn't be such a big problem if so many vehicle functions weren't tied into it. Why do I have to push a button on the centre stack to bring up a touchscreen menu to turn on the heated seats? Why can't the button I already pushed perform that functionality directly? Especially since the touchscreen won't work if you're wearing gloves - and if you need heated seats, you're probably wearing gloves.

Just Enough Power

The 2015 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque is motivated by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine that has been turbocharged to produce 240 horsepower and 250 lb-ft of torque. You'll be forgiven for thinking that these figures are somewhat underwhelming compared to more boisterous four-and-six-cylinder luxury SUVs in its class, but the Evoque is well-served by its engine, with acceleration adequate and responsive in almost every driving situation. Off of the line you'll notice that the Land Rover can be a bit pokey, but on the highway or around town the Evoque's nine-speed automatic transmission is adept at selecting the correct ratio for the required level of go. The Range Rover Evoque's engine never felt overburdened, although if you are focused on performance rather than the daily grind then the Porsche Macan is calling your name.

Four-wheel drive is standard with the Evoque, as is Land Rover's Terrain Response system that allows you to tailor the vehicle's throttle, transmission, and traction control response to match the surface you happen to be driving over. Even with the system left in automatic mode the Range Rover Evoque was surefooted during heavy rains and on icy roads, never once betraying any hint of wheel spin or loss of control in a corner. I've been off-roading in the SUV's LR2 cousin and forded through water up to the doors with no issues, so I am confident that leaving the beaten path behind in the Evoque would tell a similar story.

Making A Statement

Regardless of its all-terrain abilities, the vast majority of Range Rover Evoque owners will never deal with anything more challenging than a blizzard while behind the wheel of this compact SUV. Even ignoring the Land Rover's off-road heritage, it's hard not to be impressed by the Evoque, as its classy interior, individualistic styling, and respectable (although not class-leading) practicality combine to create an appealing entry-level family option. Few other compact crossovers are as elegantly turned-out as the Evoque, and none come in a two-door model. Owning a British vehicle has almost always been about making a statement, and the supremely comfortable 2015 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque is no different.