Range Rover Evoque Si4

What is it?

Much more than a Freelander in a fancy dress. Indeed thanks to a tremendously thorough job from JLR’s engineers (including Mike Cross) the Range Rover Evoque is the first genuinely sporty Land Rover product. 

Technical highlights?

Although the base car is a Freelander there have been a raft of changes to make the Evoque lighter, faster and more dynamic. Key suspension components are now made from aluminium and there’s a magnetic damper option.

The Evoque Si4 uses the new 237bhp Ecoboost four-cylinder turbo petrol motor from Ford. It is mated exclusively to a six-speed paddle-shift automatic, although Land Rover say there’s no technical reason why a manual couldn’t offered if demand was there.

Both the engine and auto transmission are smooth and responsive, and while it’s not the most characterful engine it does have a broad spread of torque for impressive everyday performance. It’s clean too, just nipping under 200g/km.

What’s it like to drive?

The Evoque Si4 makes an impressively quick and competent partner on fast, flowing roads. It responds sweetly to your initial steering input and scribes clean, accurate lines with a reassuring sense of connection to the road. It’s taut, composed and feels reassuringly light on its feet. Things stay entertaining when the roads get tighter and twistier, with the Evoque keen to change direction thanks to decent levels of grip from the Conti Cross Contact soft-roader tyres. 

There’s a slight stickiness to the (electric) power steering as you make your first input away from the straight ahead, but the sensation only lasts a split second.

Drive it like a hot hatchand you’ll soon find the limit of the front tyres, thanks to those chunky 55-profile sidewalls. The ESP system is never fully off, so you’ll feel it nipping away at individual wheels if you pitch it in too aggressively. Still it feels nimble, willing and fun, the proviso being to get the most satisfying experience you don’t push beyond 8/10ths.

How does it compare?

It’s hard to know what to compare it with to be honest. It’s way classier and more handsome than the fugly MINI Countryman, but in terms of target audience the 4x4 MINI is closest. The MINI is lighter and therefore more chuckable, so in pure driving terms is the more entertaining machine to hustle. That said the Evoque’s speed and composure is impressive. When combined with such a high level of style and quality it’s hard to see why you’d want the Countryman.

Land Rover knows it customers, but still an as-tested asking price of £45,610 for this Si4 Prestige Coupé (as the three-door version is called) is breathtaking money for a downsized SUV.

Anything else I should know?

The Evoque comes in three-door and five-door models, so you can have added practicality to go with the style. The Coupé is a tricky blighter to reverse as you can’t see much through the letterbox rear screen. It’s also a bit awkward to clamber in the back, but once there you’ll find decent space and a great passenger environment, especially with the optional glass roof.