Range Rover Evoque: why buy one?

If you’re the sort of Land Rover owner who thinks the Defender went soft when they started putting a dashboard in it, you probably read the title of this article and thought ‘damn right’.

But if that’s you, these days you’re in the minority. More and more now, Land Rover is a company that sells fashionable SUVs to people who will never take them off-road.

The Evoque is the most fashionable of the lot. And no Land Rover in history has sold more units more quickly.

That’s in part because it’s selling in a booming sector. Which means it has plenty of exceptional rivals, each of which presents some very good reasons for spending your money elsewhere.

So what can the Evoque come up with to turn your attention back its way? Here are seven reasons for favouring Land Rover with your small SUV business…

1: It looks like a Range Rover. And it says ‘Range Rover’ on the bonnet.

2: Lively steering means it darts around town like a smaller car, albeit at the expense of a relaxed showing on the motorway.

3: It’s a premium vehicle, and that shows in the materials used throughout its interior. Its dash looks classy, too, and its front seats are excellent.

4: That premium edge also comes through in the luxuries it serves up. Even the base model has dual-zone climate, 18” alloys and a media system with an 8.0” screen

5: It’s laden with safety kit, too. City braking, stability control and seven airbags are standard across the range.

6: People have been falling over themselves for the Evoque ever since it was launched – so much so that you’ll still get a good chunk of your initial outlay come sell-on time.

7: Did we mention, it says Range Rover on the bonnet? That’s because it is one. And it’s the cheapest way there is of buying into what is one of the world’s number one motoring brands.

And reasons not to buy one? Well, for a company that distinguished itself in terms of interior packaging with the Discovery 3, Land Rover didn’t make much effort to hit the same heights with the Evoque. And while the Range Rover badge on the bonnet (did we mention that) may fool people into thinking it’s the real thing, its refinement at speed gives the game away. It’s not as entertaining to drive as its concept-car looks entitle you to expect, either.