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Range Rover Evoque vs rivals

Our Car of the Year faces its toughest challenge yet, as the coupe and five-door versions go up against class-leading rivals

Range Rover Evoque vs rivals

October 2011

It's time to put our Car of the Year to the ultimate test. The Range Rover Evoque has made a stunning debut, with a long waiting list to go with its bulging trophy cabinet. It has already triumphed in the Auto Express New Car Awards, but this is the first time we’ve had the chance to road test both Coupe and five-door versions. So does the Evoque live up to its looks?

First, we put the stunning Coupe model through its paces. It doesn’t have any direct challengers, and Range Rover bosses expect it to steal sales from all corners of the market. We decided to pit it against another Auto Express group test winner that trades on its looks: the Mercedes C-Class Coupe. In C250 CDI form it undercuts the Range Rover on price and promises a traditional two-door experience.

The five-door Evoque doesn’t have the same dashing profile as the Coupe, but it can still turn heads. Here we try the flagship diesel model as it goes head-to-head with its closest rival. Audi’s Q5 is a familiar face and the 3.0-litre TDI diesel version outguns the 2.2-litre Range Rover.

So will the Evoque live up to its looks, or will it take second place to the desirable Audi?

Verdict

Spotting a new market segment is one thing, but exploiting it is another matter entirely. For this reason, Range Rover deserves a great deal of credit – the Evoque has hit the bull’s eye. It was pretty much assured of success on its looks and desirable badge alone, but the great news for buyers is that it drives like a talented hatchback and has an interior that’s brimming with class and character. Picking between our coupes here is no easy matter, and these two are sure to polarise opinion. In the end, the Evoque gets the nod for its must-have status, but if you want to make a more low-key choice, the Mercedes is the perfect substitute. The five-door version of the Range Rover takes a more clear-cut victory. Not only is it more stylish and desirable than the Audi, but it’s also cheaper, better to drive and has more kit. The SD4 diesel models are both expensive choices, though, so we can’t wait to try the more affordable versions. If they’re as good as these two, the compact executive car market looks set to be turned on its head.

Evoque vs C-Class

1. Range Rover Evoque 

If you crave attention, nothing touches the Evoque for the money. High running costs are offset by the fact that it’s practical and fun. 

2. Mercedes C250 CDI Coupe

The pragmatic choice. Handsome, good to drive, comfortable and practical, but style is critical, and it can’t quite match the Evoque.

Evoque vs Q5

1. Range Rover Evoque 5dr

Five-door sacrifices little in the way of style, but gains practicality. It makes more financial sense than Q5; fashionable families will love it.

2. Audi Q5 TDI S line

We can’t fault the Audi’s quality or capability, but it’s costly and dull in this company – the Evoque has upped the stakes in the SUV class.

What Next

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8 Comments

Yawn

And then the Land Rover breaks down just like every other Land Rover ever made, get used to the coffee at the main dealer.... Mind you their hot chocolate isnt bad... Little consolation when you've just spent £40k to be stranded at the side of a motorway AGAIN!

By skyliner38 on 6 October, 2011, 8:19am

Disagree

Disagree with Skyliner, Land Rover were unreliable when owned by BMW (I had one) but now they are Indian they should be very reliable. Audi and Merc are still German.

By tjetters on 6 October, 2011, 9:01am

lol

now they are Indian they should be very reliable. the irony. so i guess now volvo is chinese it's much safer.

By julianlee on 6 October, 2011, 2:14pm

Reliable?Indian?

lol

now they are Indian they should be very reliable. the irony. so i guess now volvo is chinese it's much safer.

By julianlee on 6 October, 2011, 2:14pm
Great joke.
Indian reliable?
Rover City?
Tata?
Best laugh i've had in ages.

By toycollector on 6 October, 2011, 7:18pm

Oi toycollector, get back to your pram your nanny is looking for you :P

The City Rover was a rush job. The management of the time approached TATA for the car because they couldn't afford anything better, it wasn't even based on a new model. In fact it's the sort of car that should suit you rather well TC...

By sgtgrash on 7 October, 2011, 3:31am

The evoque is based on a freelander, which is loosely based on the ford mondeo, I be leave ford had a hand in the evoque before they sold JLR.

By KIII3R on 10 October, 2011, 1:14pm

Reliability

Yep on my commute (other than Renault's) the most common break down award go's to the Range Rover.

Mind you there has been a glut of Focus's (Foci?!) recently

By dan_gers on 12 October, 2011, 5:11pm

dan_gers you've not noticed the Mercs and Beemers littering the hard shoulder for the last 10 years.
BMW is definitely improving though.

By CaptAl1 on 13 October, 2011, 11:36am

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