Can a manufacturer famous for its 4x4 models repeat its success with front-wheel drive? We took an early drive in the Range Rover Evoque 2WD, the cheapest and most efficient model in the range, to find out.
The arrival of two-wheel drive Evoque is a welcome one, especially if fuel economy and CO2 emissions savings are important to you. As Land Rover learnt with the Freelander 2WD though, it’s not just a case of removing half the drive system. With the Evoque 2WD, the 75kg weight reduction has prompted changes to the Evoque’s suspension settings to ensure it remained balanced and refined on the move.
In keeping with its greener image, the Evoque 2WD’s only engine option is the entry-spec 148bhp 2.2-litre eD4 diesel unit. Opt for the three-door Coupe bodystyle and it returns 57.6mpg and 129g/km CO2 - compared to 49.6mpg and 149g/km for the similarly powered 4x4 Coupe. Go for the five-door eD4, and efficiency falls slightly to 56.5mpg and 133g/km.
A six-speed manual gearbox is fitted as standard and there’s no auto option. Thankfully, the accurate shift and smooth action clutch make light work of urban motoring. The engine stop-start feature, standard on all manual Evoques, is key to the car’s improved economy and CO2 performance.
On the road the frugal Evoque Coupe drives just like a regular model. The electric power steering, although light, is quick and accurate, while overall it feels more like a hatchback than an SUV to drive. Choose the optional MagneRide adaptive damper system and pitch and roll is constantly kept in check.
Motorway cruising at autobahn speeds reveals a little wind noise, although the engine stays whisper quiet. And despite the car’s modest 112mph top speed and 0-62mph sprint time of 11.2 seconds, it never feels slow when you’re driving enthusiastically.
On the gravel roads of the test route the front-drive Evoque impressed. Only on tight uphill sections did the traction light occasionally flicker proving that for the overwhelming majority, there’s plenty of grip on offer even without the Terrain Response system - absent from front-drive models. Although off-roading is unlikely to be on Evoque owner’s to-do lists, it reassuring to know that with the 2WD Evoque Land Rover hasn’t lost sight of its heritage.
* Price: £27,955
* Engine: 2.2-litre 4cyl turbodiesel
* Transmission: Six-speed manual, front-wheel drive
* Power/torque: 148bhp/380Nm
* 0-62/top speed: 11.2 seconds/112mph
* Economy/CO2: 57.6mpg/129g/km
* Equipment: Cruise control, climate control, eight inch display screen, starter button, engine stop-start, Bluetooth, electric park brake
* On sale: April 2012
For an alternative review of the latest Land Rover Range Rover Evoque 4x4 visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk
Disqus - noscript
Bizarre choice! It's like choosing a roadster and then never putting the hood down, or buying an estate car and there's only two of you, or a 7-seater and you're a single woman ... some very odd people out there if Land Rover think there's a market for oddities like this. The 4x4 version looks spot on. No need to water down the brand! A two wheel driven Land Rover?! What ever next?
Priced right buyers may prefer it to a hatchback.
a front wheel drive Range Rover sounds like an oxymoron, true, still it makes sense for the kind of people who buy it. Driving a Range Rover is more of a status statement than an actual use of its abilities. Shame really but true.
Having seen a few on the road now I do think they are quite compact and not certain they would fit the majority of customer lifestyles. ? a niche vehicle
http:mylookathealth.blogspot.c...
Range Rover without a 4 wheel drive is like tomatosoup without tomato.
Sharp looks but still a lot of money for a two wheel drive hatchback .
Why only 148 bhp from a 2.2 TDCi that in the Jaguar XF puts out 220 bhp and in the Mondeo 200 bhp?
This car needs at least 160 bhp and over 400 Nm of torque. The performance figures say it all. Other wise it is a fine car.
Who needs four wheel driving the school run or on the motorway?
I saw one last week in this green colour - it really stood out and looked amazing. There's definitely a market for a 2WD economy model. Just look at how many Range Rover Sports there are in London and non of these will every need 4WD. It's all about style and this new RR has it in bucket loads.
The drug dealers will be leaving there black Range Rover Sports with chrome wheels and getting Evoques.
This car surely turns heads,.... right here in Botswana, Africa, the one from the dealership down the street passed by and i overhead conversation from a crowd of men and women as they ooohhed and ahhhed about it. It truly satisfies the hunger for modern designs, though it is so useless. (i mean see how low that roof is at the back!) truly show off stuff only. But truly oone of the best looking vehicles on the road today. Perfect for two on a show off mission!
If anyone plays with the Build option on the LR web site you can see that if you are generous with the options this basic hatchback 2WD version can soon get to close on £40,000.
A triumph of fun over function. They may sell thousands, but not to me I'm afraid - not even with all the media hype.
So, Range Rover has done the unthinkable - making a proper soft roader! Stunning car, but almost pointless to have a 2WD in this segment. I can't see the benefits of reducing little CO2 and losing function?
If RR want to make Soft Roaders, then the price needs to drop to >£20k segment.
Can't see what all the fuss is about. I think it looks rubbish. Will it have the woeful reliability record that Land Rover is famed for?
No more needs to be said