Range Rover Evoque vs Porsche Cajun

Range Rover Evoque vs Porsche Cajun
16 Mar, 2011 1:37pm Tom Phillips

Porsche’s new Cajun SUV gets ready for head-to-head battle with Range Rover Evoque.

With the news that Porsche has now confirmed that its new Cajun junior SUV will be built at its plant in Leipzig, we’ve lined up the German newcomer alongside its biggest rival, the new British-built Range Rover Evoque.

Range Rover Evoque

The Evoque hits showrooms this year, and is offered with a choice of two or four doors and two- or four-wheel drive. Like the Cajun, it represents the entry point for Land Rover’s luxury arm.

Those looks are revolutionary, too. Design boss Gerry McGovern describes its bulging arches and squat profile as “a modern and relevant execution of the familiar Range Rover design language”.

It’s the marque’s cleanest car ever. In front-wheel-drive, 150bhp 2.2-litre ed4 diesel guise, the Evoque should return 60mpg and emit 135g/km of CO2. Other engine options include a more powerful 187bhp diesel and a new 240bhp 2.0-litre petrol turbo – both 4WD only. 

Prices are expected to start at around £30,000 for basic Pure models. However, buyers will be encouraged to select from a host of paint, trim and equipment options which should see the average price of an Evoque nudging £40k.

Pros
  • Stunning looks
  • Cleanest Range Rover yet
  • Luxury cabin
Cons
  • Getting carried away with the options
  • Waiting lists – it’s bound to be popular
  • Not one for the purists

Porsche Cajun

if you’re looking for something even more exclusive, Porsche has just the thing. The German firm is planning a baby brother to the Cayenne, and it will debut in concept form towards the end of the year before arriving in showrooms in late 2012. 

Based on the Audi Q5, the Cajun will start at £40,000, but a range of options should ensure most variants cost nearer £50,000. 

For the money, buyers will be rewarded with a driver-focused SUV designed with road driving in mind. In top 328bhp 3.0 TFSI V6 spec, the Cajun will cover 0-62mph in less than six seconds. 

Like the Range Rover, the Porsche also gets adaptive dampers for top quality ride and handling. The Cajun will be four-wheel drive only and will come with the choice of either a six-speed manual gearbox or seven-speed PDK.

Pros
  • Likely to be great to drive
  • Bespoke cabin
  • Porsche badge
Cons
  • Not due until 2013
  • It’s an Audi Q5 underneath
  • Bound to be pricey

Disqus - noscript

Submitted by moss64 on Thu, 2011-03-17 12:33.

On paper the R/R doesnt stand a chance with a four pot taxi engine banging away against a super slick V6 modern diesel. In fact I think it's pathetic to even compare. The R/R looks absolutely stunning but engine choice will let it down enormously. I am a huge fan but Land Rover have let themselves down here in the Weiner competition. 'A La Defender'
However there are bound to be a few 'Weiner' drivers out there that know no better.' and are prepared to buy Mutton dressed as Lamb.' You know who you are !

Submitted by gherkins123 on Thu, 2011-03-17 13:10.

The Cajun is just a Q5 with a 911 front grafted on and the LR turbo 4-pot petrol is brand new (ecoboost) with good economy and characteristics. The Volkswagen diesel is good, but needs a huge expensive catalytic converter to be legal in the States, where a good chunk of these will be sold. It's the ugly Porsche that is mutton dressed as lamb, getting the "Weiners" paying a lot more for the Porsche badge.

Submitted by Bond_James_Bond on Thu, 2011-03-17 13:28.

You would take the Porsche.

Submitted by thorntonjames on Thu, 2011-03-17 13:49.

Given that the Evoque has yet to go on sale and the Porsche is still at least 18 months away, it's all total speculation at this stage. Why bother.

Submitted by minicoopers69 on Thu, 2011-03-17 14:31.

AE short of stories again? Let's compare something that is not yet on the road with something that is conjecture. Waste of everybody's time.

Submitted by wmtmarine on Thu, 2011-03-17 15:17.

Its a truly sad day when a company like landrover can and do produce a car that is better looking than a porsche.....lol. I think porsche need to shoot their designers and send a letter of apology to all porsche cayenne drivers with a cheque for 50k so they can enroll in some taste rehabilitation.

Submitted by grb817 on Thu, 2011-03-17 16:13.

I'm gettin a bit fed up with manufacturers stepping out of their comfort zone. The evoque is a 4X4 company's attemp at a town car, and the cajun is a sports car manufacturer's attempt at the same. Stick with what you know, that goes for 4 door sports gt's aswell Porshe, it's just wrong.

Submitted by moss64 on Thu, 2011-03-17 16:27.

Mutton Dressed as Lamb.
The RR looks Fab and the outward design outweighs the Porshe in that dept !!!! I agree !! Porshe need to keep to sports cars which they do a legendary job.
But a four pot banger for a RR is just that and nothing special petrol or oil. It will keep it environmentally friendly for a while. Remember the VM engined RR and the TDi RR. At least the Tdi was more reliable than the boat derived VM.
The 2.2 is a good engine, granted but basically a Puegot/Citroen unit outright not to mention a raft of other vehicles, nothing unique and a 4 cylinder. They are just wrong. You might as well go and buy the Freelander which as I believe whait's based on anyway.
As for Mr Pointless and Meanigless.... a pointless post. Of course it's conjecture but we go on what we are being spoon fed. It's amazing what marketing can do and how people can get dragged in to buy. At the moment it's nothing but a Hairdressers RR. Give it some balls.
Remember Land Rover will be reading this and replying also! Mr Pickled I suspect?

Submitted by skyliner38 on Thu, 2011-03-17 16:35.

Looks aside as that's personal, Land Rover have never built a reliable car and Porsche are the opposite, probably the most reliable car out there.
Forget the "British" thing..... Land Rovers are complete rubbish, ask any Range Rover owner how many things have broken or fallen off.
Just sit outside a Land Rover dealer and count the amount of recovery trucks dropping off broken £60K + Range Rovers... not on really... i should know, been there done that.

Submitted by ukmike2000 on Thu, 2011-03-17 16:40.

Both of them definitely in the Ugly Duckling corner.
Expensive for what they are, hopeless in anything other than medium rain because of the roadie tyres etc., and far less economical than a proper car. But they are a great pose - so they will sell to a "certain type"

..............the roads of North Norfolk will be choked with these at the weekends!

Submitted by skyliner38 on Thu, 2011-03-17 16:42.

Looks aside as that's personal, Land Rover have never built a reliable car and Porsche are the opposite, probably the most reliable car out there.
Forget the "British" thing..... Land Rovers are complete rubbish, ask any Range Rover owner how many things have broken or fallen off.
Just sit outside a Land Rover dealer and count the amount of recovery trucks dropping off broken £60K + Range Rovers... not on really... i should know, been there done that.

Submitted by AndyG on Thu, 2011-03-17 16:44.

You would take the Range Rover

Submitted by Dame_Edna on Sat, 2011-03-19 02:19.

Another ignorant yank commenting on European cars they can only dream about making...

Submitted by Dame_Edna on Sat, 2011-03-19 02:23.

Unless you missed going to Spec Savers...

Submitted by feedthesoul on Sat, 2011-03-19 10:51.

Two more 'pointless' cars.

Submitted by christophergeek on Sat, 2011-03-19 18:12.

obviously the RR

Submitted by corsamani on Tue, 2011-03-22 11:19.

Defo Range Rover. Porsche ugly as always

Submitted by julianlee on Tue, 2011-03-22 16:32.

both are irrelevant

Submitted by autounionDI on Wed, 2011-03-23 20:21.

I ,will have to agree with most of the comments here ,both cars are irrelevant at this time ,and i dont think that the cajun being a vw platform is a bad thing and the, Q5 is a very good mid 4x4 ,this is a pointless to say that a con is what the above mention,also the Q5 won the comparation test at motortrend over the merc,glk,lexus rx350,volvo xc60,and the old bmwx3....

Submitted by autounionDI on Wed, 2011-03-23 20:27.

you are right here to at the end of it he ( tom phillips) would take the cajun..with the Q5 Platform...lol he's a joke

Submitted by speedking on Wed, 2011-03-30 16:59.

As one of the many operators making the EVOQUE, I can assure you were making the cars to a very high standard. British car industry is one of the biggest employers in england so get behind the car and dont buy GERMAN.
By the way the EVOQUE is a super car very nice on the eye so go on go and put your deposit down. Big waiting list already....

Submitted by liverpool on Fri, 2011-06-17 03:30.

Range Rover is 10K less! But looks worth 10K more, Inside the range Rover again looks to be much nicer!
I would take the Range Rover.. and with the 10K I saved send the Range Rover to cousins tuning shop ...Can easily better the horse power of the Porsche for less than 10K ... But I'm not sure I'd want too... 240BHP from a 2 L turbo engine is OK and should get it to to 60 in 6.5 to 7 seconds

Submitted by steedie on Wed, 2012-05-23 14:36.

Evoque - designed from ground up as an SUV.

Porsche - a rebadged Audi Q3, which is in turn based on the VW Golf...and SKODA YETI!!! Hardly a premium basis for an expensive SUV is it? Knowing you can get a lot of your Porsche components from the local Skoda dealer...!!

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