Range Rover Evoque Special Edition Coupe review
Special Edition adds extra equipment and bold colour scheme to SUV
Ordering the Evoque Special Edition takes the complexity out of choosing from a very long list of expensive options. Some elements – like keyless go – are useful, but we’d wait for the revised Evoque with the improved gearbox, and take a little extra time to pick the colour and trim.
One of the most appealing aspects of the Range Rover Evoque is the ability to put your own stamp on it with a whole host of personalisation choices.
But if you can’t be bothered, there’s now a Special Edition model, which comes with a choice of just two colours – Sicilian Yellow with a contrasting Santorini Black roof, or with the colours swapped around, as on the car tested here.
Available as a five-door or Coupe, the Evoque special is based on the top-spec Dynamic trim level and comes with just the one engine option – the 2.2-litre diesel. At £48,405 for the Coupe, it’s £6,900 more expensive than the Dynamic, although it would cost you more to order the extras individually.
The yellow roof and door mirror caps are a bit of an acquired taste, but the Evoque’s looks benefit from the Black Exterior Design Pack. It’s normally a £1,900 option, and includes 20-inch gloss black alloys that look smart, but give a hard edge to the ride. Also included are darkened headlights, a small rear spoiler and black Range Rover lettering on the nose and tail. The tail-lights have clear lenses and the exhaust finishers have a dark tint to them, too.
The yellow and black theme continues inside, with a garish yellow bar on the dash, although the yellow contrast stitching is somewhat more subdued.
However, the black seats and headlining make the Evoque feel rather claustrophobic. The seats aren’t the most comfortable either – plus, you can’t adjust the headrest, which is a little on the low side for taller drivers. It’s not just all style, though. The special benefits from a power tailgate, which whirs open to reveal a decent boot, while keyless go is a useful addition.The Evoque remains a pretty polished drive. As we’ve already mentioned, the big wheels make the usually plush ride too firm, but the trade-off is lots of grip and good stability at high speeds.
The 2.2-litre diesel is pretty smooth, but the six-speed automatic gearbox isn’t the quickest or slickest at changing ratios. Fuel economy isn’t great either, so we’d advise waiting until later this year for the stop-start equipped nine-speed Evoque to arrive.
