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Range Rover Evoque HSE Dynamic

We all know that the original Range Rover is the best 4×4 on the market and it has been this way for many years – but as a motoring journalist – this does tend to cause me a bit of a problem every time I test a newer version of this incredible machine – because, I always end up writing the same final sentence that I did when I tested the previous model.  – Which is; ‘The Range Rover is utterly brilliant in every single way’.

Now, I know you won’t all agree – because over the last few years, we have been constantly banging on about saving the planet so much that suddenly everybody is wanting something a little bit smaller and that little bit more economical.

So, for all you people who don’t want a full size Range Rover, but instead want something a little bit smaller, then you are in luck – because this month I just happen to be testing the Evoque HSE Dynamic.

Power and Efficiency 

My test car was fitted with a brilliant 180HP – 2.0L TD4 diesel engine and a 9-speed automatic transmission along with 430Nm of torque which is more than enough grunt to pretty much pull anything that takes your fancy. Fuel consumption is also good achieving around 49mpg. Flat out you can expect to achieve a max speed of 121mph and a 0-62 time of around 9.7sec. For those of you who are all about emissions – the Evoque easily comes in at around 149g/km, which will also help you save a few more pennies in road tax charges.

On & Off-Road

The Evoque does off-road brilliantly! No matter how rubbish you are on the muddy stuff; it just keeps going. All you really have to do is arrive at a muddy field – press a few buttons and off you go, it really is that simple. It’s the same when you have the Evoque on the tarmac too.

To be honest though, I have no concept of what Low or High Range means or what a diff lock actually does – and I certainly have no idea how any of this works. What I know about off-road, you could write on a match head. This of course is not uncommon, because I have one friend who has a Range Rover and the other who has a Discovery – and both have about the same knowledge as me when it comes to off-road. One thing we all do agree on though is that if you do buy a Range Rover or a Land Rover, it will be absolutely brilliant.

On the road, the Evoque is a peach to drive, there is plenty of feedback through the wheel, and with those 20” wheels – it’s glued firmly to the road without impacting on ride comfort or overall refinement. Like I said – it’s just plain brilliant. And that’s just on the road – let alone what this machine can do once you get on the muddy stuff.

Of course I am not blind to all the other 4X4’s on the market – some of which can be just as good off-road as a Range Rover and are in one way or another – equal in its ability to do clever things.

But, and here it comes – if you were suddenly told today you needed to go out and buy a 4X4 for your next trip to the Amazon rain forest – would you really go out and buy something like a BMW X5 or an Audi Q7 – or would you do the sensible thing and head straight for the Range Rover like everybody else.

Safety and Technology

The Evoque HSE also comes with a host of significantly enhanced features including; Xenon headlamps, heated windscreen, rain-sensing windscreen wipers, front and rear parking sensors, In Control Touch Navigation with 10.2-inch touchscreen, DAB radio, Meridian 10-speaker sound system, lane departure warning, rear view camera, Airbags – side curtain, driver and front passenger, Plus; Autonomous Emergency Braking, Terrain Response, Hill Descent Control and Dynamic Stability Control.

As for the interior, you get nearly everything you’d expect from a full size Range Rover inside the Evoque which includes comfortable and luxurious seating as well as an interior made from some of the finest quality materials that you just wouldn’t find in a normal car.

To Sum Up

This part is easy; ‘The Range Rover Evoque is utterly brilliant in every single way’.

Price from: £43,200 OTR

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