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2016 Range Rover Evoque SUV: a British work of art

Published 8:29 am Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Thanks to a quirk in logistics – and in the spirit of full disclosure – I test drove the 2014 Range Rover Evoque SUV, but will be writing about the current 2016 version.

The compact luxury Evoque’s trim levels have been realigned to match those of the Range Rover Sport so

customers have the choice of five models: Pure, SE, HSE, HSE Dynamic, Autobiography; and a suite of 15 desirable option packs.

My tester, with its Santorini Black coat of paint, was so nice I can’t imagine taking it off-road and inflicting

any undue punishment on this British work of art.

Powered by a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder, turbocharged direct-inject engine with variable valve timing, and coupled with a nine-speed automatic transmission, the Evoque generates 240 horsepower and delivers a combined 24 miles per gallon in city/highway driving.

Range Rover Evoque’s class-leading capability, which includes all-wheel drive with traction control, has been enhanced by the introduction of Land Rover’s innovative All-Terrain Progress Control (ATPC), first seen on the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport.

The stress-reducing technology maintains a predetermined speed (selected using the cruise control function) in forward or reverse gears between 1.1mph and 19mph, allowing the driver to concentrate on negotiating tricky terrain.

Since all I had to worry about was avoiding maniacal drivers on I-5, I came away more impressed with Evoque’s wide array of comfort and convenience features, which included an optional Pure Plus Package,

Vision Assist Package and HDD Navigation that added another $6,850 to the sticker.

Pure Plus added power leather seats with lumbar support, fixed panoramic roof with power blind, 19-inch alloy wheels, and power tailgate. The Vision package adds adaptive Xenon headlights, blindspot monitoring and a surround camera system. The navigation system was intuitive and easy to operate.

A 380-watt, 11-speaker with subwoofer audio system made it seem Ed Sheeran was inside the

Evoque cabin and singing a personal concert just for me. If, by whim, you prefer iPod or streaming audio via

Bluetooth, Range Rover has you covered.

Other goodies include electronic cruise control with steering-wheel-mounted controls, dual-zone automatic

climate control, push-button start, solar attenuating front glass, and adjustable interior ambient lighting.

Exterior highlights include bonnet vents, a new tailgate spoiler, eye-catching new roof fins with an integrated 3G antenna, for improved mobile phone signal and the alloy wheels with a sparkle finish.

Several innovative new features enhance Evoque’s comprehensive array of safety features. “Lane-Keeping Assist” uses the stereo digital camera to prevent unintended lane changes by monitoring road markings. “Autonomous Emergency Braking” (AEB) prevents or greatly reduces the severity of accidents in the event of the driver failing to take preventative action.

Using an advanced forward-facing stereo digital camera, the system can identify potential hazards ahead. If a collision risk is detected, the driver is alerted by visual and audible prompts. If the driver fails to take evasive action, the system helps to avoid collisions below 32 mph, and reduces the severity of an impact at speeds below 50 mph.

“Attention Assist Estimation” completes the trio of advanced new safety systems added for the 2016 model year. It monitors steering inputs to detect when a driver is at risk of falling asleep at the wheel. Audible alarms and visual warnings signal when drowsiness is detected.

2016 RANGE ROVER EVOQUE SUVBase price: $41,100

As Tested: $50,200

Base price includes destination charge. Vehicles are provided by the manufacturer. Prices may vary at local dealerships.