Pros: Head-turning, concept-vehicle styling; premium interior trimmings; still boasts impressive off-road capabilities
Cons: Stiff pricing, especially considering the 4-cyl. powertrain; cramped back-seat area; impracticality of 2-door model
CG Says: For 2014, the Range Rover Evoque gets a 9-speed automatic transmission in place of a 6-speed automatic, and Land Rover’s “Active Driveline” on-demand 4-wheel-drive system now comes standard. Evoque was created to expand the Range Rover brand’s market reach with a blend of more-affordable pricing, head-turning looks, city-friendly size, zippy performance, reasonable fuel economy, and Land Rover off-road cachet. This formula has been a winner so far, but how long that will last remains to be seen, as fashion is fickle and rival brands are readying their own small style-focused SUVs. For now, Evoque strikes us as appealing, but too expensive for what it is. The function-impaired 2-door models are best suited for designer-label habitues with more money than sense.
