If you have ever doubted that good things come in small packages, the chances are you’ve never driven the Range Rover Evoque, a compact SUV with a larger-than-life personality.
Although it bears a passing resemblance to the Land Rover Freelander, it is unique in its own right and it lacks none of the performance capability or driving pleasure of its counterpart.
I’ve driven plenty of compact SUVs over the years and this has to be one of the classiest and most fun models I’ve ever had. It combines the sophistication of a sedan with the presence of a rugged off-road driving machine.
Once you climb inside this cool crossover, you’re greeted by an alluring ambience thanks to the footwell lights, which incidentally can change colour, and the beautifully stitched leather seats.
Make no mistake about it, this is a high-tech model packed with almost as many amazing features as an issue of GulfWeekly.
From the moment you turn it on via the push-start ignition switch, it feels like the car comes alive as the gear selection dial rises from under the central control stack.
The infotainment options are among the best I’ve seen. Although it has the standard CD player, MP3 and radio functions, there are also some very impressive options. The Dual-View capability of the touch-screen display is a clever touch that allows passengers to watch TV while the driver retains navigation and other functionality so there’s no distractions.
There’s also voice command button on the steering wheel, which allows you to operate your phone via Bluetooth, access navigation, music and just about everything else.
As well as standard SUV features like stability and traction control, the Evoque also boasts my favourite feature of all time, Park Assist. This is a convenient feature that enables the car to take over the strenuous work of parallel parking for you, genius!
Under the bonnet is a 2-litre twin-turbo 4-cylinder engine that boasts an impressive 240bph, which gives the Evoque a real sense of purpose as you barrel along.
Many SUVs look ‘the part’ off-road but seem out-of-place on the highway, not this model. It is just as at home on-road and the impressive handling and responsive steering is testament to that.
As I cruised around Manama the ride was smooth, steady and very comfortable. Tight turns, frequent stop-and-go traffic jams and even emergency braking were met with ease.
Safety is often a concern when driving along some of the kingdom’s highways, particularly during the weekend with the influx of visitors from across the GCC.
However, you’re in safe hands with this SUV, which attained a five star Euro NCAP rating. The Euro NCAP test is regarded as one of the most demanding tests in the world to be applied to new vehicles. It is recognised as a benchmark for crash safety by governments, automobile clubs and consumer protection organisations throughout Europe.
The only thing I didn’t like about this SUV was the paint job but fortunately there are other colour options available.
Prices start from BD25,000. For more details call 17750750
