Smart and sexy Evoque

Seriously now, you're going to drive your new Evoque through this? No, nor would we...

From a small cluster of tough workhorses of old the Land Rover fleet has grown to where it has no less than 40 derivatives on the local market today with names such as Defender, Discovery, Freelander, Range Rover, Range Rover Sport and Range Rover Evoque bearing price tags that vary from R486,840 to just under R2m.

For some years now Land Rover has been the trendsetter for stylish looks, none more so than its evocative Evoque with its sleekly tapering roofline. Love it or hate it... but ignore it, you cannot. It's precisely because of its space-out styling that it has become such a darling among the trendies who couldn't care a fig about detractors who say the Evoque is just a Freelander in drag.

It grows on you

Already the proud recipient of numerous international awards (and 7000 sales to its name since launch in this country alone), the Evoque was quick to charm away all my reservations about its in-your-face looks when I drove it for the first time. It is simply delightful to drive and just being wrapped in is leather-clad cabin is almost enough to make you forget about its price tag. Its looks also quickly grow on you.

Floor the pleasure pedal and the response is quick and smooth as the auto shift slips through a unique 9-speed transmission.

I have just spent a week in the company of the least expensive, entry-level Evoque SD Pure model and was smitten all over again by the Evoque's elegantly furbished interior which simply oozes upmarket plushness - from the Jaguar-like gear knob that rises from the centre console when the engine is started to the glitzy instrument lay-out, the touch-screen media interface, starkly contrasting black and chrome finishes, Gentleman's Club comfortable seating, soft grey leather seats, panelling and padding to the concert class sound system which has enough boom-boom sound power to put any taxi to shame - it is wall-to-wall Platinum Class.

Go on, be a Sport

The version I drove is powered by a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine that produces a healthy 140kW and 420Nm that feels strong to pull a goods train, even in standard mode. Click it into S (for Sport) mode, floor the pleasure pedal and the response is quick and smooth as the auto shift slips through a unique 9-speed transmission.

The carmaker says the Evoque Pure will do the 0-100km/h sprint in 8.5 seconds and gallop up to 195km/h before running out steam. Its emissions rate of only 167g is the lowest of all Land Rovers.

The Evoque’s elegantly furbished interior simply oozes upmarket plushness.

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With just a click of dial on the centre console, the driver can adjust the car's setup for sand, snow and other conditions. I didn't have the opportunity to take it on to the dirt but colleagues who have, say it is more than capable on uneven surfaces even though its ride height and overhangs are never going to cope over real bad-ass terrain. Not that many Evoque owners will want to take their cuties into the bush and risk scratching its gleaming bodywork or permanently scarring its lower under sides.

You won't have to drop the kids off around the corner in this

In reality, the Evoque is a Boulevard Bragadeer, perfect for posing outside trendy fashion stores, coffee shops and gyms and for dropping young Edward and Marguerite off at school. It is simply just not a blue-bearded, two-tone khaki shirt off-roader in wellies and a sweat-stained cap.

The carmaker says the Evoque Pure will do the 0-100km/h sprint in 8.5 seconds.

But that does nothing to distract it from what it is: a comfortable, classy and highly desirable ride. With its gleaming over-sized alloys and mean machine looks the Evoque is an appealing combination of sporty elegance, stand-out styling, fancy modern technology, easy commuting and extremely comfortable long-distance cruiser - and I want one!

The price of our test vehicle is R620,622 that includes a five-year/100,000km maintenance plan.

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