This car, apparently and arguably, is the first production car in Singapore to be equipped with a nine-speed ZF transmission. It's also the most fuel efficient and stunning-looking vehicle the Land Rover has created since the first batch of Evoque came to Singapore in 2011.
Like the BMW X3, the Audi Q5 and the Porsche Macan, which will be arriving in the second quarter of this year, we have a feeling the evocative Evoque won't be experiencing any jungle bashing.
The Dynamic Black Pack variant that you see here costs S$309,999 (as at 8th May 2014) while the base Pure variant is some S$259,999 (as at 8th May 2014).
Unless you have a pocket full of cash and you do not give two hoots about how good-looking your car is, it could be heart wrenching to bring the Evoque out for a lug-and-tug in the jungle.
Up close and Personal
Locally, there are other coupe-like crossover and SUVs such as the MINI Paceman and the BMW X6. But unlike these two, the Evoque isn't awkward when it comes to looks. In fact, a car this handsome and suave doesn't easily bore your eyes even after you've spent some time with it.
Like the BMW X3, the Audi Q5 and the Porsche Macan, which will be arriving in the second quarter of this year, we have a feeling the evocative Evoque won't be experiencing any jungle bashing.
The Dynamic Black Pack variant that you see here costs S$309,999 (as at 8th May 2014) while the base Pure variant is some S$259,999 (as at 8th May 2014).
Unless you have a pocket full of cash and you do not give two hoots about how good-looking your car is, it could be heart wrenching to bring the Evoque out for a lug-and-tug in the jungle.
Up close and Personal
Locally, there are other coupe-like crossover and SUVs such as the MINI Paceman and the BMW X6. But unlike these two, the Evoque isn't awkward when it comes to looks. In fact, a car this handsome and suave doesn't easily bore your eyes even after you've spent some time with it.
Equipped with the bold Black Pack, our test car comes with everything black, including the font, bull-bar-style grille, 20-inch rims and the fog lamp surrounds. Even the headlamp cases are smoked out, giving the car a more fatal attraction than it already has.
Inside, the Evoque's cabin is sleek and well-arranged, with hints of ultra-luxurious trimmings. The front seats are spacious and comfortable, with a wide range of adjustment. The rear benches, on the other hand, are a bit tighter, but will still fit the kid and grandparents with ease.
Our test car, which is the Dynamic variant, also comes with the adaptive MagneRide dampers. It extends the Evoque's competence and sporting demeanour across a wider range of road types as it tackles dips, bumps and undulations with unflappable poise.
Conclusion
On top of its sporting taste and distance-swallowing capabilities, the Evoque is one car that is able to provide a comfortable ride in a consistent manner.
Unfortunately, the Evoque is pricier than both the mouth-watering 3.0-litre Audi Q5 and the delectable BMW X3 xDrive28i. Obviously, the only inconsistency the car suffers is its price.
Conclusion
On top of its sporting taste and distance-swallowing capabilities, the Evoque is one car that is able to provide a comfortable ride in a consistent manner.
Unfortunately, the Evoque is pricier than both the mouth-watering 3.0-litre Audi Q5 and the delectable BMW X3 xDrive28i. Obviously, the only inconsistency the car suffers is its price.
Drivetrain
Utilising the same 2.0-litre four-pot powerplant as before, the Evoque is now pushed forward with a nine-speed automatic gearbox - developed in collaboration with German transmission specialist ZF.
Thus, piloting this sexy SUV is now easier, smoother and, according to the authorised dealer, more fuel efficient. While we will readily agree with the former, we managed only 6.5km/L, which is well off the stated figure of 11.5km/L on paper.
No matter because with 240 strong English horses, 340Nm of torque and weighing just over 1.6 tonnes, the Evoque manages to be nimble and punchy on the go - the perfect combination that'll make for a car-like characteristic rather than a clumsy crossover.
An Active Driveline all-wheel drive feature - a system that turns the four-wheel drive system into a two-wheel drive system when the car doesn't need the extra traction - is also fitted on the car. Like its gear changes, it alternates between the front and all four wheels quite seamlessly.
