The Range Rover Evoque is one of our favourite Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV) ever, simply because it's drop-dead gorgeous. Yes, we're suckers for aesthetics.
Since its inception five years ago, the Evoque has become a halo model for the British luxury marque, bumping worldwide sales above and beyond expectations - pun unintended. Its compact dimensions and devilishly handsome design was pure magic.
Like many other manufacturers, Range Rover designers probably sat down and thought to themselves, how do we improve the Evoque's receipe? How do we make people like it more? Outdo the Porsche Macan by creating an SVR version of the car? Nah, how about removing her top?
And that's just what they did. It's aptly named the Evoque Convertible, the world's first luxury compact SUV cabrio.
Dividing opinions
Cabrio variants have worked for many cars, such as any model from BMW and also the Jaguar F-Type. But, when we first laid eyes on the Evoque Convertible however, we weren't quite sure what to make of it.
Have Range Rover's designers turned magic into tragic?
The Convertible's nowhere as sharp and seductive as a regular Evoque, even though Range Rover has tried to ensure the car's original adored shape isn't compromised. Like the Golf GTI Cabriolet, its design will, however, take some getting used to. With the top down, you'd even be hard-pressed to deny its similarity to a tiny hatch.
Since its inception five years ago, the Evoque has become a halo model for the British luxury marque, bumping worldwide sales above and beyond expectations - pun unintended. Its compact dimensions and devilishly handsome design was pure magic.
Like many other manufacturers, Range Rover designers probably sat down and thought to themselves, how do we improve the Evoque's receipe? How do we make people like it more? Outdo the Porsche Macan by creating an SVR version of the car? Nah, how about removing her top?
And that's just what they did. It's aptly named the Evoque Convertible, the world's first luxury compact SUV cabrio.
Dividing opinions
Cabrio variants have worked for many cars, such as any model from BMW and also the Jaguar F-Type. But, when we first laid eyes on the Evoque Convertible however, we weren't quite sure what to make of it.
Have Range Rover's designers turned magic into tragic?
The Convertible's nowhere as sharp and seductive as a regular Evoque, even though Range Rover has tried to ensure the car's original adored shape isn't compromised. Like the Golf GTI Cabriolet, its design will, however, take some getting used to. With the top down, you'd even be hard-pressed to deny its similarity to a tiny hatch.
We did get numerous stares during our time with the vehicle but we're not quite sure if they were stares of compliment or contempt.
Life's better from the driver's seat
Thankfully, the Convertible's insides are easier to love. A nicely-laid out, modern and luxurious cabin remains, and the car now gets Jaguar Land Rover's new InControl Touch Pro infotainment system, which is faster, more responsive, highly intuitive and gorgeously rendered.
The front seats are spacious and comfortable with 12-way electric memory function, but the rear benches, on the other hand, are a tighter fit due to the 2+2 seating configuration, like a Scirocco's. For a cabrio, it's comfortable enough, though.
It does of course, have its faults. Rear visibility when the top's up is poor (a reverse camera comes standard to curb that problem), and there is a fair bit of wind and road noise making its way into the cabin, no thanks to its huge door mirrors.
Life's better from the driver's seat
Thankfully, the Convertible's insides are easier to love. A nicely-laid out, modern and luxurious cabin remains, and the car now gets Jaguar Land Rover's new InControl Touch Pro infotainment system, which is faster, more responsive, highly intuitive and gorgeously rendered.
The front seats are spacious and comfortable with 12-way electric memory function, but the rear benches, on the other hand, are a tighter fit due to the 2+2 seating configuration, like a Scirocco's. For a cabrio, it's comfortable enough, though.
It does of course, have its faults. Rear visibility when the top's up is poor (a reverse camera comes standard to curb that problem), and there is a fair bit of wind and road noise making its way into the cabin, no thanks to its huge door mirrors.
Trunk capacity, too, is jeopardised compared to the regular Evoque, by about half. The Convertible only allows for 215 litres of commodity, and getting them in will require a rather strong back.
Like all other convertibles, this one's best driven when the sun's out and top's down (it lowers in 18 seconds and rises in 21, at speeds of up to 48km/h).
However, when we did get the chance to soak up some sun, another small problem presented itself - its windows don't slide all the way down, peeping up a tiny bit, which means you won't get to rest your hand over the door and look cool, without some discomfort.
Right. How's the drive though?
Even with an added weight of 281kg over the regular Evoque, the near two-tonne Convertible isn't what you'd consider slow.
Its turbocharged 2.0-litre heart pumps out 240bhp and 340Nm, similar to its hard-top sibling, and it'll go from 0-100km/h in 8.6 seconds. Plus, the nine-speed auto seems to be more refined and responsive than before.
But to get any punch out of this powertrain, you'll have to work it above 2,500rpm.
Like all other convertibles, this one's best driven when the sun's out and top's down (it lowers in 18 seconds and rises in 21, at speeds of up to 48km/h).
However, when we did get the chance to soak up some sun, another small problem presented itself - its windows don't slide all the way down, peeping up a tiny bit, which means you won't get to rest your hand over the door and look cool, without some discomfort.
Right. How's the drive though?
Even with an added weight of 281kg over the regular Evoque, the near two-tonne Convertible isn't what you'd consider slow.
Its turbocharged 2.0-litre heart pumps out 240bhp and 340Nm, similar to its hard-top sibling, and it'll go from 0-100km/h in 8.6 seconds. Plus, the nine-speed auto seems to be more refined and responsive than before.
But to get any punch out of this powertrain, you'll have to work it above 2,500rpm.
And, because buyers of such a car won't be too interested in much hard driving, its gain in weight won't be much of a problem in corners.
It's actually even pretty adept at doing so, except for tyres that will screech in displeasure whenever you chuck it around in 'above average cornering speeds'. Steering feedback, too, is surprisingly honest.
When you do decide to take an enjoyable cruise along long stretches of highways, the Convertible rewards you further with its pleasant ride quality.
I've got $293,999 lying around somewhere, should I buy one?
Logically speaking, for that money, we'd buy an Audi S5 Cabriolet or a BMW 4 Series Convertible 435i instead. But, the Range Rover Evoque Convertible wasn't born from logic and isn't something you should buy using logic.
It will, however, have a oddly strong appeal to those who know, the moment they set eyes on one, that they want one. It should excite you in the knowledge that it's actually quite a novel addition to your garage.
It's actually even pretty adept at doing so, except for tyres that will screech in displeasure whenever you chuck it around in 'above average cornering speeds'. Steering feedback, too, is surprisingly honest.
When you do decide to take an enjoyable cruise along long stretches of highways, the Convertible rewards you further with its pleasant ride quality.
I've got $293,999 lying around somewhere, should I buy one?
Logically speaking, for that money, we'd buy an Audi S5 Cabriolet or a BMW 4 Series Convertible 435i instead. But, the Range Rover Evoque Convertible wasn't born from logic and isn't something you should buy using logic.
It will, however, have a oddly strong appeal to those who know, the moment they set eyes on one, that they want one. It should excite you in the knowledge that it's actually quite a novel addition to your garage.
