Reviews
Gallery 1
Range Rover’s fashionable Evoque gets a trendy buzzcut for 2017.
WHY ARE WE TESTING IT? Being an SUV with a retractable roof makes the Range Rover Evoque Convertible unique in the Australian market. Does subtracting a metal roof introduce too many compromises, or does the Evoque convertible’s status as the most attention-seeking member of the Range Rover family compensate for any shortcomings?
MAIN RIVALS It’s the only convertible luxury SUV on the market, but some may cross-shop with more conventionally bodied drop-tops such as the BMW 4 Series Convertible and Mercedes-Benz C-Class Cabriolet.
Removing the roof structure adds significant weight that takes the edge off the Evoque’s performance, but it is still more than capable of handling some light off-roading and there’s no more scuttle shake than you’d find in most similarly priced convertibles.
PLUS: It’s a drop-dead gorgeous drop-top; not as floppy as expected; smooth and refined Ingenium diesel MINUS: Top-hinged “tailgate”; pretty porky for a medium SUV; expensive
THE WHEELS REVIEW AS A strong Pacific breeze gently sandblasts our Evoque Convertible’s lurid Phoenix Orange paint with some of Fraser Island’s coarser grades of grit, I come to a surprising realisation: this roofless SUV has left a positive impression.
It definitely stands out though, even in shades that are more subtle than retina-blasting metallic orange. Toorak Tractors are rare in this particular part of Australia, and we’d wager this is the first time a roofless one has rolled across the island’s sandy trails.
Below the shoulder line the Convertible’s sheetmetal is almost identical to the three-door Range Rover Evoque coupe, and with the roof down it looks fairly dashing. There’s no ungainly “basket handle” keeping the sides from collapsing inward and no rollbars protruding from behind the rear seats to spoil its silhouette. It’s definitely a looker.
The only real annoyance is the convertible’s top-hinged bootlid (enjoy stooping down to locate your luggage) and its $12-16K premium over a comparably equipped Evoque Coupe hardtop.
The weight of all those extra braces, and of the folding fabric roof mechanism, and pop-up rollover bars, add up to a substantial 280kg. Straight-line performance is duller than a tin-topped Evoque Coupe as a result.
But that’s the price you pay for a mid-size SUV with genuine four-adult capacity and a power folding fabric roof. If you want to be seen, a roofless Evoque will certainly direct plenty of eyeballs in your direction.
The Si4 petrol engine is a willing unit, and the nine-speed automatic that both petrol and diesel models are equipped with has a huge spread of ratios to cater to any condition. All Evoque convertibles come with an on-demand AWD system as standard, which is part of the reason the range’s starting price is a heady $84,835.
Otherwise, the Evoque Convertible steers and stops in a similar fashion to the hardtop. Besides the extra mass, its mechanical package is, after all, identical.
SPECS Model: Range Rover Evoque Si4 HSE Dynamic Engine: 1999cc 4cyl, dohc, 16v, turbo Max power: 177kW @ 5500rpm Max torque: 340NM @1750-4000rpm Transmission: 9-speed automatic Weight: 1936kg 0-100km/h: 8.6sec (claimed) Economy: 8.6L/100km Price: $92,015 On sale: Now
