The 2012 Range Rover Evoque

2012 marks the first model year for Land Rover’s new Range Rover Evoque crossover SUV. Size-wise, the Evoque sits between the LR4 and the LR2. Even though the Evoque shares a chassis with the LR2, its longer body makes it a larger vehicle. The Evoque is designed to offer a friendlier city driving experience than provided by other Land Rovers—a brand that is known for its excellent off-road vehicles.

The 2012 Range Rover Evoque packs quite a bit of style in a small package. The sleek exterior styling is enough to turn heads no matter where the Evoque travels, with its athletically sweeping lines and angular windows that give the vehicle an edgy look. Buyers can choose between either a four-door version of the vehicle or a two-door version with the same exterior dimensions. The vehicle’s roof can be ordered in white, providing a stylish contrast with the rest of the exterior. Land Rover also provides 19-inch wheels as standard equipment, with the option of 20-inch wheels for making an even greater fashion statement.

Land Rover did not stop giving the Range Rover Evoque style on the outside, but continued making bold statements with the vehicle’s interior. The driver can choose one of several colors as well as intensities of ambient lighting for the inside of the vehicle, with the lighting coming from behind the center instrument stack, door panels and foot wells. Buyers can choose between several color combination packages for the interior of the vehicle, giving the Evoque a more customized feel. On base models, an 11-speaker sound system comes standard, with a 17-speaker sound system available as an option.

The 2012 Range Rover Evoque breaks from Land Rover tradition by using a 2.0 liter four cylinder engine, instead of a large V8 engine block. Teamed with a turbocharger, though, the engine produces 240 horsepower and 250 pound-feet of torque to provide the driver with plenty of thrills both in the city and on the highway. Because of its more fuel-efficient engine, the Evoque achieves an estimated 18 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway, while still allowing the vehicle to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 7.4 seconds.

Even though it is stylish, the Evoque offers some hard advantages over its competitors. Because it is a Land Rover, the Range Rover Evoque does excellent in both snow and off-road situations whenever necessary. The vehicle also comes with several standard safety systems such as a backup camera, parking sensors, a trailer sway control system and curtain airbags that extend down both sides of the vehicle’s interior.