Land Rover Range Rover test drive since 2009 SUV

Gloss. Range Rover Evoque

On weekends, the inheritance of crossovers to push in parking near hypermarkets. But the British novelty was created for those who have other plans on weekends: to cruise between coffee houses, a fitness center and a night club. Evoque is not a couple to those SUVs who are destined for the fate of utility family transport.


Evoque has not yet been launched in production, but in the English headquarters of Land Rover, where we arrived, the company's representatives are ready to talk about the new product all the details up to what materials the rugs were made of, and all the nuances of the price list. The fact is that the event was not limited to the traditional performance of the project manager and a couple of techies. We were allowed to chat with several dozen (!) Engineers, designers and other specialists.


The five -door version differs equally compact dimensions as the three -door

There is not a single SUV this class on the market now, for which the practicality and the ability to be convenient for the whole family would be so pushed into the background. Evoque is a revived concept, and the British emphasize that it was designer fantasy in the first place.


There are a lot of gadgets in the interior: instead of the automatic transmission selector, the puck, the salon illumination can change color

Other premium macro crossovers have a rather restrained luxury in the interiors, but here for show. Add to this a technical filling, somewhat out of scope, familiar to crossovers, is a rather unusual combination. Take at least an active Magneride suspension that can change rigidity on the fly. It is argued that for the first time in the car industry, such a suspension is adapted both to the driving on asphalt and the light off -road. The platform, borrowed from the freelander, involves good passage by the standards of the SUVs. But in the first place, of course, the image. Landrovers do not get tired of repeating how close the lines and proportions of the serial version to the LRX concept is. This is really a rarity.


If the Evoque length is one of the smallest models in the class, then its width is greater than that of the BMW X5!

Which class to attribute to the novelty? None of the competitors do a three -day. Yes, and the five -door version (the length of both modifications is the same) stands apart. That is, the model is more compact than the Audi Q5 and Mercedes GLK. But at the same time noticeably larger than Mini Countryman and Nissan Juke. And more expensive.

When the overall dimensions of Evok were announced six months ago, I admit, I thought that his salon was tailored exclusively on the female figure. In the three -door version, the roof is so inclined, and the rear side glasses are flattened that it seems that the second row of seats is not designed to transport adult passengers. But then a snow-white three-door drives up to the door of the headquarters of Land Rover, on which we will go to the training ground, and for the sake of the experiment, I first try to climb back. Some acrobatic abilities for this, of course, are required, and there were no legs without a bruise, but no inconvenience arose further. The head of the Russian Top Gear magazine Nikolai Kachurin, a person is not the most miniature build and we both note that we both note that sitting in a compact crossover is generally convenient, both in front and behind. Later, the engineer responsible for the layout of the car will tell us in all details how to compact the platform, conquering a place in the cabin.


The creators of the model note that Evoque with a diesel four faster than the Range Rover Sport with diesel V6. However, competitors have much faster compact crossovers

The landfill in Heidon is not like a racing track, rather, it is akin to public roads, but the Landrover Test, even in narrow winding sections, clearly seeks to squeeze a maximum of a 2-liter turbo engine. Of course, 240 hp This is very good for the crossover. Freilender's role is played by a 3.2-liter atmospheric six, which has a very close power of 233 hp. Why was it required to develop a new motor? Representatives of the Land Rover explain that the point is not in peak indicators, but in the return, achieved in the entire speed range. The turbocharged four already literally wins with idle by power, and most importantly at a torque. Also, the novelty is easier, and in its exhaust there are fewer harmful substances. Psychologically, customers buying expensive crossovers are more likely to take six -cylinder versions, but there is nothing to be done here: the transition from atmospheric six to turbocharged fours is now a general trend that raised even BMW, which has always dominated the production of release.


Evoque, unlike the freelander, received a slightly different modification of the diesel engine (left), which has a higher torque shelf. Gasoline engine (right) completely new

As an alternative to the Range Rover Evoque, a gasoline turbo engine will offer 2.2-liter diesel engines (150 and 190 hp) the same as Frelander. And, perhaps, one can reproach the British for the fact that the gamma of engines is not as wide as that of competitors. Russian buyers of crossovers prefer more modest gasoline engines. They are not here.


Active shock absorbers can be made directly on the fly much softer than standard or significantly tougher. Standard suspension is a compromise between sports and comfort

We still have to evaluate the dynamics of Evoque in the summer when he goes into the series. But now it can be assumed that the Magneride suspension will play a key role in his character. On the roads of the English training ground, I drew attention to the fact that in a tense turn of the chassis it almost does not allow rolls. Flying at high speeds on the patch on the asphalt, the car did not lose exchange rate stability. Well, when a large wave met ahead on the road, something was completely amazing: Evoque flew up on it, like on a springboard, and then there was neither a blow nor the expected strong vertical buildup. At first, the suspension completely unclenched, and then smoothly picked up the body, not allowing any unnecessary fluctuations. Subsequently, I drove this place four times with different Landrovere testers, and each time noted how shock absorbers with magnetoreological fluid, capable of changing their characteristics in a split second, work out this jump. And the testers invariably looked at my reaction and smiled significantly.

The head of the department responsible for the layout of the car, Bob Barlow does not miss the chance to emphasize how little in common has Evoque with the freelander, on the platform of which he was built. The point is not that their body does not have common details, the roof and hood of Evoque aluminum, plastic wings, and the back door made of composite materials. A significant difference lies deeper. On the screen, Barlow demonstrates a cart from a freender, on which the Evoque silhouette is superimposed. The double floor is so thick, and the roof is so low that there is no place for the riders. Yes, and the engine does not fit under the hood. The option of making the Evoque roof was not even considered even more: it would kill the style. It would be possible to conquer the space in the cabin by lowering the elements of the transmission and the gas tank below, but this would reduce the clearance. And the task of the designers was to make a crossover, not inferior to any of the competitors in patency. As a result, the platform itself was very redeveloped by reducing the space in the double floor. The clearance was not injured, but even grew up. The height of the Evoque road clearance is 21.2 cm, which is 1 cm more than that of Freelander, and as many as 4 cm more than that of Range Rover Sport.


Due to short overhangs and decent clearance (21.2 cm), the crossover has geometric patency, almost comparable to full -fledged SUVs

It is interesting that even in the case of a glamorous SUV, the British lay the possibility of overcoming water obstacles to wade. EvoQue can be immersed by 50 cm, that is, the wheels will be almost completely hidden by water. It is argued that the door seals will not allow moisture to the salon, and the engine does not risk getting a hydraulicum. Moreover, the creators of the car took into account that when you move under the slope, at the first moment the water can completely hide the radiator grill and reach the front edge of the hood. The air fence is arranged so that the motor will not suffer.

We are already used to it: modern automakers believe that in the struggle for the image of the most environmentally friendly brand, all means are good. On Evoque, like a plastic bottle, it is just right to put a triangular Recyclable icon. The car for 85% consists of materials that can be recycled secondly. Environmentally friendly consumers and in Europe others are not found should evaluate this. As well as the fact that the car initially contains many details from recyclables. The organizers of the presentation demonstrate this clearly. We are brought to the wall of plastic bottles, and now, they say, how many details of them can be made: engine casing, fan, subwoofer case. Of course, the owner of the machine does not contact with these elements directly. The cabin is exclusively expensive materials. But here manufacturers proudly note that there are actually a lot of secondary materials in the interior: tissue upholstery of seats, ceiling, rugs all this is also recycled. With these attempts to make the machine as green as possible, somehow, in most of the configurations, the novelty, as it is appropriate Range Rover, flaunts the decoration made of genuine leather, and it does not spare it. She covers not only armchairs, but also the front panel and door armrests. Fabric finish can only be obtained in the youngest version of Pure. But the Land Rover ecological research specialist bypasses these contradictions, and instead demonstrates to journalists the mysterious calculations of the effect of Evoque on global warming, predicted to a hundred (!) Years in advance, and from them it turns out that at a long distance the technologies used give a large positive effect.

The most affordable Range Rover Evoque is a five-door with a 2.2-liter diesel (150 hp) and mechanics, which costs from 1,600,000 rubles. For a 190-horsepower modification, they will be asked from 1,665,000 rubles, and for a version with a flagship gasoline engine at least 1,830,000 rubles. The last amount is already included in the automatic transmission. On diesel versions, the machine is placed for a surcharge of 65,000 rubles. The three -door has all modifications, but for a more elegant body they ask for 50,000 rubles. more.

The basic configuration includes climate control, seven airbags, a driver’s seats electric drive, Terrain Response off-road electronics, rear parking sensors, electric and heating mirrors, 17-inch light-linked wheels, a system of non-abortion to the salon and engine start-up, and an audiosystem, as well as an audiosystem with 8 speakers (80 watts). For a surcharge, of course, you can get all the traditional elements of a beautiful life, like a leather salon, heating the steering wheel and light and rain sensors.

But there are not the most ordinary equipment in the list of options: a display showing a different picture to the driver and passenger (47,000 rubles); five circular review chambers (50,000 rubles); automatic parking system (21,000 rubles); 825-watt audio system with 17 speakers (47,000 rubles) and others.

Evoque can be called a parkingese, turned into a fashion accessory. Will he not be a narrow -minute model? Regarding the Russian market, the Landrovers have quite optimistic expectations. According to forecasts, a quarter of all sales of the brand will fall on Evoque, and dealers have now collected more pre -orders than expected. Given that Freelander last year was more popular than the BMW X3 and Mercedes GLK, then the chances of a more spectacular novelty look good. Moreover, Evoque is not more expensive than Frelander in similar trim levels.



Competitors
The younger modifications of crossovers are usually equipped with mechanics and can even be deprived of all -wheel drive (such as BMW X1), but most buyers of luxury SUVs prefer versions with automatic transmission and 4x4 transmission. It was these modifications that we have chosen for comparison.

BMW X1
The Bavarian model, like Evoque, is more compact than other luxury crossovers. However, X1 has a slightly longer body and a large base, but loses the Englishman almost 17 cm in width. This is a big difference. But the BMW X1 20D AT is more powerful (177 hp) and cheaper than the basic Range Rover: the German costs from 1,490,000 rubles.

Land Rover Freelander
Although Freelander is lower in status than Evoque, this does not promise some significant savings. The Freelander 2.2 TD4 AT (150 hp) version costs from 1,563,000 rubles, but if you get it with xenon, leather steering wheel and parking sensors that Raine has, the Land Rover will be even more expensive than 1,618,000 rubles. At the end of last year, Freelander was restyled, and the updated version has already visited our test.

BMW X3
This model recently changed the generation and has become noticeably larger and more solid than before. X3 is almost 30 cm longer than Evoque, although 8.4 cm is inferior in width due to a longer base in the rear places in BMW is more comfortable. Version X3 20D AT (184 hp) costs from 1,850,000 rubles, but it makes sense to pay only 20,000 rubles to get a noticeably more high-speed 3-liter gasoline modification (258 hp). All the details about the new X3 in our test.

Audi Q5
In the Russian market, the Ingolstadt model last year was more popular than its direct competitors from Germany. Audi dimensions almost coincide with BMW, that is, in comparison with Evoque, this model is also noticeably larger. Its main advantage is a combination of good geometric patency and good handling on asphalt. Audi Q5 2.0 TFSI S Tronic (211 hp) costs from 1,874,000 rubles.

Mercedes GLK
The Stuttgart model distinguishes a courageous style from competitors, echoing with classic Gelendvagen, and the traditional Mercedes comfort in the salon. About 10 cm X3 and Q5 are inferior in length of the GLK body, but only the volume of the trunk was sacrificed: 450 liters against 550 liters of BMW. Until last summer, GLK was supplied to us in not the most popular modifications of powerful and expensive. Now the market has a more affordable GLK 220 CDI AT (170 hp), for which they ask for 1,710,000 rubles. More about the German in our test.

Volvo XC60
If the younger front -wheel drive modifications of the Swedish crossover are more affordable than Evoque, then the all -wheel drive version XC60 2.4 D5 (205 hp) with it is comparable from 1,705,000 rubles.

Infiniti EX25
Until the very recent time, the Japanese delivered to us only the hot 330-horsepower modification EX37, which costs 2,043,500 rubles, but in April, Russian dealers will receive a more affordable version of EX25. Its price is 1,843 500 rub. It should be noted that with a good power of 222 hp. This crossover does not differ too peppy temperament: it gains 100 km/h for 9.4 s.

Pavel Elshin
Photo by Land Rover
 

Source: Auto.mail.ru