Range Rover Evoque SD4

 

The Range Rover Evoque is suddenly the car of the moment, arriving just as buyers switch towards shrunken SUVs for their greater style and lower running costs. That’s why this five-door, 188bhp, 2.2-lirre diesel Evoque, known as the SD4, is expected to be the biggest seller here in the UK.

We already know from the three-door, 2-litre turbo petrol version we drove last month that the chassis on the Evoque is surprisingly accomplished. When you realize that the starting point was the Freelander, but with an extra 20mm of ground clearance added, that’s a remarkable achievement.

The result is a pocket SUV that feels light on its feet and up for a spirited drive whenever you fancy it. What’s particularly impressive is the way the chassis adjusts as you lift off the power approaching a corner- the Evoque tightens its line and homes in on the apex in a very un-SUV-like way. There’s some magic going on here, and, even in this diesel model, the sort of progress you can make cross-country is quick enough to embarrass cars with much more sporting profiles.