Urbis Drive

REFINED ROAD WARRIOR: Range Rover Evoque P250

The Evoque remains as fashionable today as it was when it became the style-led, compact benchmark back in 2011. The big news for this all-new version of the baby Range Rover is how successfully the designers have enhanced a uniquely appealing shape, adding extra road presence but no extra bulk.

Gently modernised in its every detail, the Evoque retains the original’s instantly recognisable design cues: exaggerated arches, a rising waistline and a fast, sloping roofline. Meanwhile, interior space is expanded, thanks to a modest wheelbase stretch, while tech features and premium materials either make a debut or have filtered down from relatives costing at least half as much again. Special First Edition models certainly ramp up the refinement and capability. Our P250, with its smooth and willing petrol-turbo motor, was dressed to the nines with duo-tone leather seats and a soft-grain leather wheel rim through which a chromed Atlas bezel runs full circle. It’s a delight to hold and cements the premium feel of an elegant, uncluttered interior. Some stand-out tech features lift the luxury quotient: namely, the double-decker infotainment display, Head-up