Range Rover Evoque Landmark Edition Review — Runway-Like Design In A Compact Package

The Evoque is the baby SUV from the British SUV maker which first brought a portion of fashion and style to the then rather bulky Land Rover and Range Rover line-ups. The Range Rover Evoque became so popular that it sold over six lakh units worldwide since its inception.

To celebrate, the company made a special edition of the vehicle and it comes with new exterior colour options, interior trim and features - the 2018 Range Rover Evoque Landmark Edition, which is based on the SE variant of the Evoque. We got a chance to drive the SUV for a couple of days in the city and on the open tarmac and here's what we have to say about it.

Exterior

On the outside, the special-edition Evoque looks somewhat identical to the standard Evoque. However, the Landmark Edition gets a subtle body kit and dark grey exterior bits. The bonnet also gets some cosmetic tweaks. Upfront, it gets an all-black grille with the small Land Rover badging at the side.

Our test car came in a Moraine Blue shade which looked really beautiful and eyeing. As I mentioned earlier, the hood features some creases and contours along with the black air ducts on either side. The black Range Rover badge runs across the front of the bonnet and further compliments the overall appearance.

The ORVMs are blacked-out and so is the roof. While it doesn't look as intimidating as the large seven-seaters, it doesn't resemble a crossover either; thanks to the big haunches and a slightly boxy design. The Landmark Edition looks sophisticated and certainly stands out from the crowd.

At the rear, the SUV gets a bit of chrome garnishing around the exhaust pipes. The same black Range Rover badging present on the bonnet is there on the boot too. Moreover, you get an Evoque badge in red. Overall, with the minor exterior tweaks, the Evoque Landmark Edition looks gorgeous from every angle.

Interior

Step inside the car and you will be welcomed with a rather spacious cabin. The Evoque Landmark Edition gets a new dashboard trim. The centre console is finished in dark brushed aluminium while the seats are wrapped in black leather with a perforated mid-section.

Features such as keyless entry, powered and gesture-controlled tailgate, WiFi hotspot and Pro services are also offered on this variant. Speaking about comfort, the car is best suited for five people. The electronically-adjustable front seats are comfortable and come with memory option. At the rear, the car features a centre armrest with two cup holders. Rear space is just enough for three adults.

The overall cabin real estate is good and though the car has a reclining roof, there is enough headroom at the rear. The SUV also features a panoramic glass roof which runs all along from the A-pillar to the C-pillar. One thing which will grab your attention right away is the Jaguar Drive Control. As soon as the car comes to life, the gear selector comes up from the floating dash.

The Range Rover Evoque Landmark Ediiton comes with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system and you get a good acoustic experience from the 9-speaker Meridian audio sound system. There are a lot of buttons to play with, including the Start/Stop button which is placed on the top right side of the infotainment system. One thing about the touchscreen is that it is tilted slightly towards the back to avoid the glare from the sun.

Engine and Performance

The Evoque Landmark Edition gets a 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel engine from Land Rover's Ingenium range. It produces 177bhp at 4,000rpm and a peak torque of 430Nm which kicks in at just 1,750rpm. The Evoque comes equipped with a 9-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. The car reaches 100km/h from zero in just 8.5 seconds and has a top speed of 225km/h.

The SUV has got four driving modes: Normal/City, Gravel and Grass; Mud and Sand. So whatever the terrain may be, the Evoque will handle it really well. Other standard safety features include roll stability control, hill descent control, dynamic stability control, all-terrain progress control, ISOFIX child seat mounts, ABS and airbags.

The Landmark Edition rides on 18-inch alloy wheels finished in gloss black. It comes wrapped with Pirelli tyres that do an excellent job on all terrains. Thought it is an SUV, the car has very less body roll as the suspension setup is really good but I felt it was slightly on the stiffer side.

Potholes and speed breakers are not at all an issue for the Evoque. We drove close to 100 kilometres in the city and the car returned us a mileage of around 14.7km/l. Even in India, where SUVs are often measured by their size-to-price ratio, this baby Range Rover has always found its customers, simply because it's just so stylish.

Promeet Ghosh Thinks!

The Range Rover Evoque Landmark Edition carries a price tag of Rs 54 lakh ex-showroom (India). For that, you are offered a good design in a compact package; an all-rounder to be more accurate. With the Evoque, you can dress nicely and go out for dinner or get in some casuals and go off-roading in it. It definitely has two characters.