Range Rover's Evoque snapped up

Evoque is the smallest, lightest and most fuel-efficient Range Rover ever built and offers a wide selection of add-ons. Photo / Supplied

Range Rover's all new Evoque has gone on sale in New Zealand with buyers snapping up the country's initial allocation from the UK factory.

The compact luxury off-roader is priced between $79,990 and $104,490 and available with a choice of three engines, two body styles, three design themes and a range of options and accessories.

"We presold a significant number of cars from a couple of examples which were flown in for Rugby World Cup promotions," said Gary Upson, the Land Rover brand manager for New Zealand. "And other buyers have ordered specific customised options on vehicles which will arrive in the coming months. It has certainly been a very successful new product launch."

Evoque is the smallest, lightest and most fuel-efficient Range Rover ever built and arrives on the back of Land Rover's highly visible role as vehicle sponsor of the Rugby World Cup.

Options include: 12 exterior colours, three contrasting roof colours, 17-inch to 20-inch alloy wheels, 16 designer interiors, panoramic glass roof, black or chrome roof rails, Meridian surround sound, TV, automated parking system and powered tailgate.

There is also a wide range of accessories, among them a luggage strap with an inertia locking reel, which works like a seat belt, to tie down stuff in the back.

The four-wheel-drive Evoque has been added to the Range Rover line-up to further extend the premium brand's appeal. Its four-cylinder 2-litre petrol and 2.2-litre turbodiesel engines will also help the off-road specialist meet new fleet emission standards set down for Europe in 2012.

For example, the turbodiesel is the same as in the Freelander and delivers 140kW/400Nm and claimed CO2 exhaust emissions of 169g/km.

But a 112kW version of the same engine mated to a six-speed manual gearbox delivers a claimed 129g/km. This set-up is the front-drive model, available only on special order.

The 2-litre petrol engine combines direct fuel-injection, turbocharging and twin variable valve timing to deliver 180kW/336Nm.

Land Rover calls it the Si4, but it is pretty much identical to the Ecoboost engine that Ford New Zealand will use under the bonnet of the Ford Falcon from next year.

The petrol engine suits the Evoque's edgy design. It loves to rev and, coupled with the six-speed automatic, provides smooth shifts and good throttle response. It is lighter over the front wheels than the diesel and encourages more spirited driving.

The Evoque's electric power steering system is part of the package of efficiencies. It is fixed to the front subframe, rather than the chassis, to improve steering feel. It is one of the better electric systems, accurate and well weighted.

The Evoque uses Land Rover's Terrain Response system, which controls throttle response and how the vehicle reacts to different road surfaces. Again it works well.

The long-travel suspension uses MacPherson struts at the front, with a multi-link variant at the rear. An adaptive electronic system called MagneRide uses dampers to improve the ride and handling.

Its benefits aren't as obvious on sealed surfaces as they are in the bush, where the appropriate off-road setting will deactivate the dampers to provide more comfortable going.

In a nutshell, the Evoque is the most road-friendly Range Rover yet. Its ability off road has limits, but it largely lives up to Land Rover's reputation.