Cynics will say a convertible 4x4 is an acknowledgement that people don’t take their off-roaders anywhere more dangerous than Surrey’s B roads. And – whisper it – they might have a point. So, given the car I’m driving will largely be seen on the streets of Southern England in mid summer, you may wonder why I’ve taken it to the Southern Alps in mid winter. Well, we’re going to review this one for the cynics and find out if it’s got as much substance as it has style.
The original Evoque has turned its fair share of heads since production started in 2011 but by cutting off the roof, Land Rover has made the convertible model even more striking. Horizontal grooves on the side of car rise slightly from front to back giving the car an aerodynamic look, which, when combined with the open-top design draw attention to a rear end a Kardashian would be proud of.
The interior has the same upmarket feel as the hardtop and, despite its relatively small size for an SUV, the cabin feels spacious. After customer feedback the onboard computer has been updated from the hardtop model, which was on the clunky side, and comes as standard in all convertible models. If you’ve used a smartphone in the last five years you’ll find it intuitive, responsive and easy to use. If you haven’t used a smartphone in the last five years this car is absolutely not for you.
But let’s get down to brass tacks and talk about what’s above your head. Or rather what’s *not* above your head. The fabric roof can be raised or lowered at speeds of up to 30 mph and takes just 18 seconds to retract so you’ll never miss sunny England’s half an hour of summer. Those concerned about a soft-top affecting your comfort needn’t worry. Once the roof’s up you’ll be hard pushed to tell the difference between this and the original model: the roof’s polyacrylic fabric keeps heat in and noise out. Even when the roof’s down the cabin stays remarkably quiet, even at motorway speed, although using the windbreak behind the front two seats effectively segregates you from anyone riding in the back. (Potentially a plus if you’re fed up of little Atilla’s tantrums.)
The open-top design draws attention to a rear end any Kardashian would be proud of
The Convertible doesn’t come without some compromises, however. The middle seat in the back has been removed to make way for the folding mechanism and the boot space goes from 420 litres to 251 litres. It’s worth checking if your bags (or pushchair) fits before you put your money down. And, as with all convertibles, there’s extra weight to consider from strengthening the frame and in the Evoque’s case that clocks in at an extra 277kg. It means the car is less eager to build up speed, even in sports mode. But unless you’re really attacking corners, hills or drag racing at traffic lights it’s not unlikely going to be a factor for you.
And if you venture off the beaten track? Well it turns out it’s going to acquit itself better than almost any 4x4s on the market that don’t have a Land Rover badge. The Evoque Convertible’s Terrain Response system means the transition from tarmac to icy surfaces is taken in its stride. It’ll happily work its way up 45 degree inclines (and declines) and the roof can be opened or closed on two wheels so you’ll be able to stay dry even if the rain clouds pull in while you’re in the most precarious of positions. If you do manage to tip it over then roll bars spring up to protect your hairdo (and skull).
But I wasn’t content with it being more robust than the entirety of the British public transport network. After a night of heavy snowfall I took the Convertible off-piste through fresh snow to really put it through its paces. It trudged through the shallow snow easily but once my wheels had totally sunk below the surface I did start to worry if I’d been a bit too gung-ho in my test. Turns out I was fretting for nothing and the Evoque resolutely soldiered on with only minimal grumbling. It would have been easy to sell the Evoque Convertible on style alone so I couldn’t help but be impressed Land Rover hadn’t skimped on its off-road credentials.
So, who cares if the cynics are right? As we drove back to the UK I got a taste of the roads that are likely to be the Evoque Convertible’s main stomping grounds. It struck me that even if if I just end up driving around the mean streets of Surrey I’d rather a car I can take almost anywhere than something that’s at its limits on the school run.
For more info, see landrover.co.uk
Range Rover Evoque HSE Dynamic Lux Convertible
0-60mph: 9.7 sec
Top speed: 121mph
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder Diesel
Power: 180hp
Price: £51,700
