sudonano
2.0 Si4 5-Door Prestige (2014)
Bought new, Owned for 1 Year
Fuel Economy: 7.0 km/litre (14.3 L/100 km), RON95, Mileage: 1,000 km/month
First of all, it looks brilliant on the road. Even after 6 years since the concept launched in 2008 and almost 3 years in production, the Range Rover Evoque (RRE) still looks fresh compared to the German rivals. In terms of pricing, considering the Range Rover brand is viewed as a luxury brand, almost competing with Porsche, and not Audi and BMW, it is pretty good value considering the similar Macan from Porsche is starting from MYR450000 before any options (like Bluetooth and 20" rims). Overall build is fabulous actually, from the materials to the leather used, the leather is much better than the "leather" that is used in the X3. Fit and finish is top notch, many soft touch contact points, with lined door bins and damped glovebox, giving a very premium feel.
The engine's performance is actually surprisingly good. While it cannot beat the BMW's N20 2.0 engine in the 28i tune, it produces more power than both the Q5 and X3, and more torque than the X3 (but almost the same as the Q5). The 4WD system which is fitted as standard on all Malaysian bound units is actually pretty good, in the rain, it gives a lot of confidence. Considering the relatively good wading depth of 500mm, it is quite good for our flood stricken roads during the monsoon season.
Seats are well designed, with thoughtful interior touches. Power boot is also as standard, just like on the Q5. Unlike the X3 and Q5, it does have a class exclusive driver knee airbag too. Panoramic roof, previously was optional, is now as standard, and helps to liven up the cabin a lot.
There is a sense of occasion as you step in to the cabin, from the puddle lamps that project the silhouette of the car, to the lighted door sills, DriveSelect Rotary Gear Knob that rises from the console as you start the car. Also comes with very nice interior mood lighting too. Basically it feels premium for the price, and you know all the money has been put into the design, engineering and quality finish of the car.
Drives pretty well too, though there is a bit of turbo lag. Handling is surprisingly good, considering it has long travel suspension, it doesn't feel like a boat at all at high speeds, and on the speed limit, it is very planted, regardless of weather condition.
One of the few premium SUVs in Malaysia which provide free maintenance for up to 5 years and full 5 year warranty , covering parts and labour, so all you would need is petrol and tyres, making it significantly cheaper to maintain compared to the X3 and Q5.
Transmission is a bit of a let down, with the 2011-2013 model's Aisin AWF21 transmission (built by Toyota). It feels slow to respond compared to the ZF 8HP 8 speed auto used in the X3 and Q5.
Economy is also not that good compared to the BMW, considering that the Ford based EcoBoost engine is more performance biased, after all it was the same engine used in the Focus ST. Does give a good exhaust note though, and sometimes, you can hear the turbo blow off valve too, very sporty. Quieter engine than the full size RR with the Supercharged engines, but do not expect German levels of isolation.
Satnav system is dimwitted. The touch screen, while looking decent, takes a long time to respond, and is less easy to use than the iDrive and MMI system in BMW and Audi vehicles. Maps are generally better than the German brands, and once it is set, it works fine, but still, not as fast to respond, which can be frustrating.
Boot space is a bit limited, 1 large suitcase is OK, but 2 might be a bit of a squeeze. Non retractable cargo cover makes this worse and is very difficult to remove. The power boot can get a little confused sometimes, but you just have to press the close button and it resets, most likely due to the sensors in the system detecting a person too close to the car, and thinking you may bump into the door.
Rear seat space on both the 3 and 5 door, while fine for 2 adults, might be a bit of a squeeze for 3, considering it has a low roofline. Also, it doesn't have grab handles due to the curtain airbags installed above the door.
On some units, the wiper rest position is set too high, causing you to accidentally scape the hood when lifting the blades without putting into service mode. Service mode of the wipers is tucked away in the menu in the driver binnacle, and is not highlighted clearly.
Also, general noise can be a bit prevalent on this car, especially thanks to the huge side mirror housing, and very raked windshield, causing a lot of wind resistance noise. Some may find this very disconcerting, considering the price, so try before you buy. Make sure you take it on the highway during the test drive, as some may find the ride a bit on the firm side and the noise too much too.
To Improve
Local dealer doesn't offer much choices with the colours unlike the models in the UK. Also, while service is generally good compared to the Audi and BMW dealers, it still cannot beat the Japanese brands like Lexus. Parts do take some time to get as the car has unique parts, and considering that not many were sold, some parts may take longer to ship from the UK.
Pre Delivery Inspection should be more thorough as there were issues with the vehicle during collection, prompting several visits to the dealer in the first few months, however it was eventually solved.
Waiting list too could be shortened, though make sure you check properly how long the unit will take to arrive as some colours like Firenze Red and Zanzibar Bronze. Some colours are a cost option too. Also, the vehicle can be customised for more tech if you want, however the dealers don't always tell you this, as this would mean your unit will take longer to arrive.
Yes, I would recommend this car