POSH and Becks were both present at the launch of the new Range Rover Evoque, although not quite as you might expect.
Yes, though the red carpet was quite rightly rolled out for the marque’s stunning new compact crossover, on which Victoria was employed as an interior design guru, she and David were otherwise engaged.
Instead, the posh was provided by the Duke of Roxburghe and the becks were to be found during some off-roading laid on by a local farmer.
The aim was to prove that the Evoque can cater for those looking for both luxury and lifestyle. While the former was immediately obvious once I opened the door, given the expanse of leather and the amount of kit, the latter was, initially at least, open to debate.
Driving away the striking looks of this, the smallest, lightest and most fuel efficient Range Rover ever built, certainly turned heads.
Available in both coupe and five-door form, the Evoque is both instantly recogisable as a Range Rover and yet, at the same time, markedly different from anything that has gone before.
Chunky and imposing from the front, the rising lines of its flanks give the impression of movement. The coupe certainly looks sleeker, due to the fact that its form is not broken up by the presence of the rear doors, but the five-door is the more practical option.
On the well-maintained roads around the Scottish capital, the Evoque offered a composed and settled ride and in diesel form threw some added punch into the bargain.
Part of our journey to Floors Castle, on the Roxburghe estate, however, necessitated a more scenic route and I was pleasantly surprised at just how well it coped with undulations and sharp bends. I tried both auto and manual gearboxes during the test, the latter with stop-start engine function, and, though I am a fan of the old-fashioned stick system, the assisted version was seamless.
Though largely hushed thanks to some impressive sound-proofing, the huge wing mirrors do generate some noise. More frustratingly though, they created a worrying blindspot when turning right.
There was no way I could have missed the Duke’s not so humble abode, though, standing before us as we swept up the gravel driveway. Parked out front, a multi-coloured line of Evoques looked perfectly at home.
Sated with fare we set off for our afternoon tea stop. However, our route was not all to be taken by tarmac. Instead we were going to get down and dirty.
As is often the case in this neck of the woods, the heaven’s opened and what had previously been dry and grippy became wet and slippery. In addition the wind began to blow a hoolie, but rather than exposing its weaknesses, the Evoque girded its loins and demonstrated more of its strengths, putting on a performance to match that of its bigger siblings. The car’s full-time intelligent four-wheel drive system continuously varies the torque at the front and rear, ensuring that grip and balance is maintained, however challenging the terrain.
Decent ground clearance meant that the Evoque’s pristine paintwork was never in danger of being scratched and though I couldn’t get the driver’s seat as high as I would have liked, vision was not an issue thanks to a bank of hi-tech cameras which enable you to monitor every conceivable angle.
While I was assured that this was the vehicle “that every farmer’s wife would desire”, for those for whom mud is applied to the face to reduce wrinkles rather than found on the soles of their wellies, there is a front-wheel drive version which gives the added advantage of increased fuel consumption.
What went up, came down equally as assuredly and we were soon back on terra-a-lot-firmer.
Full to bursting after a visit to Leithen Lodge and having driven most of the way across Lothian and Borders, I opted to be chauffered to our final destination, the black and white themed five-star Hotel Missoni.
The time out of the driver’s seat enabled me to examine the space on offer. Despite the issues with the seat, the main gripe I had was in getting into the rear of the coupe version, which required nimbleness and patience, given the almost glacial way the electrics worked.
Once in the rear, however, the amount of room on offer was pleasing. I’m no taller than the average man, but a couple of six-footers could sit in comfort, their heads in no danger of brushing the roof. The boot, meanwhile, isn’t the largest I’ve ever come across, but it can handle a decent amount of luggage.
Driving through Edinburgh, as our time came to an end, heads once more began to turn. Pedestrians, Range Rover Sport drivers and those for whom Jaguar Land Rover are hoping to poach from their rivals, all cast admiring glances my way.
Posh and Becks I am not, but in the Evoque I at least felt like I belonged in their company.
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