Let me get it out of the way and just say it. This is one of the best cars I've driven this year.
It's called the Evoque and is the smallest, lightest, and most fuel-efficient Range Rover yet made. More importantly though, it looks like something straight off a Transformers movie set, has the off-road capability to make German competitors with X and Q badges wet their trousers, and is backed by truly dynamic on-road manners.
The Evoque is a compact premium SUV, based on the futuristic LRX concept shown by Land Rover a few years back. Described as a cross-coupé and built on the Freelander 2 platform, the final execution of the newcomer in coupé form is a carbon-copy of the concept almost to the millimetre.
The Evoque, available in three-door coupé and five-door SUV derivatives, is nearly half a metre shorter than its Range Rover Sport cousin and respectively 180mm and 150mm lower.
From a design point of view the Evoque redefines the small SUV segment with its sloping roofline, floating roof, small wedge-like rear windows, wide wheel arches, and wheel-at-each-corner stance. A younger market is clearly the target for the English carmaker, especially with that Back to the Future rear end and 'Beam me up Scotty' interior.
Overseas buyers get to choose from three different style levels - Pure, Prestige and Dynamic - and can choose further between different interiors, option packs, and accessory items. Local buyers won't get the Pure spec level, but options will be endless.
The world launch of the Evoque was held in Wales last week on what must be some of the most scenic country roads on the planet. On offer were a 140kW/450Nm 2.2-litre turbodiesel (badged SD4) and a 177kW/325Nm two-litre petrol (Si4), each mated to a six-speed auto 'box - which also happen to be the only variants coming to South Africa. Overseas buyers have the option of lower-powered and six-speed manual 2.2-litre turbodiesels; and front-wheel drive only derivatives (a first for the marque).
Land Rover pulled no punches in showing the mud-and-guts side of the four-wheel drive Evoque, and thanks to the familiar Terrain Response system with its four settings (General Driving, Grass/Gravel/Snow, Mud and Ruts, and Sand) and generous ground clearance we cruised up and down the worst that Wales could throw at us.
We drove over mountains and waded through old, water-filled railway tunnels - I don't think there are many SUVs in this market segment that will manage anything close to the obstacles we tamed.
Hill Descent Control has also been tweaked in the Evoque, offering the ability to minutely adjust your descending speed.
Get the Evoque on the tar and the all-new suspension system, with its specially-calibrated Haldex centre coupling (which controls the front-rear torque split), starts to shine.
Our petrol test car also had the optional Adaptive Dynamics package, with Magneride variable dampers for better handling.
Magneride uses a fluid with magnetic particles which, when subjected to a magnetic field, becomes thicker for increased damping. Simply turn the knob of the Terrain Response system to Dynamic and the Evoque extends its claws ready to carve up a few mountain passes - which it did.
The interior of the Evoque has typically Range Rover-style attention to detail and nice touches are the dials which turn red in Dynamic mode, the Jaguar-like round gearlever which rises to your hand, and the colour-coded sport seats.
The three-door is the real looker, yet doesn't seem to sacrifice too much in interior-space terms. Adults still fit relatively comfortably in the rear seats, even with that sloping roofline. Interior flexibility and luggage space rivals compact station-wagons, with various luggage stowage options - such as nooks under the boot floor - on offer.
And the list of toys, as in most Range Rovers, is long, including a dual-view touch-screen and every type of camera on offer.
The bottom line here is that, if you're in the market for a BMW X3 or Audi Q5, you'd do well to look at the Evoque before making a final decision.
Land Rover South Africa has opened the order books with 600 orders already in the bag; local deliveries start at the end of October.
PRICES
Five-door:
Prestige SD4 AT - R582 995
Prestige Si4 AT - R589 995
Dynamic SD4 AT - R588 995
Dynamic Si4 AT - R595 995
Coupé:
Prestige SD4 AT - R592 995
Prestige Si4 AT - R599 995
Dynamic SD4 AT - R598 995
Dynamic Si4 AT - R605 995